Lions Back Row

I currently see Robshaw, Warburton and Tipuric leading the chase to the flank positions, with one of Heaslip/Faletau at number 8. If this was a three horse race for the flank positions which back row combination would you chose out of the following options?

Harsh not to include the likes of Wood, O'Brien or Lydiate. But this is my poll and you don't have to do it if you don't want to!

6 Robshaw
7 Tipuric / Warbs
8 Beattie / Morgan / O'Brien (Yes i know he's not an 8)

I think your not far off with the flanks. One of the two welsh guys at 7. I think Robshaw just gives us an excellent all roudn game...with non stop engine. But this 6n has shown me teams really MUST have a big carrier at 8. I would even include O'Brien there purely for his carrying...

I don't see much of a debate for 8 faletau is the only person that deserves the shirt. Every one will mention Morgan and Beattie but none of them come close to faletau he never has a bad game always consistent

welshboii15 wrote:I don't see much of a debate for 8 faletau is the only person that deserves the shirt. Every one will mention Morgan and Beattie but none of them come close to faletau he never has a bad game always consistent

So does Kelly Brown, he is always consistent and hasn't had a bad game for club or country all season...

he still doesn't get a mention.

For the record I would go with Tipuric at 7, Robshaw or Brown at 6 and either Faletau or Beattie at 8. Beattie has an advantage over Faletau since his team is doing well in the T14 and ERC as does Kelly Brown and Robshaw have an advantage over Warburton.

Faletau and Warburton are unlikely to face any high intensity matches prior to the tour now due to their clubs poor performances. As such the players of teams like Quins, Ospreys, Sarries, Montpellier will have a greater chance to stake their claims.

I put Kelly brown for a chance at captain yesterday for his form.

after seeing all the choices to vote i don't understand why robshaw is in all of them there are as good or even better players to pick from POM SOB and lydiate as opstions at 6

6 - Wood
7 - Tipuric
8 - Falateau

If they get full 80 mins for the next 4 games then and they get back to top form then Lydiate and Rennie will board the plane for Oz, then if they play a few games over there they should take the 6 and 7 shirts.

6 Lydiate
7 Rennie
8 Brown or Ryan Jones

That would be my first choice Ruby, but wasn't an option!

Great minds

of course playing in some big games is abig shot but Faletau has the benifit of Gatland and the fact he is out standing i would say beattie would have to put in atleast 2 or 3 more top class games to compete with Faletau IMO

The hard ground will certainly certainly benefit players like Faletau, Wood, and Tipuric. It could be an extremely quick and mobile backrow.

With it looking more and more likely that George Smith could play a part in the Oz backrow, speed to the breakdown could be key!

only thing is then its a light back row so the lions will need to have a heavy but mobile front 5

welshboii15 wrote:of course playing in some big games is abig shot but Faletau has the benifit of Gatland and the fact he is out standing i would say beattie would have to put in atleast 2 or 3 more top class games to compete with Faletau IMO

What does that mean?........ Gatland has seen how Faletau has performed in the autumn series against some of the big robust international 8s, and he must have noticed that Brown is a different animal whilst both are great natural runners with ball in hand Brown doesn't operate around the fringes of the scrum and certainly doesn't make the passive hits around the breakdown. On the hard pitches you will need an 8 that doesn't make lots of passive hits you are going to need a player that protects the half back channel first and foremost and makes the big hits

bluestonevedder wrote:The hard ground will certainly certainly benefit players like Faletau, Wood, and Tipuric. It could be an extremely quick and mobile backrow.

With it looking more and more likely that George Smith could play a part in the Oz backrow, speed to the breakdown could be key!

Speed to the breakdown will not be the key as we found out with Harley in the 6Ns, its actually being strong enough to retain or win the ball at the breakdown when you get there, that's not Faletau's strength to be honest.

GeordieFalcon wrote:6 Robshaw
7 Tipuric / Warbs
8 Beattie / Morgan / O'Brien (Yes i know he's not an 8)

I think your not far off with the flanks. One of the two welsh guys at 7. I think Robshaw just gives us an excellent all roudn game...with non stop engine. But this 6n has shown me teams really MUST have a big carrier at 8. I would even include O'Brien there purely for his carrying...

O'Brien has won man of the match at 6,7 and 8 for Leinster. He can play anywhere in the backrow.

welshboii15 wrote:only thing is then its a light back row so the lions will need to have a heavy but mobile front 5

True true, but I think as it currently stands, our front five could be pretty big. Jones and Healy are the props for me, and both Hibbard and Best are not on the small side either. The second row has a few giants to chose from, but I reckon Evans stands a serious chance of starting.

SOB
Morgan/Falateau
Tipuric

Bench: Robshaw

flyhalffactory wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:The hard ground will certainly certainly benefit players like Faletau, Wood, and Tipuric. It could be an extremely quick and mobile backrow.

With it looking more and more likely that George Smith could play a part in the Oz backrow, speed to the breakdown could be key!

Speed to the breakdown will not be the key as we found out with Harley in the 6Ns, its actually being strong enough to retain or win the ball at the breakdown when you get there, that's not Faletau's strength to be honest.

True, but both Wood and Tipuric are strong at the breakdown.

Healey Hibbard Jones
Evans Hines

That's enough front 5 grunt to have 3 Shane Williams's in the back row

If everyone was fit and on form I'd go for.

7.Warburton - best 7 in NH.
6. Ferris - Battered Australia in the WC. On form best 6 in the NH maybe world.
8. Robshaw - capable of getting through a crazy amount of work. Form man now.

Subs:
Tipuric - for his work at breakdown
O'Brien - for his abilities in the loose

what i mean is Faletau might not have any big games to show off in he has the fact Gatland knows Faletau as he is the welsh coach so that is a big step towards being number 8 for the lions. i got nothing against Brown or Beattie i just see brown as a 6 and Beattie is a good person as second choice 8.

My back row would be
6-Brown
7- Warburton/Tipric
8-Faletau

the reason i have brown and one of them 7s because we need to try and stop the ball getting to the Australia back line

As it stands I would take the following back row players;

6/7 O'Brien, Warburton, Tipuric, Wood, Robshaw

8 - Faletau , Morgan ( if not fit Beattie)..

Not sure who to play in as a Back row as I think they have to work out how they play together. However as it stands I think I would pick;

6- Robshaw
7- Tipuric
8- Faletau

bluestonevedder wrote:

flyhalffactory wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:The hard ground will certainly certainly benefit players like Faletau, Wood, and Tipuric. It could be an extremely quick and mobile backrow.

With it looking more and more likely that George Smith could play a part in the Oz backrow, speed to the breakdown could be key!

Speed to the breakdown will not be the key as we found out with Harley in the 6Ns, its actually being strong enough to retain or win the ball at the breakdown when you get there, that's not Faletau's strength to be honest.

True, but both Wood and Tipuric are strong at the breakdown.

Can't disagree with you fellar, was immensely impressed with the strength and determination of Tuperic against England, particularly in the rucks

i think its going be a pick between Brown and Wood i don't think they both will tour but i think Brown will nick it as their both 6s by trade but brown is a better all round player

I think Wood is nailed on

6. SOB
7. Robshaw
8. Faletau

Nobody is nailed on currently

flyhalffactory wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:

flyhalffactory wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:The hard ground will certainly certainly benefit players like Faletau, Wood, and Tipuric. It could be an extremely quick and mobile backrow.

With it looking more and more likely that George Smith could play a part in the Oz backrow, speed to the breakdown could be key!

Speed to the breakdown will not be the key as we found out with Harley in the 6Ns, its actually being strong enough to retain or win the ball at the breakdown when you get there, that's not Faletau's strength to be honest.

True, but both Wood and Tipuric are strong at the breakdown.

Can't disagree with you fellar, was immensely impressed with the strength and determination of Tuperic against England, particularly in the rucks

Ai, he was excellent. I think his most impressive trait however, is his composure. His double-dummy for Cuthbert's try was sublime.

Pooly - I think that went right over your head didn't it - shame you missed a good one

Haha....long day mate.

I can see a lot of people going for Easter this weekend

Brown, Robshaw, Faletau.

Warburton to captain the dirt trackers.

You heard it here first.

I am unable to vote as I view neither Warburton nor Robshaw as a blindside.
They can do the job but there are better specialist options.

GunsGerms wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:6 Robshaw
7 Tipuric / Warbs
8 Beattie / Morgan / O'Brien (Yes i know he's not an 8)

I think your not far off with the flanks. One of the two welsh guys at 7. I think Robshaw just gives us an excellent all roudn game...with non stop engine. But this 6n has shown me teams really MUST have a big carrier at 8. I would even include O'Brien there purely for his carrying...

O'Brien has won man of the match at 6,7 and 8 for Leinster. He can play anywhere in the backrow.

Not recently though. In my opinion after his form this year for Leinster and in particular ireland he is hardly even in the running for the Lions now.

maestegmafia wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:6 Robshaw
7 Tipuric / Warbs
8 Beattie / Morgan / O'Brien (Yes i know he's not an 8)

I think your not far off with the flanks. One of the two welsh guys at 7. I think Robshaw just gives us an excellent all roudn game...with non stop engine. But this 6n has shown me teams really MUST have a big carrier at 8. I would even include O'Brien there purely for his carrying...

O'Brien has won man of the match at 6,7 and 8 for Leinster. He can play anywhere in the backrow.

Not recently though. In my opinion after his form this year for Leinster and in particular ireland he is hardly even in the running for the Lions now.

Even though Kidney is completely clueless in how to use him, persisting with O'Brien at 7, he was still Ireland's best and most consistent performer in the 6N, not many would argue with that.

6 SOB
7 Tipuric
8 Faletau

I would have Heaslip because we could do with a strong lineout option but his form does not deserve it right now.

RubyGuby wrote:I think Wood is nailed on

With Easter approaching I would urge caution with the use of this phrase,it may cause offense.

Taffineastbourne wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:I think Wood is nailed on

With Easter approaching I would urge caution with the use of this phrase,it may cause offense.

True, Nick probably thinks he's a better 8 This works on so many levels!

Has to be the Welsh backrow that demolished England:

6. Warburton
7. Tupuric
8. Faletau

Robshaw or O'Brien on the bench.

Cyril on 606v2 wrote:

Taffineastbourne wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:I think Wood is nailed on

With Easter approaching I would urge caution with the use of this phrase,it may cause offense.

True, Nick probably thinks he's a better 8 This works on so many levels!

I thank you.

Pointless poll if you are going to miss out lots of options

Brown was probably one of the best performers in the 6 nations - ignored

Beattie - in with a shout - ignored

Scotland still came 3rd yet players ignored as usual

Pointless

rodders wrote:Has to be the Welsh backrow that demolished England:

6. Warburton
7. Tupuric
8. Faletau

Robshaw or O'Brien on the bench.

This seems closest to my thinking. Personally I'd start SOB for his ball carrying, so would have:

6.SOB 7.Warburton 8.Faletau

Tipuric on the bench.

I really like the idea of Tipuric coming off the bench, just to freshen things up and add some breakdown impact in the late stages.

Like the look of that backrow FeS

The killer Bs - the best unit by far

Would that be Bipuric,Barbiton and Baletau?

You need O'Brien in there somewhere as he is one of the best all rounders along with Warbs.

Has Warbs ever played 8????

6. Warbs/SOB
7. Tipuric
8. Warbs/SOB

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:You need O'Brien in there somewhere as he is one of the best all rounders along with Warbs.

Has Warbs ever played 8????

6. Warbs/SOB
7. Tipuric
8. Warbs/SOB

Played 8 for Wales under 20's

You need balance - picking three opensides isn't the way forward.

Number 8 is a specialist position, and it's one of my selection concerns for the Lions that Gatland may take the view that SOB, Warburton, Brown or Wood could "do a job" there. I don't think Wood at 8 worked well for England, and I don't like non-specialists being used in that position.

Faletau is surely nailed on to tour, and the best 8 in the home nations, so he's my test starters. Another specialist 8 should tour, and in my view that's a contest between Beattie, Heaslip, Morgan and (outside bets here) Billy Vunipola or David Denton.

By all means pick strong fetchers and workhorses on the flanks (it's an added bonus that Faletau works his socks off from 8 as well), but we need a good specialist ball carrying 8 at the back of the scrum t give the pack some balance.

funnyExiledScot wrote:You need balance - picking three opensides isn't the way forward.

Number 8 is a specialist position, and it's one of my selection concerns for the Lions that Gatland may take the view that SOB, Warburton, Brown or Wood could "do a job" there. I don't think Wood at 8 worked well for England, and I don't like non-specialists being used in that position.

Faletau is surely nailed on to tour, and the best 8 in the home nations, so he's my test starters. Another specialist 8 should tour, and in my view that's a contest between Beattie, Heaslip, Morgan and (outside bets here) Billy Vunipola or David Denton.

By all means pick strong fetchers and workhorses on the flanks (it's an added bonus that Faletau works his socks off from 8 as well), but we need a good specialist ball carrying 8 at the back of the scrum t give the pack some balance.

Do you honestly believe that SOB is a real openside?
The only thing I could see not being balanced about that backrow is the lack of a really good lineout winner to be a third option

Pete - I know there have been lengthy debates surrounding SOBs best position, but the fact is he's been used most by his club and country at 7, whether that be his best position or not.

I see him personally as a 6 (thus my suggestion above), but I really don't think either he or Warburton are test match number 8's, particularly if you are pairing them with Tipuric at 7. In terms of international rugby, they've all played most of their rugby at 7.