/rug/ - Lions Squad Discussion Edition

Posting this message from New Zealand.

NZ win 3-0, 20+ margins in each test

Pick your team lads

1. M. Vunipola
2. George
3. Furlong
4. Itoje
5. Kruis
6. POM
7. Warburton
8 B. Vunipola
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Daly
12. Henshaw
13. Joseph
14. Williams
15. Hogg

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kek

>>75348369
McGrath
Owens
Furlong
Itoje
Kruis
Warburton
Tipuric
Vunipola
Murray
Sexton
Nowell
Farrell
Henshaw
Williams
Hogg

>nz has the same number of lions as scotland

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How did Gatland get away with it?

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>fewest scottish lions since 1930

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Are Scotland the Connacht of the British Isles?

>>75348510
England = Leinster: Biggest playing population, generally posh players, hated by everyone else
Ireland = Munster: MUH PRIDE, MUH PASHUN
Wales = Ulster: Nobody's favourite or least favourite, flatter to deceive, for some reason think they have a reputation/tradition of playing attractive creative rugby
Scotland = Connacht: JUST

>>75348462
There's probably more scottish blood in the all blacks than the lions

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>tfw somehow more loins than ireland

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*blocks your bagpipes*

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>tfw you realise all the Lions will be exhausted and out of form next season
>Leaving an easy grand slam open

cheers Gatty boy

>>75348648
Biggar and Halfpenny are the only ones who don't deserve to be there. Anyone saying AWJ or Blue Hat don't deserve their spots is an idiot.

>>75348668
>/our year/ already

>>75348756
It literally, objectively, factually and indisputably, is and will be, our year

>>75348668
>>75348756
>>75348791
lads it is unironically inevitably our year
glorious greg laidlccaw will be the only fit scrumhalf
shame vern cotton couldn't stay one more year

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Welp, time to dust off the old All Blacks jersey.

>>75348676
am i the only one that imagines blue hat man has to wear his blue hat everywhere and it took ages for him to feel comfortable enough in the presence of strangers to take it off for this photo

Who's going to mug for the camera the most for the Lions documentary?

My money's on Marler and Webb

Only 2 from N. England this time?
Nobody from Isle of Man?

>>75349123
webb, youngs, teo

>>75348341
Any of you lads not rate Stander? Saw a few questionable comments in the last thread

>>75349123
There's not really many banterlords there this time.

>>75349200
only see him carrying the ball
could do well with him and warburton flanking and moriarty at 8
this is coming from an englishman

>>75348341
Any of you lads not rate Stander? Saw a few questionable comments in the last thread >>75349123

>>75349200
meme player

>Provincial Union XV
What's about on this team?

>>75349220
>moriarty at 8
>the same 8 who made the least amount of metres in the six nations
He's a tackler, nothing more.

>>75349220
He carries the ball bloody well though

Alun Wyn Jones over Launchbury, I feel sick

More like Alun Lose Jones amirite

Hopefully Big Billy wallops him in the first training session and Garland rings up Launch yet with his tail between his legs

Also can we talk about the inclusion of Payne and Te'o over Huw Jones. Literally what the fuck

>>75349237
exactly
moriarty makes the tackles, stander does the ball carrying and warburton fills in the cracks
how's that for backrow balance

>>75349280
Huw Jones is injured la

>>75349234
Good english lad, I think it's a team made up of the provinces below super rugby, so manawatu, christchurch etc

>>75349293
Thanks senpai

So why didn't he pick Brad Barritt then

>>75349280
being thrust to the forefront of the sport so quickly while still so young is a dangerous recipe (too much, too young too fast type thing)
i reckon gatland couldn't take the risk of having a potential loose canon off the field

6. O'Mahony -link play, pilfering, lineout
7. Warburton -tackling, pilfering, lineout
8. Vunipola -carrying

20. O'Brien -impact

Pretty good BR balance there, especially when combined with the potential SR options

>>75349342
Would rather have Stander for impact than O'Brien

Vunipola will be tired after 60

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I will consider the tour a failure if DMack scores a try against us

>>75349414
>Scotland's brave Damian of clan McKenzie scores the winning try that seals the series in the second test

>>75348462
>>75348502
Preparation for new referendum?

>>75348369

1.McGrath
2. George
3. Furlong
4. AWJ
5. Itoje
6. Stander
7. Warbles (c)
8. Vunipola
9. Murray
10. Sexwee
11. North
12. 'Ice man' Faz
13. JJ
14. Sanjay
15. Hogg

Find a flaw.

>>75349356
Not sure why we're impacting stander lads

>>75349657

He's a freak of a ball carrier and tackler.

Him, Vunipola and Warbles is a back row the Kiwis would fear.

>>75349703
Also lol that his scrum half is taller than him

Still a beast though

>>75349643
Very good but no way in hell Gatland doesn't pick a bosh midfield and 1/2p at FB

>>75349733
I would bet money on him not locking halfpenny, could you imagine the backlash

>>75349643
balance is off in backrow
stander and coconut man are both big ball carriers so one of them has to go for a head down clear out tackle man like o marny or moriarty
i just feel like the lean nz forwards would run rings around fatty vunebola

>>75349733

Halfpenny is perfect bench fodder.

Plays all three at the back and you can bring him on for a 65 meter kick to win the game for you.

>>75349829
I want to argue that Vunipola has leaned out enough that what you said isn't true, but he always looks just a biiiit sluggish round the field if I'm honest

>>75349847

Gatland is a stickler for fitness.

He'll have Billy running bleep tests twice a day untill he's shitting his own lungs.

Why is Warburton captain? Why is he in the team at all? Such favouritism.

Gatland should be shot.

>>75349747
M8 he dropped BOD for Roberts last time Gatland doesn't give a flying fuck about backlash

>>75349187
Nah we're all busy lad

>>75349965
Hmmmm, good point

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this cheeky kent

>>75349958

>Best seven in the Northern Hemisphere
>Captained the Lions last time
>But why has he picked Warburton as Captain

The absolute state of you.....

>>75350006
rare and well timed

>>75349931
I hope so, billy is naturally a fat fuck so

>>75350075
>Best 7 in the NH
>Can't even start their for his own country

>>75350075
Don't ever reply to me again Warren

>>75350110
Got him there

>>75350080
If it doesn't take place on two wheels most people here aren't interested. Plus we only got the internet a few months ago and a lot of people haven't gotten over the shock their gas lamps being replaced by light bulbs so it'll be a while before you see anymore of us

>>75350264
I love your country desu, Douglas is a good place

>>75350264
ever had a dead biker turn up on your lawn?

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>>75350075
>Best seven in the Northern Hemisphere
>shifted to 6 by this man
really got the old noggin' thinking

>>75350290
I love it when I come back to see my fmaily but after a few weeks it looses its charm. At its best in TT though

>>75350337
Nah not the lawn but had a few crashes into my wall where the riders got BTFO, sidecars are the worst

>>75350402
Tbf Warbs has been a beast at 6

>>75350418
I'll be honest I do love it but it does give me a spooky vibe sometimes, really sparsely populated and with all the old places

Lawes is a conman.

No surprise that he's picked all the black players from England, got to fill those quotas

>>75350451
Still blows my mind how Launchbury wasn't picked.

>>75350466
It's because he's the wrong colour.

I'd have taken Haskell, too.

>>75350442
Its got its fair share of weird locals and weird places, but everyone's pretty friendly. If you're into sp00ky shit there's some pretty cool abandoned buildings and ruins around

>>75348510
>Using an Irish Proxy to spread british isles propaganda

Yeah Nah

>>75350545
haskell would have been all over lions cam
he really is a twat

Scotland

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>12 Welshmen

>>75350799
The only ones you can say don't deserve their spots are Biggar, Halfpenny and maybe Jon Davies. Even then, Davies wasn't terrible in the 6N and we don't have a huge amount of quality in the centres.

>>75350824
I think yo need a passing centre to beat the all blacks. JD2 cant pass and isnt that good of a bosh merchant. We wont win the tour off solid defence alone

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>>75348676
>>75350824
I heard you the first time Rhys

>12 Welsh players have been selected

>>75350869
I would have taken Memerose, Dunbar or Scott Williams instead of him myself but you can see why Gatland went for JD2. Te'o is the worse pick by far

> you now remember Lealiliafano getting knocked out 20 seconds in to the first test

https://youtu.be/0YKT6LBtKQs?t=12m12s

>>75350941
I like the idea of Farrell-Daly. Depends on how big the All Black midfield is

>>75351006
>Depends on how big the All Black midfield is
It'll likely be Crotty-ALB. Not big, but not going to roll over either

>>75348601
Are you actually surprised? Ever since Gatty was appointed, we knew he was going to fill the squad with Welsh memes.
>moriarty had a good half against england?
>got to have him in the squad!

Warbuton shouldn't be on the starting team, even if he'd been fully fit but now he's guaranteed his place. This is going to be a disaster.

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>>75348341
Why is there "People" on here pushing the lions agenda so hard right now?

We have Champions Cup matches up next on the weekend surely we should be making threads about that, but there seems to be a "group" on here hell bent on pushing the lions agenda for some reason

Here in Ireland nobody talks or cares about the lions, its either Leinster, Munster or the Irish team thats talked about

The way the lions agenda gets pushed on tv and the internet you'd swear that the UK state was about to break up or something and that a group of people were pushing a unionist brainwashing agenda to try stop it

I dont know, i could be wrong

>>75351034
Moalas picking up form and SBW is available. Fekitoa as well

Crotty-ALB seems defensive. Mind you if you got Barrett, Perenara, Dagg and Smith in the backline a defensive midfield might not be a bad thing

>>75351035
fuck off padraig, your potatoes are boiling over

>>75351051
Somehow the (((Lions))) are popular

>>75351035
>Warbuton shouldn't be on the starting team
nice meme

>>75351055
>sunni bill
>pookitoa
no chance

>>75351055
fekitoa has been a no show recently

>>75350595
Will have to check that out next time I visit

>>75351081
You have BT Sport (Sky's Bitter Rival) promoting the lions non stop during their Rugby Matches that they show and are basically trying to up Sky's Viewership

Yeah, i dont think so

>>75351171
It's the biggest event in the rugby calendar aside from the world cup and is the last real touring side of the sort you used to get in the amateur era. The Lions are a part of rugby's heritage.

>>75351211

I genuinely feel sorry for people who don't "get" the Lions. They're missing out on one of the few properly big events in the rugby calender.

>>75351211
>It's the biggest event in the rugby calendar aside from the world cup

Its not though, its 3 friendly matches against another World level team

It doesn't even get near the 6 Nations nevermind the World Cup

It just a meme team of 4 Countries who have no real reason to be playing Rugby together anymore

If they wanted to do the combined country meme thing they should do something like a united European Team taking on a combined Australia/New Zealand or South American or African or Asian team

Now that id watch and have an interest in

The lions, Meh

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>>75351353

>It doesn't even get near the 6 Nations

Then how come every player says the Lions is the pinnacle of their career?

Personally don't like the Lions for several reasons.

1. Makey up team.

2. Too much rugby and chance of injury increases.

3. Not feasible in this day and age to take a scratch side, with no continuity, and expect them to be able to play test level rugby in a month. Especially against the best team in the world. Ludicrous, no?

4. Literally means nothing if they win since it's not a real team.

5. Just an Anglo-Welsh circlejerk. Practically Christmas for them boys.

6. Feel no connection with the team or sense of kinship with the constituent countries.

>>75351551
I know you're trolling but just watch a lions behind the scenes lad.

>>75351411
>Then how come every player says the Lions is the pinnacle of their career?

No they dont, thats a lie, Go find me the proof every player has said that

Pro Tip: You wont and cant

They only play because its part of their contract they have with their own Countries Unions plus the money they get paid

With the shit a Rugby player puts his body through if they had a choice they'd rather be on the beach recovering and healing before the start of the next season of they're domestic league

>>75351551
>Just an Anglo-Welsh circlejerk
O'Driscoll and O'Connell both love the Lions.Or are they just west brits?

>>75351551
>6. Feel no connection with the team or sense of kinship with the constituent countries.

This

4 cultures being pushed into one meme team will never be as good as being in a team of your own Countrymen

We proved this only a few months back beating New Zealand on our own

I dont see the lions winning a single match, against New Zealand anyway

>>75351647
>Or are they just west brits?

Both of them are now working for british television as commentators so work that one out

>Shit, how will i get paid after my Rugby career is over

They are no different than prostitutes, just thinking of ways to keep the money flowing in

>>75351551

>reeeeee, the Lions tour ruins my meaningless summer test matches once every four years

m8, there's only like 10 countries who actually give a shit about rugby. The Lions tour offers much needed variety.

Watching the same teams play each other over and over and over again is boring

>>75351608

t. Mrs Brown

Hey rugby fans!

There is a lot of terrific banter today in the wake of the B&I Lions Squad announcement and I for one love it.
Although, I can't help but notice the use of some contentious terms. "British isles"
particularly.
Now I know we all want to have a laugh but I also think ye will agree with me that /rug/ should be a warm and welcoming place for all, regardless of race, gender or nationality.

Perhaps instead of using "British Isles" you could use "Britain and Ireland" or "these fair isles"

If you do insist on using the term "British Isles" could you please at least preface it with a trigger warning, i.e (TRIGGER WARNING- CONTENTIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS) at the top of your post.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a good day!

>>75351948
Just call them the Meme Isles and call it a day, because both countries have become utter memes.

>>75351948
Great post! Alternatively, if a post is contentious or may cause some frustration to members of our community then please consider posting it in the designated 'sledging' thread instead.
I'd also like to ask that you keep the banter directed at our American 'ruggers' to a minimum! We want them to watch our sport and scaring them all away would be really terrible!

>>75351948
t. Lesser Britain

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Dusautoir to retire at the end of the season.

>>75353011
only guy to completely outplay an All Black backrow (on 2 occasions)

>>75353047
the 2011 Bonnaire - Hairydonkey - Dusautoir backrow was GOAT, though Dusautoir was already on the downslope

>>75351551
>Personally don't like the Lions for several reasons.
>1. Makey up team.
Fair
>2. Too much rugby and chance of injury increases.
Doesn't really change much from the usual June tests in terms of games played 2bh, especially for the team that comes to NZ now we make them play to super rugby sides and laugh when they lose to them with all their All Blacks gone (see the Welsh stomping).
>3. Not feasible in this day and age to take a scratch side, with no continuity, and expect them to be able to play test level rugby in a month. Especially against the best team in the world. Ludicrous, no?
The BI Lions have longer to play and practice together than whatever NZ side is picked to play against them 2bh. For the All Blacks the schedule is super rugby games, then playing the BI Lions in their super rugby teams, then jumping into the All Blacks camp, then a week to a fortnight later playing the BI Lions.
>4. Literally means nothing if they win since it's not a real team.
It is a real team and it is a pretty big deal to beat them or to have a good BI Lions tour, though I suppose this has more to being Irish and not wanting to take pride in British accomplishments (except when your average rugby player, BOD, was captain, then it's the pride of Ireland for decades).
>5. Just an Anglo-Welsh circlejerk. Practically Christmas for them boys.
Fair
>6. Feel no connection with the team or sense of kinship with the constituent countries.
Fair, you could say that about most national (in the BI Lions case pseudo national I guess) teams though. I feel significantly less connected to the All Blacks than I do "my" super rugby side.

>>75353011
Good Player but he's not really French

The only reason i bring it up is because this is the reason your National side has been underperforming for years, Its got too many Non French

>Example
No Cultural Harmony in the Squad

Its the same reason the lions will lose in New Zealand

Met service has updated their app and now their weather widget isn't 1x4
I have to rearrange my home screen now, what a bother.

>>75351551
This is why the republic should be annexed

What happened to the old thread?

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>>75351948
t. British Islander

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>>75348668
>hogg breaks his leg

>>75351106
Starting back row should be Stander, Tipuric and Vunipola. Warburton on the bench.

He's not a guaranteed of his place, especially after the injury, so he shouldn't be captain. Should've been AWJ.

>>75355142
should be, but it's obviously going to be warburton

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>>75355071
>He doesn't know he has a british flag in his flag

>>75351948
>makes this post
>doesn't preface with trigger warning
I'll have you know I've notified my local branch of Sinn Fein and will be phoning into Joe Duffy tomorrow to complain >:(

>>75355312
>>75355142
Stander and Vunipola in the same back row is too unbalanced. Two of Warburton/Tipuric/POM should be the test flankers along with either Billy or Faletau. Stander should be kept as a finisher/midweek 8 I think.

>>75349643
>13. JJ
I thought /rug/ agreed he was EXPOSED in the Aviva? He's not consistently good enough.

Besides, Henshaw is nailed on at centre whether it's 12 or 13. Gatland watched Leinster play Connacht in 2012-13 when he was getting ready to pick the Lions and was so impressed with the 19 year old Henshaw that he asked him if he had any ties to Wales. Since then Henshaw got huge and can do the Roberts role if needed. No way he's getting left out.

>>75355324
>muh flag banter
I'm proud of my British heritage.
You should be too.

>>75352969
that's wales

>>75355841
Sexton/Farrell/Henshaw would be great to see, but it looks like Gats isn't convinced of Farrell as a second five. Unfortunately Faz is the only distributing 12 in the team.

>>75353217
>The BI Lions have longer to play and practice together than whatever NZ side is picked to play against them 2bh.

The New Zealand team is a settled side which largely knows who their best players are, with the same coaches for the last 5-6 years, that's what I meant by continuity, along with a team culture and structures etc. But you are right the Lions will have a much greater warm up in the run into the tests.

>>75350545
Haskell is a borderline useless flattrack bully. He's only okay when given a really basic role, but he's not a leader when his team's back's against the wall. Did you see the quarter-final against Leinster? He was absolutely awful against some 22 year old who's been on the first team for under a year.

Based on that game and the game v. Italy, he also seems to not understand the rules of the game despite playing it professionally for nearly 15 years.

Then you add in the fact that he's a massive twat and probably a raging closet case (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3863020/England-rugby-star-James-Haskell-held-court-sexually-degrading-boat-trip-party.html), I'm delighted he isn't going.

idea: kick the paddies out of the lions and invite france

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Who's the designated 'keep him frozen in ice until the tests' player this time?

What are your midweek teams? I'd go with
1. Marler
2. Best (c)
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Henderson
6. Moriarty
7. SOB
8. Stander
9. Youngs
10. Biggar
11. Nowell
12. Te'o
13. Davies
14. Seymour
15. Payne

The pickings for the midweek side looks pretty slim, so I fear for it. But the test side could be brilliant

>>75356289
Sexton, North and Billy

>>75356195
>paddies
umm but we're allies now against the dreaded antipodean colonials

please stop using this racist language

>>75356337
North is shite

New Zealand will be licking their lips if he plays

>>75356462
He got injured in the Wales tour down there last year, but he was making linebreaks for fun in the first test. On song he's incredible, but he's inconsistent and made of glass.

>>75356462
old jelly brains is gonna get smashed around by all the coconut wingers in midweek games

>>75355963
No its Ireland
From Google
>Great Britain is an island separated from the European mainland by the English Channel and North Sea. It comprises the nations of England, Scotland and Wales.
>Lesser Britain is an island West of Great Britain. It comprises the nations Northern Ireland and Ireland.

>>75356585
any kiwi wing apart from naholo would comfortably outclass him

need footballing wings

>>75353217
>Doesn't really change much from the usual June tests in terms of games played 2bh
It's 10 games in 5 weeks. Your frontline players are going to play in at least 2 of the All Blacks games, 3 if they somehow manage to win one, and they're each going to have to play at least twice before the real tests to make sure they're up to speed with the game plan.

That's at least 4 games, at least 2 against the best team in the world, who deliberately or not, have habit of injuring our players, with the other games being against regional sides, who on most tours are usually more interested in injuring the Lions than beating them. On top of that the doctors you're working with aren't the ones you're used to, which based on my experience in other sports, makes a massive difference.

Cian Healy and Sean O'Brien were both world class when they went on tour in 2013 and they've never been the same since.

>>75356692
I'd be inclined to agree that he's not what we'll need
Liam Williams and Seymour would probably be best.

>>75356653
that must make you lesser ireland

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>the phonecall that saved dylan hartleys lions tour

>>75356941
How? We are the islands of Zealandia also known as New Zealand.
Ireland is apart of the British Isles and is on the lesser of the 2 main land masses.

>>75357061
>>75357061
because you're basically us just worse in every way apart arsegrab

>>75353981
His dad was a French military guy stationed in the Ivory Coast iirc

>>75356712
>It's 10 games in 5 weeks. Your frontline players are going to play in at least 2 of the All Blacks games, 3 if they somehow manage to win one, and they're each going to have to play at least twice before the real tests to make sure they're up to speed with the game plan.
Other than the 10 games part, that is what happens to teams that come to NZ during the June tests. We are forcing them to play our super rugby sides mid week now too so the 10 games is slowly getting closer to the reality of coming to NZ during the June tests.
>That's at least 4 games, at least 2 against the best team in the world, who deliberately or not, have habit of injuring our players, with the other games being against regional sides, who on most tours are usually more interested in injuring the Lions than beating them. On top of that the doctors you're working with aren't the ones you're used to, which based on my experience in other sports, makes a massive difference.
Reminder that Ireland injured more All Blacks when we played you recently than the other way around. Injuries are the nature of the sport. Fair point about the doctors, but you still have your usual doctors that tour with you, and then like any tour even an away game during the 6 nations, when you go to hospital if required you see a strange doctor you have never met. So that's largely true for every away game ever.
>Cian Healy and Sean O'Brien were both world class when they went on tour in 2013 and they've never been the same since.
That's more because they are actually weak players not so much because they went on a lions tour. That sort of thing was going to happen to them eventually 2bh.

>>75356191
Best rug post of the 2016/17 season

>>75355953
disgusting

>>75356195
>paddies
Please refrain from using language like this outside the designated sledge thread :)

Edit: spelling

What's worse?
>having some pride of having some of your history on your countries flag
Or
>having a country unironically own a third of your country

>>75356462
>>75356606
If he plays against Sam "bringing the pain to the opponent's brain" Cane, his brains will be coming out his nose

Why did Sexton even make the team? He's might as well be made of glass these days

Sumo and Jay are fulling in great 2bh. Really enjoying their chemistry and banter

We haven't a chance against Saracens on Saturday, have we lads?

>>75351353
I still don't think you understand the "touring with lads you barely know" aspect. In the amateur days of international rugby, you'd meet up with the rest of the team a week before the game at most. The closest you get to the old atmosphere is the Lions. The Baa-Baas are good too, but it's not really the same thing.

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>>75358620
Not when we have Sam 'breaking necks and giving no hecks' Warburton

>>75358599
>having a country unironically own a third of your country
kek SURELY this wouldn't happen, right?

>>75358599
This really made me think. I didn't need that this early, haven't even had a coffee yet!!

this was unironically a great test match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPVnYuRtzAg
shame it got overshadowed by the shitshow vs the Chiefs

>>75351647
I like the Lions for what it is, but O'Driscoll is unironically a West Brit. The extent to which his opinion is put on a pedestal in Ireland is ridiculous.

ROG is the superior pundit in every way to those two.

>>75359004
Based ROG has five kids. Doing his part for the future.

>>75359108
How many ROG sprogs would it take to tackle a full speed Pierre Spies?

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>>75359108
Based fucking ROG doesn't get nervous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFZdQkDfEk0

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>mfw NZ don't know about Te'o's armcast
Reckon we could catch a cheeky smash on Barrett?

>>75359325
I don't think any Irishman could take down a Big Strong Afrikaaner desu

>>75358940
I love watching NH teams come out at the start of matches so frantic and full of energy only to be steadily ground out by the Mighty All Blacks.

>>75348462

We have more if you count the coach. Fuck Scotland desu.

>>75356191

Haskell is a complete twat. I used to think he was alright an that he was pretending to be a twat to be ironic. But then one day I realised it wasn't ironic, he was just a twat.

However, he's a fucking useful impact player. One of the main reasons England won 9000 games in a row is because they had impact donkeys like Haskell to come on. It fucked the French over and it got them over the line against Wales.

If you put somebody like Haskell on from the start defences are fresher and they suss him out a lot easier. But in the 70th minute when the big bastard English pack has been hammering the line all day, he's a defenders worst nightmare. A 6'4 rectangle of ball carrying twat.

He's a more effective version of Moriarty at the moment so he probably should have gone.

teams that will win against the lions:

all blacks
blues
crusaders
chiefs
hurricanes
highlanders
new zealand barbarians
maori all blacks
provincial XV

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>beat the welsh in the six nations
>have a team of yours reach the quarter finals of the european championship, unlike the welsh teams
>most recent warriors title is in 2015, unlike the welsh in 2012
>still get vastly outnumbered by the welsh for the lions

is there ANY rational explanation behind this? why do the scottish cucks allow this? don't they have people in boards or something?

>>75360080
Lions got to the final last year though remember :^)

>mfw every pleb literally wont stop talking about Launchbury
>6 months ago Joe couldn't even make the England match day 23 and nobody said a word

People are so fickle.

The locks who have gone are really strong. But, MUH LAUNCHBURY

>>75360177
>don't they have people in boards
Townsend was offered the attack coach job but turned it down.
>beat Wales in 6N
for the first time in a decade
>muh quarters
Because the whole Scots test team plays for Glasgow, the Welsh players are all over the place in comparison
>warriors
When was the last Scottish international title?

>>75360177
Well who would go?
>Nel
If he was fully fit he would have gone but he's not, he's been injured for ages
>J.Gray
Overrated as fuck, having a high tackle count doesn't hide the fact the rest of his game is average
>R.Gray
I thought he might have gone Tbh, he's got lions experience and that extra height over the other second rows
>Watson
Decent player but a good 40 minutes against Wales doesn't mean he's anywhere near as good as the other 7's picked
>Laidlaw
He's not better than any of the 9's picked
>Russell
Far too flaky, more likely to lose you a game than win it
>Maitland
Definitely have a case there, he's a great player with lions experience and can cover the entire back 3
>Dunbar
Another good case, he should have really been picked to get some pace in the centres

Only solid arguments are R.Gray, Maitland and Dunbar IMO
That would take the Scottish numbers to 5 and they still wouldn't be happy

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A little part of me is sad that we won't see a te'o roberts centre partnership.
Coulda been a good laugh.

>>75361344
yeah, for the all blacks to run through repeatedly

>>75360062
lol what reality are you living in, Haskell is a bang average, bordering on shite carrier

>>75361344
Might see Te'o-Davies in the midweek games.
I think we saw Manu-Roberts last time as well, which is basically the same thing but better.

>>75359325
a few but Pierre Spies is still overrated as fuck, serious speed for his size though so respect

>>75359472
Considering Te'o almost killed Warburton with the fucker I'm sure he could catch barrett with one

Seriously though how is he still allowed to wear that thing?

>>75361611
God I miss a prime, in form Manu, he was fucking lethal

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>>75361639
>>75359472
He should wrap a bit a barbed wire around it.

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Who would win this face or ben te'os right forearm?

>>75361719
>2013 Lions had prime Roberts, Manu, JD2, North and Cuthbert with a load of bosh options in the pack as well
How many times did Gatland spaff himself in Australia?

>>75361918
hnnghhhh I can feel gatlandball exploding over my face

>>75361819
Considering Te'o has almost killed warburton with it, there's only one winner really

Also why does everyone on this board hate DM

>>75361997
I don't but I can imagien his general aura of smugness attracting some hate.
Also refering to himself as a skuxx probably contributes.
I like his playstyle desu.

>>75361997
He is a cock irl
A tripfag pushed the Dmack is a good player meme
His first time on the field he let on 2 tries on defence (for the AB's)
His first time starting at 10 he was so shit they had to sub him back to full back
Also these points >>75362135 minus the "he has a good play style" it's a typical modern day NZ fullback play style and is literally nothing special

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>>75362241
Some not a chiefs fan then i take it?

>>75362336
No, but it's not like he even plays outstanding for them. We have 2 Barrett's that do the same but better, we have Smith who is the undisputed best fullback in the world, we have wingers who can fill the gap in fullback if needed well. We don't need some meme that doesn't do any of these things better than people looking at the same spots in the squad. He isn't even a good utility back which is the spot he fits best.
He is too small to stop run away full backs and wings.

He just isn't AB material 2bh, there is no shortage of players that offer more than Dmack does.

>>75359352
You know the late late is struggling for guests when they invite a turnip on as a guest

>>75362637
true, he's too small really

exciting when at his best though, good club player I guess

>>75362637
Assuming barett is still struggling with his klicking consistency damien could be at 15 to take the kicks or something. Not that you guys really need a consistent kicker considering you just blow poeple the fuck out with try onslaughts.
>>75362657
Holy shit that's hilarious.

>>75362745
Its not even just that he is small, plenty of players get by in National sides that are small. He just doesn't really seem to use it to his advantage enough to off set his size.
>>75363048
B Barrett is fine, he is just resting his injury and not kicking too much. His struggle with kicking as of late is not form related but injury related.

Plus his brother ticks every box Damien does and more. And then you add in the chemistry with his brother and he is an obvious pick over Damien 2bh.

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>>75361344
This will be the Lions midfield for the tests

Not even joking I mystic meg showed me last night

>>75363369
Also Jordie has size unlike Damien

>>75363468
Well that's what I hope it is, god forbid we have to suffer feckin farrell at 12.

>>75363520
why you hating potato

>>75363468
Henshaw Payne midfield with better finishers than Earls outside them could actually be pretty good.

>>75363554
I like farell at 10 or 12 for england but pairing him with sexton just won't work imo.
Like hell it might even be interesting going farrell 10, webb 9, and those two at centre.

>>75363742
you make a good point actually, I'll concede today potato man

>>75363742
Also if you're going to put the irish pair at centre might as well stick sexton at 10 for dat synergy gains wouldn't you

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kek

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>>75363979
Yup, plus makes sense having farrell on the bench for multi position cover.

>>75364010
coming from a new zealander lol

>>75364030
I'm liking the way you think

Would you put Farrell on as an impact sub then?

>>75363468

Can't wait for the shitstorm when Gats picks JD2 at centre for the first test.

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>>75364057
Dunno just have him on the bench, same with daly and henderson.
I'm a sucker for having people on the bench who cover more than 1 position.
Although having said that I don't really know who the leaders are in the squad bar best and wyn jones, and farrell seems like a strong rally around me type character so maybe it'd be worth starting him on that basis.

>>75364151
Daly is a god tier bench man.

Farrell is a huge morale boost if Paul O Connell was anything to go by last lions tour

>>75364199
Yeah I liked that moment in the dressing room.
>farrell's little sheepish look when he says it.

>>75364151
Payne is always cited as Irelands defencive captain andy Big Farrell likes him

Despite the fact Payne came into this squad under the radar I wouldn't be surprised if he has a big role to play on tour.

>>75360306
they picked 2 heavyweight locks (Itoje/AWJ) and 3 rangy/lineout locks (Henderson/Lawes/Kruis)

pretty good balance. Everybody knew from the start that at least a few really outstanding locks were going to miss out.

I don't think this literal semen slurping sport is for me lads

>>75364226
Farrells a bit (well, maybe more than a bit) autismo but he has a fucking huge heart and he means well

>>75364721
Neil Jenkins - Big Boss
Farrell - Solid Snake
Biggar - Liquid Snake

reminder lima sopoaga would make 10 over any NH 10

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>>75364721
The videos with him and haskell certainly warmed me up to him a bit.

>>75361639
"medical reasons" i think, Coconu t'eo broke his arm at somepoint

>>75363369
I'd say he uses his size very well. He cuts through opposition defence better than someone like Dagg, and since his training with the ABs, it looks like he's improving his ball security in the contact a la Ben Smith.

I agree with you about him not having clear advantage over his competitors though. If Hansen takes Cruden+Soap as specialist FH and Barrett as utility sub again, there's really no room for McKenzie.

Because Hansen will almost certainly include another crash ball wing in the squad to cover Savea.

>>75365982
What other crash ball wingers are you thinking of in NZ?

I feel that we really only have Fatvea now. All our potential crash baller wings play in the midfield like Laumape, Rieko, Ranger. Or as back row; Akira, Ardie.

Seems to that the NZ play style is evolving past crash ball wingers and back to a much more expansive and faster game where speed is again more important than power on the wings.

>>75359352
Was he autistic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E22xSsM222s

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>>75360062
>squad includes o'brien, stander, faletau and vunipola in the back row
>also has itoje and henderson as second rows
>"haskell should be brought for his carrying"

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> I dont rate Mckenzie

>>75349539
Mckenzie will be playing for the Chiefs not the All Blacks.

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>>75366874
>i rate people based on how many unfunny posts a tripfag on /rug/ makes about them

>>75366240
Naholo, and Rieko can cover wing. Personally I'd much prefer Hansen select an elusive runner as opposed to a crash runner. Savea is still the incumbent left wing though

>>75367232
Nanai will get capped at some point, dunno about the Lions but that guys got wheels and can cover fullback

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>>75366874
>i rate Mckenzie

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>>75367670
>>75367006
Try again sweeties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8wZVW17Hew

>>75367815
>dude check out this highlights video
there are highlight videos for fekitoa
that doesnt mean hes any good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td3yJhumajo my favourite highlights video and the best player to come out of the Chiefs.

>>75357194
>because you're basically us just worse in every way apart arsegrab

But we're better than you. All you have is whiskey and U2. I'd rather drink Steinlager and listen to Supergroove.

>>75367986
But the video calls him the Messi of Rugby. Which is an elite truthbomb.

Who are you to argue?

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>>75368202
That's basically an average match for keith earls match

https://youtu.be/n9Kdg1AYXUQ#t=2m27s
My name is Damien Mckenzie and this is my world class defense

>>75364035
Our Australian was Brad Thorn, our South African was Andrew Merhtens, our Tongan was Malakai Fekitoa.
I had to google Tongan All Blacks, I thought our island boys have always been Samoans and Fijians.

>>75364035
Reminder that NZ had as many foreign players as England last world cup
Reminder that out of those foreign players several were just born overseas and have 2 kiwi parents but technically they are foreign

>>75366240
>Ranger

Ranger hasn't been in All Black contention since he left for Japan or Europe or wherever the fuck he went.

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Watch a game and you miss Mckenzie, watch Mckenzie and you see the game

>>75369117
I actually got that wrong. I could have sworn it was that. Less that Ireland and less than Scotland
http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/09/13/foreign-born-players-rwc-2015/
Also check Tonga, I didn't realise NZ could send 2 teams to the world cup.

>>75367311
He has been included in the All Blacks wider training group before.

>>75369190
And Samoa and Japan
NZ sent 4 teams to the last RWC, how is that fair??!!!

>>75369137
He's still a big fat crash baller

>>75369225
>>75366240
> Savea (Both)
> Naholo
> Moala
> SBW
> Fekitoa

What is this meme Gatland would rip his cock off to have any of these crash ball merchants. We just dont consider them crash ball merchants because they have a wider skill set (by talent or by coaching I'm not getting into that argument)

>>75369614
naholo is not a crashballer

>>75369653
With Gatland he absolutely would be. Not as effective but Ive seen him do midfield hit ups pretty regularly

>>75369672
>awake at 5am discussing the finer points of gatlandball
proud Tbh

Calling it now, Farrell will win the hearts of /rug/ by the end of the tour.

1- Owen Farrell
2- Dan Biggar
3- Ben Te'o
4- Iain Henderson
5- Rhys Webb
6- Tommy Seymour
7- Courtney Lawes
.
.
.
.
9001- Ross Moriarty

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>>75370098

how many hat tricks will pooden pissrat score

>>75370098
farrell irritates me

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>>75370472
Retallick has been /rug/s guys from the very beginning

>>75369614
SBW draws players in and offloads. He often doesn't even crash hard enough to break the line. I don't know why everyone else fall for his predictable shit because he's always been ineffective against NZ SR teams.

bulls or cheetos lads

>>75370850
Draw

>>75370850
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlBfDMtjHis

>>75370850
balls are favorites on TAB

>>75369190
You had the same amount of players qualifying by residency as us

>>75371040
So your admitting that Ireland is a Mercenary country? Because if we are and we are the same as you you are.

>>75371072
What are you shitehawking on about

>>75371149
Well if you followed the convo, there was a joke about NZ being a team of foreigners. Then proof they aren't. And now either acceptance that NZ isn't a mercenary team or acceptance Scotland, Wales and Ireland are as they have as many or more foreign players.

So Mr. Foreigner what's it going to be?

*doesnt die from a potato famine*

>>75371149
He has a point fuckhead.

>>75371222
>>75371264
>>75371292
Why are you lads always so angry and upset about something

Ha ha! Time for truthbombs!

>Andrew Mehrtens was better than Dan Carter

Here's my truthbomb:

75371323 is a fuckwit.

>>75371323
elite and muscular truthbombs?
i have one

Aaron Smith is better than Perenara

>>75371328

Argument? Not an.

>>75371323
Alright heres mine. The Blues will develop into a title threat this very year

>>75371323
Steffon Armitage should have been picked for the Lions

>>75371384
That's more of an Islamic car bomb than a truth bomb

>>75371323
Chris Robshaw should never have been dropped as England captain

>>75371317
>u r so mad
Nice rebuttal.
>>>/b/

>>75371673

Really like this one if I'm honest.

>>75348341
>scotland

Why are they so shit at sport?

>our national sport, and even our public services, are now represented by dancing south Auckland whores

What have we become lads

>>75371715
This desu. The NZ Post adverts are a tragedy.

>>75348676

>The halfpenny is bad meme

He's great for your 3x3 style of play

>>75357194
>because you're basically us

Well no because a huge chunk of our country doesn't belong to somebody else

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England squad announced for Argentinian tour

>>75371725
>3x3 style of play
there's been a few 3 times tables this super rugby season m8

>>75371750
>Solelomemea
kek
KEK
K E K

>>75348341

Anybody else have tickets? Couldn't get my hands on a test match but I'm going to the Crusaders game.

>>75371750
>Cowan-Dickie
Wonder if he still has that awful hairstyle

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South American A Championship soon

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So? Did he make it?

Time to review your maths before the Lions tour lads.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dzVyBQ5uTbo

>>75371846
They don't play in NH.

>>75371323
Cruden is still a better 10 than Barrett

>>75371815
kek

>>75371734
I never knew so many Kiwis were Irish Republicans, glad to have you lads on board, just more proof really

>>75371715
>someone paid a consultant and then signed off on these adds

Upper management do not deserve their paychecks

>>75371750
Is Eddie Jones coaching them or shall be another one from his staff?

>>75371332
*was

>>75372125
Now this is a truthbomb

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english anon hate egg chasing
however north is my fav player

>>75372191
can it be considered ironic that he plays in the northern hemisphere?

>>75372191
What an arrogant cunt.

rugby

How many Weet-Bix can you do lads?

>>75372351
14 but mum got mad

>>75372351
About 3 is the perfectly comfortable sized breakfast for me. Never tried to eat more than ~6 if I'm really hungry.

I'm not a huge breakfast fan so I usually go pretty light.

How do you have your Weet-Bix lads?

I go with chopped walnuts and maple syrup in milk, or milk and sugar, or I throw a few in a blender with a banana, frozen berries, yoghurt, water and milk.

>>75372462
A dash of hot water from the jug to soften them and a dash of milk for the taste. Then I eat them while drinking my coffee

>>75372351
I prefer quinoa with strawberries, banana and maple syrup, maybe a splash of non-homogenized LRC if i'm feeling creamy

It's called weetabix

>>75372483
this

>>75372483
>>75372502
When Weetabix sponsors the World Champions then we'll call it Weetabix. Until then it's Sanatarium Weet-Bix.

>>75369190
>be the only civilised country in a sea full of poor as fuck coconuts
>be surprised when they want to give birth in your hospitals so they dont die

Small brain - Sexton
Medium brain - Barrett
Glowing brain - Farrell
Meditating and giving birth to a new universe brain - Biggar

Durrrr I kick ball through sticks me good player

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ROBBED