By tigersimon
June 18 2017

My squad for 1st Test (those in bold I think are certainties). Finally watched my 1st live game yesterday morning! 

15 Halfpenny - With Hogg out and Leigh' kicking not much debate 
14 Daly - North and Nowell have not shown test form so a little bit of a gamble. 
13 Davies - 75% certain Gatland will go with the Welshman but outside chance for JJ as he offers something different 
12 Te'o - has played himself into the inside centre test berth 
11 Watson - not seen a lot of ball but playing better than others. Gatland will no doubt pick North as he is Welsh. 

10 Farrell - if fit enough to train by Wednesday otherwise Sexton and get Owen fit for last 2 tests. 
9 Murray - best 9 in the tour party 

1 Mako - The only thing that could change this is he too good a finisher when teams tire that you start someone else and put him on the bench as an impact player. 
2 George - Not got the experience of Best or Owens but in better form. 
3 Furlong - Head says Furlong, heart Cole! 
4 Itoje - Argument about whether Maro or AWJ starts but would go with the Saracens combo. 
5 Kruis - best lock in the touring party. 
6 O'Mahony (c) - best flanker in squad. 
7 O'Brian - now match fit as proved today and in form. 
8 Stander - Needs a big game on Tuesday but IMO better than Faletau and gives an all Irish back row combination. 

Bench 
McGraph 
Owens 
Cole/Sinckler - Depends on what style Gatland wants on his bench 
AWJ 
Warburton 

Webb 
Sexton/Russell - Finn will never get past Biggar in Gatland's eyes but should have been part of the original squad IMO and is test match fit! 
Henshaw? 

Lions Team for 1st Test

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 18/06/2017 09:58

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
18/06/2017 09:58

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:06:29:13:32:56 by Tiggs.

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Tiggs
18/06/2017 10:03

Many thanks again Simon !

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Yorkie
18/06/2017 10:09

Webb has run Murray close to start at 9 imvho. Owens the same with George at Hooker.

Toby will start at 8.

Really hope JJ starts at 13 (but he won't).

AWJ should be no where near the starting 15 but he will be.

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tigersimon
18/06/2017 10:48

JJ not involved in squad to play Chiefs so may be in 1st test squad

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Mary Perez
19/06/2017 12:36

last game results Maori All Blacks 10-32 Lions

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Duncan Keene
19/06/2017 22:41

I think it will be:

Halfpenny
North
Davies
Tao
Watson
Farrell
Murray

Vunipola
George
Furlong
Itoje
Kruis
O'mahony
Warburton
Faletau

McGrath
Owens
Sinckler
Jones
O'Brien
Webb
Sexton
Daly

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Duncan Keene
20/06/2017 20:28

But I would pick:

Halfpenny
Daly
Joseph
Farrell
Watson
Sexton
Murray

Vunipola
Owens
Furlong
Jones
Kruis
O'mahony
O'Brien
Faletau

McGrath
George
Cole
Itoje
Warburton
Webb
Davies
Williams

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Stopsy
22/06/2017 04:15

Only the hooker and replacement tighthead out in the forwards Duncan. Backs more of a surprise.

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Tiggs
28/06/2017 12:19

Presumably the team for the 2nd Test will be made tomorrow, Thursday ?

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Tiggs
28/06/2017 12:24

Announcment now moved back to tomorrow afternoon.

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Elder
29/06/2017 05:58

Team: 15-Liam Williams, 14-Anthony Watson, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Owen Farrell, 11-Elliot Daly, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Conor Murray, 8-Taulupe Faletau, 7-Sean O'Brien, 6-Sam Warburton(captain), 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 4-Maro Itoje, 3-Tadhg Furlong, 2-Jamie George, 1-Mako Vunipola.

Replacements: 16-Ken Owens, 17-Jack McGrath, 18-Kyle Sinckler, 19-Courtney Lawes, 20-CJ Stander, 21-Rhys Webb, 22-Ben Te'o, 23-Jack Nowell

Hmm. I suspect Gatland watched a different first test to the one I watched. AWJ looked off the pace from the start and that 10/12 combo did nothing but give NZ space to play. Frankly, I will be surprised by a loss of less than 20.

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Rich W
29/06/2017 07:24

No problem with the 10-12 axis myself. I think they should have been pencilled in from the start of the tour. But AWJ? Slow and blowing it out of his @rse after 15 minutes last week - the luckiest player on tour - well along with Warburton...

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!

...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:06:29:08:35:33 by Rich W.

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RugbyMarvel
29/06/2017 08:33

I have briefly written up my views here;

[rugbymarvel.wordpress.com]

Jones must have some seriously risque pictures of Gatland, otherwise how is he still holding onto his test place.

Rugby Marvel called the Sexton/Farrell axis, but lets see if it now works...

Please comment with your views, like if you like it and follow if you want to read more!

RM

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Elder
01/07/2017 12:05

Quote:

Elder
Hmm. I suspect Gatland watched a different first test to the one I watched. AWJ looked off the pace from the start and that 10/12 combo did nothing but give NZ space to play. Frankly, I will be surprised by a loss of less than 20.

And that, I guess, is why I was overlooked when the Lions were appointing a Head Coach :-)

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