B&I Lions 2017
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@Pot-Hale said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in B&I Lions 2017:
Is Van der Flier not in the mix? I'll be more than happy if they leave him at home.
He doesn't sound very British so unlikely to travel.
Besides, kiwis would probably protest at yet another Saffa being included in the squad....
😏
Not a Saffa, but Irish with Dutch ancestry. His paternal grandparents moved from the Netherlands to Ireland in the 1950s.
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@rotated I can understand that view, it's certainly a valid argument. I just find the Irish style of play they revert to very quickly to be very limited (the Chicago game seems to be an anomaly) , and England to have more facets to their play. Grinding out wins when you're not playing well is not a bad thing.
I think it's testament to England's improved mental strength that i fully expected them to get up and win that game on the weekend, despite being pretty ordinary all game.
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@mariner4life said in B&I Lions 2017:
@rotated I can understand that view, it's certainly a valid argument. I just find the Irish style of play they revert to very quickly to be very limited (the Chicago game seems to be an anomaly) , and England to have more facets to their play. Grinding out wins when you're not playing well is not a bad thing.
I think it's testament to England's improved mental strength that i fully expected them to get up and win that game on the weekend, despite being pretty ordinary all game.
I disagree on the facets of play assessment, I think Ireland are able to play at more tempos and have a better counter attack game than England - but perhaps are more easily stifled.
Like you say it's a bit of a conundrum, I give England all the credit in the world for grinding out these wins - they have some seriously improved mental skills to keep grinding out these wins. But the fact they keep needing to do this every week says to me they haven't put daylight between them and the pack.
After considering what you said this English side is very 00-02 Wallabyish (obviously without the reputation a RWC win brings before it). As an AB fan it very tough to say they were comprehensively the best side in the world or even a better side than us - but fuck me they kept the silverware.
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end of the day , if you are selecting, you have to put aside where they come from and just pick the best players for each position ,
Once you start worrying about where they come from I think you are in trouble
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@kiwiinmelb said in B&I Lions 2017:
end of the day , if you are selecting, you have to put aside where they come from and just pick the best players for each position ,
Once you start worrying about where they come from I think you are in trouble
Kind of agree with you but there is also the aspect of key combos e.g. the 8,9,10 if playing a tight game or the 10,12 if looking to attack. The 12,13 combo has to come into consideration for defensive organisation as well.
Not saying that you have to make matches there but it would come into your thinking even if just regarding the compatibility of play.
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@Crucial said in B&I Lions 2017:
@kiwiinmelb said in B&I Lions 2017:
end of the day , if you are selecting, you have to put aside where they come from and just pick the best players for each position ,
Once you start worrying about where they come from I think you are in trouble
Kind of agree with you but there is also the aspect of key combos e.g. the 8,9,10 if playing a tight game or the 10,12 if looking to attack. The 12,13 combo has to come into consideration for defensive organisation as well.
Not saying that you have to make matches there but it would come into your thinking even if just regarding the compatibility of play.
Yep agree with that ,
I was more referring to trying to pick the right numbers from each team to keep people happy , or the thinking England have been the best team so they should have the most players etc,
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Yeah it's very difficult gelling a Lions squad and team. Often with rugby it is the whole rather than the sum of the parts that is the thing. Add to that the setting aside of ancient rivalries and nationalistic pride and you have quite a problem.
Whilst England have ben the most successful over the last year and a bit, I feel that they are very much an example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Yeah we do have some stand out players but not that many. Take Mike Brown, who has been and ever present has rarely let us down (albeit his game is seemingly going backwards atm) but no-one has mentioned him as a Lions contender and I would agree with that - also I don't see him as being a "good" tourist. Too much Mr Angry.
Ireland and Wales will both have a significant number of players going and hopefully Scotland will have decent representation as well, although injuries may scotch that (pun intended).
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@Stargazer said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Pot-Hale said in B&I Lions 2017:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in B&I Lions 2017:
Is Van der Flier not in the mix? I'll be more than happy if they leave him at home.
He doesn't sound very British so unlikely to travel.
Besides, kiwis would probably protest at yet another Saffa being included in the squad....
😏
Not a Saffa, but Irish with Dutch ancestry. His paternal grandparents moved from the Netherlands to Ireland in the 1950s.
Yes I know this.
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@Pot-Hale Fairly mediocre bait, but you got a bite nonetheless. Good skills man.
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@Crucial said in B&I Lions 2017:
What's the reluctance to play VdF?
He looks like he brings an element of dynamics that should be encouragedGood question. I think his injury absence has removed him from people's thinking but he's a genuine 7 and for a young Irish player has accomplished a lot. Given the comparative backrow depth for the Lions he may not make it. Instead he'll have to rip it up in USA and Japan during the summer, although Dan Leavy is gunning for him.
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@Stargazer No I mean an official one. That has a Lions crest but fake NZ logos.
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All Blacks to play warm-up match ahead of British & Irish Lions series
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew has confirmed the All Blacks will play at least one match before this year's Test series against the British & Irish Lions. The multi-nation Test team will take on the world champions in three Tests in June and July, as well as seven other matches against Super Rugby clubs, the Maori All Blacks and a provincial Barbarians outfit. It will be the first time the Lions have toured New Zealand since 2005. Tew confirmed on Thursday that the All Blacks, who have not played together since November last year, would have a chance to shake out the cobwebs before their first Test in Auckland on June 24. The union was yet to decide if that match would be against a Test side, such as a Pacific Islands nation, or a Kiwi selection. An internal All Blacks vs All Blacks match, with extra players called in to make up the numbers, may also be on the cards. "We know they'll always have some form of hit-out at some stage when we get into these short lead-ups," Tew said. "We're still giving it a little thought and the coaches have reflected on that over the past few weeks."The All Blacks have also previously taken part in friendly "game of three halves" tournaments with two provincial Kiwi outfits. Last year's game was held in Pukekohe with Counties Manukau and Northland.
All Blacks set for warm-up ahead of Lions
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew has confirmed the All Blacks will play at least one match before this year's Test series against the British & Irish Lions.
