In Gatland We Trust....?

I think we've all had a chance to clam down and take in the squad announcement from yesterday (30th April)

Everyone happy, If not why not?

Those of us that is happy let’s start looking forward to the tour.

Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong
Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth
Sat 8 June v Queensland Reds, Brisbane
Tue 11 June v Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle
Sat 15 June v NSW Waratahs, Sydney
Tue 18 June v ACT Brumbies, Canberra
Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane
Tue 25 June v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
Sat 29 June v Australia, Melbourne
Sat 6 July v Australia, Sydney

Wales (15) - Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Toby Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton

England (10) - Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Matt Stevens, Mako Vunipola, Dylan Hartley, Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft

Ireland (9) - Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, Paul O'Connell, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien

Scotland (3) - Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Richie Gray

Pick you're TEST XV.

My TEST XV

Leigh Halfpenny
Tommy Bowe
Brian O'Driscoll
Manu Tuilagi
George North
Jonathan Sexton
Ben Youngs

Cian Healy
Tom Youngs (R.Best!)
Adam Jones
Paul O'Connell
Richie Gray
Sean O'Brien
Justin Tipuric
Jamie Heaslip

15 Hogg
14 Bowe
11 North

13 Tualagi
12 Davies

10 Sexton
9 Phillips

8 Heaslip
7 Warburton
6 Lydiate

5 POC
4 Gray

3 Jones
2 Youngs
1 Healy

15 Hogg
14 Bowe
11 North

13 Tualagi
12 BOD

10 Sexton
9 Phillips

8 Faletau
7 Warburton
6 Tipuric

5 POC
4 Gray

3 Jones
2 Hibbard
1 Healy

I reckon the team could end up looking like thus

Healy, Hibbard, Cole, Gray, O'Connell, Croft, Warburton, Heaslip
Youngs, Sexton, North, Tuilagi, O'Driscoll, Maitland, Halfpenny

Subs
Jenkins, Hartley, A. Jones, Evans, O'Brien, Phillips, Farrell, Davies

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22367641

Willie John McBride isn't happy with Warburton as captain

VictorU3 wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22367641

Willie John McBride isn't happy with Warburton as captain

Willie's whole premise, and the premise for a lot of posters in slating Warburton, is that he apparently turned down the Wales captaincy. But he didn't do that. As the article says, he discussed it with Howley and they agreed not to change anything, i.e. leave the man in possession with the job as he had done so well the previous couple of games. That's different to turning it down. Martyn Williams turned it down - that was proper turning it down!

Didn't he develop a strange mystery injury, just as people were calling for him to be dropped?

The jury is out about the Captain, but lets get behind the boy's that are Lions.

Unfortunatly with this selection it would appear to me that Gatland has chosen favourites over form and is going to play the Wales type game - thus a 3 nil loss is likely

I hope not, it will be hell on here if that happens.

So many sour grapes on here - Young lad gets Captains arm band and the likes of POC and BOD will be right there supporting this young talented player. I get the impression from this board that a lot of British people would be happier if the Lions lost - Not you by the way VictorU3 but it's just a great shame that posters don't have the same maturity as the players. Indeed the only glaring issues in the squad for me are the inclusion of Hartley and Stevens

TJ wrote:Unfortunatly with this selection it would appear to me that Gatland has chosen favourites over form and is going to play the Wales type game - thus a 3 nil loss is likely

If they do play a Wales type of game. Then you are right, The Lions will lose 3 -0. After all they have lost the Last 8 games on the trot. Right.

Feck me! still not over the 30-3 hammering - how much form do you want

True ruby, Hartley and Stevens would have been lucky and done well to make the back up list imo. I just don't get it.

What bothers me is what happens if Lydiate finds form and Tipuric maintains his awesome form at the moment? Where does that leave Captain Warburton... who was relieved of the pressures of coaching Wales to "focus on his own game"?

If he thought the pressure was on leading Wales he has no idea the pressure he'll be under leading the Lions.

Does anyone here really think that Warburton is a bad captain or is that they think if you were picking a side at present you would proberly have him on the bench?

I don't think his a bad captain in front of cameras etc, he does a good job for his age, but I feel he plays better when he isn't the Captain

My Test 23 today would be: (based on having to play Warburton)

Healy, Hibbard, Jones, POC, AWJ, Lydiate, Warburton, Heaslip
Phillips, Sexton, North, BOD, Davies, Bowe, Halfpenny

Cole, Youngs, Jenkins, Gray, O'Brien, Youngs, Farrell, Hogg

The impact of the bench here could be huge.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Does anyone here really think that Warburton is a bad captain or is that they think if you were picking a side at present you would proberly have him on the bench?

The problem with Warburton is quite simple, its the same problem with Lydiate and that is that they are welsh. Its quite simple. Lydiate is getting ridiculed right left and centre whilst POC with a similar time away is being exhalted. The bitterness is a great shame, albeit understandable after the result a few weeks ago

RubyGuby wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Does anyone here really think that Warburton is a bad captain or is that they think if you were picking a side at present you would proberly have him on the bench?

The problem with Warburton is quite simple, its the same problem with Lydiate and that is that they are welsh. Its quite simple. Lydiate is getting ridiculed right left and centre whilst POC with a similar time away is being exhalted. The bitterness is a great shame, albeit understandable after the result a few weeks ago

Ruby - for some it my be a "Welsh" thing but for me it's not. My concern was and is that I don't believe Sam is the best 6 (Lydiate) or 7 (Tipuric) in Wales. Then consider O'Brien and Croft and I'm no more certain today that Sam should be a certain start. POC or BOD are more likely starters on merit imo.

RubyGuby wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Does anyone here really think that Warburton is a bad captain or is that they think if you were picking a side at present you would proberly have him on the bench?

The problem with Warburton is quite simple, its the same problem with Lydiate and that is that they are welsh. Its quite simple. Lydiate is getting ridiculed right left and centre whilst POC with a similar time away is being exhalted. The bitterness is a great shame, albeit understandable after the result a few weeks ago

RubyGuby. You are so wrong about the problem with Warburton, and Lydate is that they are both Welsh.

Regarding POC and Lydate i did not want either of them in the squad.

And Warburton?.. I have said enough about him to be honest.

Hope that was a joke about the Welsh thing. Personally think Croft, Tipuric and Faletau may work well together but I have nothing against the Irish! Wouldn't be too unhappy with any of the possible backrows but thats the problem I have with Warburton as captain as i think there's too much competition there to gurantee him a place.

Come on ruby I don't think its that at all, we're all Lions fans, Lydiate for me just hasn't played enough games to justify his inclusion, the same can be said for Croft, Bowe and POC who are all lucky to be going

well in a waren gatland interview back a few weeks ago he clearly said that just because someone is captain don't mean he will start every test or game, the best captain is someone who leads from the front and can advise players when they need it. i think its just alot of bitterness between every one because players have been picked and others that they like haven't. theres only one player apart from sam in the squad thats captain of their country and thats heaslip and sam has one more than him as a captain also won more than paul o'connell as captain of his country

Halfpenny
Cuthbert
JD2
Roberts
North
Sexton
Philips
Faletau
Warbs
Lydiate
Evans
AWJ
Jones
Hibberd
Jenkins

majesticimperialman wrote:
And Warburton?.. I have said enough about him to be honest.

Yes you have.

That's a well balanced team Beefy, not really entering into the spirit of things, though I can see it happening with Gatland in charge.

100%beefy wrote:Halfpenny
Cuthbert
JD2
Roberts
North
Sexton
Philips
Faletau
Warbs
Lydiate
Evans
AWJ
Jones
Hibberd
Jenkins

Would be the team that was struggling for wins against Aus, who are your picks to improve them enough to actually get the wins?

Shouldn't all permutations like 2-0 and 1-0 victories be there too?

100%beefy wrote:Halfpenny
Cuthbert
JD2
Roberts
North
Sexton
Philips
Faletau
Warbs
Lydiate
Evans
AWJ
Jones
Hibberd
Jenkins

Seriously if that is the test team, with no injuries to other players. Then break out the corked hat, fosters, and put another shrimp on the barbay!

Maybe, but its unlikely to happen jersey

VictorU3 wrote:Maybe, but its unlikely to happen jersey

Draws do happen

The odds on a drawn tour are gargantuan btw

Just trying to cover my bad.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

100%beefy wrote:Halfpenny
Cuthbert
JD2
Roberts
North
Sexton
Philips
Faletau
Warbs
Lydiate
Evans
AWJ
Jones
Hibberd
Jenkins

Would be the team that was struggling for wins against Aus, who are your picks to improve them enough to actually get the wins?

er obvioulsy sexton at 10

VictorU3 wrote:That's a well balanced team Beefy, not really entering into the spirit of things, though I can see it happening with Gatland in charge.

100%beefy wrote:Halfpenny
Cuthbert
JD2
Roberts
North
Sexton
Philips
Faletau
Warbs
Lydiate
Evans
AWJ
Jones
Hibberd
Jenkins

Probably fairly accurate in the pack with the exception of maybe Healy and Gray. Gatland's squad is based on familiar combinations rather than the best individuals and that is probably the only way the tourists can hope to compete against a settled pack.

The backs on the other hand will be different with a few more instinctive players drafted in.

Everyone complaining about how Gats will try a bish bash bosh approach and that it'll fail, yet then a majority seem to be selecting a backline featuring Tuilagi over JD2 and BOD... Alrighty then.

Looseheaded wrote:Everyone complaining about how Gats will try a bish bash bosh approach and that it'll fail, yet then a majority seem to be selecting a backline featuring Tuilagi over JD2 and BOD... Alrighty then.

Tuilagi is capable of an offloading game and has the pace to make outsides breaks and does so (for his club). England however seemed to have resorted to a bosh approach again after toying with playing rugby for about 2 matches. Also, I don't think many people were advocating a Roberts-Tuilagi partnership as your post implies

Lions coach Warren Gatland says his team for the first tour game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong is likely to be dominated by Welshmen.

Source BBC.

Thoughts?

VictorU3 wrote:Lions coach Warren Gatland says his team for the first tour game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong is likely to be dominated by Welshmen.

Source BBC.

Thoughts?

Its because most of the others are unavailable due to play offs and European finals etc

VictorU3 wrote:Lions coach Warren Gatland says his team for the first tour game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong is likely to be dominated by Welshmen.

Source BBC.

Thoughts?

He didn't say that, he alluded to it being easier for more welshman to play as they will be rested better, and know each other more so than the rest of the squad!!!

Lots of players have playoffs, finals etc... And the lions squad won't have been together very long!

Think back to his first game for Wales, most of the Ospreys side played, and won.

Who's Gatland,

Just for a bit of comedic value, Gatland in Afrikaans is quite hilarious.

It has the same meaning as ....end of the world.

Gat = Hole, but can be another hole.....

I'm going to be honest I'm against the idea, at the end of the day its a show piece against the Baa baas not a win at all costs game like the rest will be, this is the only game where by they have a little freedom to play.

I just think it sends the wrong message to the rest of the squad if he were to start 11+ from the same nation.

Just my thoughts with no agenda attached.

Victor - Gatland will want to win EVERY game and perhaps its best to judge him after the event. We have learned that in Wales and we trust him. However, trust has to be earned so I respect your reservations.

VictorU3 wrote:Lions coach Warren Gatland says his team for the first tour game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong is likely to be dominated by Welshmen.

Source BBC.

Thoughts?

That you're trying to cause trouble.

This is what Gatland has said:

"The team that plays against the Barbarians will probably be the best prepared.

"It will probably have a lot of Welsh players who are not involved in semi-finals and finals, who have been to most of the camps we have had.

"Some of those not involved in club matches are probably going to be a bit more prepared than others and the guys coming in later are going to be at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of getting up to speed."

VictorU3 wrote:I'm going to be honest I'm against the idea, at the end of the day its a show piece against the Baa baas not a win at all costs game like the rest will be, this is the only game where by they have a little freedom to play.

I just think it sends the wrong message to the rest of the squad if he were to start 11+ from the same nation.

Just my thoughts with no agenda attached.

Then Gatland will have to get players released early from their club sides. Do you think they'll allow that?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

VictorU3 wrote:Lions coach Warren Gatland says his team for the first tour game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong is likely to be dominated by Welshmen.

Source BBC.

Thoughts?

That you're trying to cause trouble.

Luckless as a Lions fan I'm allowed an opinion. I only used a headline that is on another website, this isn't a witch hunt!

offload wrote:My Test 23 today would be: (based on having to play Warburton)

Healy, Hibbard, Jones, POC, AWJ, Lydiate, Warburton, Heaslip
Phillips, Sexton, North, BOD, Davies, Bowe, Halfpenny

Cole, Youngs, Jenkins, Gray, O'Brien, Youngs, Farrell, Hogg

The impact of the bench here could be huge.

That is probably pretty close. Gray may partner POC, SOB may start at 6 and I think they will go with Tuillagi at centre (not that I agree with that). It will be close between Cuthbert and Bowe. Bowe is a better all round player but Cuthbert is the best finisher on tour

VictorU3 wrote:Lions coach Warren Gatland says his team for the first tour game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong is likely to be dominated by Welshmen.

Source BBC.

Thoughts?

He is writing off any chance of a Welsh team being in the Rabo final! Great confidence builder