RugbyRebels

Now that we know Gatland is coach, how many Scots will be with the Lions? And who? Will any play against the ABs?

Probables IMO:

WP Nel

J. Gray , but lots of competition from England, wales and Ireland.

Laidlaw, coaches tend to like the kicking option.

Bennett,very adaptable player as proven by 7s. Howere not the Gatball kind of centre.

Seymour

Hogg



dark horses:

Hardie
Richie Gray(veteran status/ideal token candidate)
Dickinson (streching here)
Cornell du Prez (strechimus maximus)

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If he gets back from injury and has a good season Russel might be in with a shout. How come you didn't mention Hogg? He's probably one of the few names from all the home nations who is on the test XV list.

Matt Ha wrote:If he gets back from injury and has a good season Russel might be in with a shout. How come you didn't mention Hogg? He's probably one of the few names from all the home nations who is on the test XV list.

Hogg is there. I didn't put any comments because it seems quite obvious he is in with a shout(bar terrible season/ injury/ new up and coming star + 1/2 on form of his life).

Russell could be a third flyhalf but I doubt Gatland will put him before Biggar or Sexton... Madiggan could also shine in France.

Adder wrote:

Matt Ha wrote:If he gets back from injury and has a good season Russel might be in with a shout. How come you didn't mention Hogg? He's probably one of the few names from all the home nations who is on the test XV list.

He is there. I didn't comment because it seems quite obvious he is in with a shout(bar terrible season/ injury/ new up and coming star + 1/2 on form of his life).

Russell could be a third flyhalf but I doubt Gatland will put him before Biggar or Sexton... Madiggan could also shine in France.

Sorry. Didn't scroll down far enough.

Laidlaw is an interesting one. As you said he's got a reliable and unflappable boot and while the public don't rate him as a 9 coaches seem to think he's got leadership qualities: something you need down in NZ.

Matt Ha wrote:

Adder wrote:

Matt Ha wrote:If he gets back from injury and has a good season Russel might be in with a shout. How come you didn't mention Hogg? He's probably one of the few names from all the home nations who is on the test XV list.

He is there. I didn't comment because it seems quite obvious he is in with a shout(bar terrible season/ injury/ new up and coming star + 1/2 on form of his life).

Russell could be a third flyhalf but I doubt Gatland will put him before Biggar or Sexton... Madiggan could also shine in France.

Sorry. Didn't scroll down far enough.

Not to worry. I also didn't mention Dunbar because he has a mountain to climb to get back to Lion Form.

I think only Hogg will go, and I don't think he'll start a test. He'll probably get on in the last test at some point, though.

Props: WP NEl is very solid
Hookers we don't have any great ones.
Locks, huge competition between all nations. We will probably lose out to this.
Backrow, our backrow isn't brilliant and Gatland tends to like big players there.
9, Don't really think we have anyone (bar laidlaw for tactical reasons)
10 strong competition, Russel needs a great season.
Wings, Seymour in with a shout IMO. (after all, they took Maitland last time)
Centre: maybe Bennett but he doesn't fit Gatball
FB: Hogg

So Nel, Seymour and Hogg are my 3 token Scots.

Hard to disagree with that. Though it seems insane if Jonny Gray doesn't make it.

Mikey Brown wrote:Hard to disagree with that. Though it seems insane if Jonny Gray doesn't make it.

Lock has to be the most competitive position at the moment.

Lawes
Launchbury
Itoje
Alun Wyn Jones
Iain Henderson

It's a big pool of talent to pick from.

I honestly don't see him being taken.

He's plenty good enough. Lawes isn't as good. Henderson/Itoje have looked great but are pretty green. Launch has been injured a long time and may not be first choice. Is AWJ the force he was?

Stones of granite wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Hard to disagree with that. Though it seems insane if Jonny Gray doesn't make it.

Lock has to be the most competitive position at the moment.

Lawes
Launchbury
Itoje
Alun Wyn Jones
Iain Henderson

It's a big pool of talent to pick from.

I honestly don't see him being taken.

You could add Cruz in there

Edit: I meant Kruis

See how AWJ goes this season. His leadership qualities will be a factor but he does look like time is catching him up a bit.

I prefer our other combos, but in the centres is there not an argument that on6N form Taylor is in contention. Very solid which suits Goathland but also scored two pretty impressive tries and showed a few other flashes. Also plays for a strong club side.

I'm not saying I'd pick him but fear that I (and others) dismiss him because we don't see that much of him and prefer watching Dunbar, Bennett and Scott do well

Stones of granite wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Hard to disagree with that. Though it seems insane if Jonny Gray doesn't make it.

Lock has to be the most competitive position at the moment.

Lawes
Launchbury
Itoje
Alun Wyn Jones
Iain Henderson

It's a big pool of talent to pick from.

I honestly don't see him being taken.

If Henderson goes it'll be at 6. He's not better than Gray just now and never has been. Who knows what the future will hold but I'm not betting on the nordie.

Adder wrote:

Stones of granite wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Hard to disagree with that. Though it seems insane if Jonny Gray doesn't make it.

Lock has to be the most competitive position at the moment.

Lawes
Launchbury
Itoje
Alun Wyn Jones
Iain Henderson

It's a big pool of talent to pick from.

I honestly don't see him being taken.

You could add Cruz in there

Edit: I meant Kruis

Yeah, him too.

Adder wrote:Now that we know Gatland is coach, how many Scots will be with the Lions? And who? Will any play against the ABs?

Probables IMO:

WP Nel I'd elevate Nel from probable to likely. IMO, he's competing with Cole for the starting jersey.

J. Gray , but lots of competition from England, wales and Ireland. Agree on this one. Definitely in with a shout, but arguably the toughest position in the squad from a competition POV. On recent form I'd expect Itoje and Kruis to be in. Even if his recent form hasn't been great, Alun Wyn Jones' pedigree puts him on the plane and then it's probably two from Launchbury, Henderson and J. Gray although they may all go if Henderson is picked at 6. Charteris, Lawes, Toner and R. Gray are possibles, but on the next rung down for me.

Laidlaw, coaches tend to like the kicking option. Agreed. Barring inury Murray and Webb are the clear favourites at 9 so Laidlaw is competing with Youngs and Gareth Davies as the third choice scrum half. It depends whether Gatland values his boot and leadership experience (possible mid-week captain?) over Youngs and Davies' sniping abilities.

Bennett,very adaptable player as proven by 7s. Howere not the Gatball kind of centre. Not impossible, but I don't think he's better than Joseph, Davies or Henshaw and Jared Payne is also a good shout as a squad player given his ability to cover 15. Tuilagi might also come back in to the frame as a 13 too. For me the competition from proven test players makes him more of a dark horse than a possible IMO.

Seymour Fairly likely for me. I'd assume North and Watson are in the box seats for the 11 and 14 shirts, but beyond that, there's not too many obvious candidates. Another good run of games for Scotland and he'll be there or thereabouts.

Hogg Like Nel, I'd say Hogg is very likely to be in the squad and possibly the starting XV. Brown and Kearney have dropped-off the radar, so I think it's between Hogg, Halfpenny and Williams. If it were up to me I'd take all three with Williams covering wing and fullback.

dark horses:

Hardie I think Hardie's more of a possible than a dark horse. He's done very well for Scotland so far and I wouldn't say that the 7 shirt is as cut and dried as it was for the last tour. None of the starting 7s from last years 6N should be nailed-on. IMO, Warburton is overrated - he certainly isn't a patch on the player he was 3 years ago. He'll definitely go, but O'Brien seems to be constantly injured and Haskell's form last season may not be replicated post injury, so I think it's up in the air. If Hardie continues to perform at test level, he'll be a contender and his knowledge of how the breakdown is played/refereed in the SH can't hurt.
Richie Gray(veteran status/ideal token candidate) Agreed. Unlikely IMO.
Dickinson (streching here) Lots of decent looseheads, so again unlikely.
Cornell du Prez (strechimus maximus) No chance. Unless there's an injury crisis, Faletau and Billy Vunipola are as good as nailed-on and given that du Preez is yet to play at test level, he doesn't have enough time to bypass more experienced players like Heaslip.

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You might be being a bit harsh on yourselves here guys ... my comments above.

I'd add a couple more dark horses:

Finn Russell - IMO he's a very good attacking 10. I don't see him getting ahead of Sexton, Farrell, Ford or Biggar, but I wouldn't totally rule it out either.

Duncan Taylor - I rate him highly. His ability to play equally well at 12 and 13 makes him a contender for a squad place. He's also playing in a very successful club side which can't hurt.

It is a brutal brutal schedule and there are finals the weekend the Lions fly out so we could potentially see a 40+ squad (apologies if Gatland has squashed that idea, just back from a week with the in-laws).

Scottish players in the 6N/Glasgow players in the playoffs need big performances as they are unlikely to be in the European knock outs.

Props:
Nel - as things stand he's "on the plane for me".
Dickinson - Doubtful.

Hookers: Nope.

Second Rows: Given the tough schedule it makes sense to take known partnerships. Kruis and Itoje are a combination that works. Not bothered about experience but they will probably take AWJ. That being said Gray Jnr should go. This position is wide open though. Gilchrist could be an outside bet with a good AI and 6N.

Back Row: I like Hardie, really depends on selectors though. No.8 will depend on TF's injury as he and BV would be definites. Blindsides - a lot of decent players, but any Scots would need to do something good to make it.

9's - I wouldn't take Laidlaw. Gatland might.

10's - I can't see Russell making it. Ford, Biggar, Sexton and Andy's Kid ahead of him. If you select Russell then your 9 or 15 probably needs to kick.

Centres: If Dunbar (can keep fit), Bennett and Taylor keep fit and hit form then the centres could be a decent tear up. Again, I wouldn't under estimate the value of a known decent partnership. If Dunbar and Bennett can tear up the Pro 12 and the 6N (whilst pushing Taylor out) then they could have a chance. Taylor can play wing well too which makes him a decent shout for the 23 shirt in any game.

Back 3: Hogg on form will go. Seymour should be in consideration.

I think there should be at least 2 and at an absolute push (and I stress absolute push with players hitting their real peaks) there could be 7 (a combination of Nel, Gray, an other 2nd row, Hardie, Laidlaw, a centre, Seymour + Hogg). I would hope maybe 4 or 5 will make it.

If we have 4 on the initial party with Scotland in Oz we will probabbly get 2 - 3 more as replacements with being so close

I actually think itoje will travel as a 6

WP Nell
so J Gray
Hogg
Seymore


Call ups Bennett, Taylor, Mcinally all have a chance if they get a good season

The problem we have is Gatland sees the Lions as a way of improving his welsh base for the world cup so any 50/50 will have a welsh player

Adder wrote:Now that we know Gatland is coach, how many Scots will be with the Lions? And who?

Steven Shingler?

Adder wrote:Will any play against the ABs?

Now you're just being silly,

The mid-week game before the Maori shadow test is against the Highlanders. No doubt your lads will get a token trot in that match.