The rugby

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I'd put Fin Smith ahead of Prendegast too.
Finn Russell to be the test 10.
Fin Smith and then one of George Ford or Prendegast as back up, with Marcus Smith as 4th choice waiting for the phone call.

Suspect it will be Russell, Fin Smith and Prendegast. I think you have to start with Russell but with the acceptance that his high risk approach does have the potential to cost you. I suspect after the 6N that Maro has booked himself the spot as Captain.

 

[laurentian]

Suspect it will be Russell, Fin Smith and Prendegast. I think you have to start with Russell but with the acceptance that his high risk approach does have the potential to cost you. I suspect after the 6N that Maro has booked himself the spot as Captain.

Maro was very popular among the travelling Lions supporters on the last tour and I think I'd be happy with him as captain. I'm also a big Marcus Smith fan and he'd be on the plane if it were me picking the squad for 10, 15, 13 (if needed) or wing . . . he just seems to make things happen when he has the ball in hand.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Save me googling... Where are they going?

 

[laurentian]

Save me googling... Where are they going?

Aus

 

[Dogtrousers]

Aus

Meh. They're rubbish. England beat them on their own last time out.

Well, they beat them for about 78 minutes, anyway Don't quibble over details.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Maro was very popular among the travelling Lions supporters on the last tour and I think I'd be happy with him as captain. I'm also a big Marcus Smith fan and he'd be on the plane if it were me picking the squad for 10, 15, 13 (if needed) or wing . . . he just seems to make things happen when he has the ball in hand.

I like Marcus but I have a suspicion that Farrell is probably going to want more power and I think he may well miss out. Will be interesting to see what he does with the Irish players, you just got a slight sense during the 6N that this was a team in slight decline and a few don't seem to be at the very high standards of the last 3-4 years.

 

[Pross]

I'm probably the only one who thinks Russell won't be the starting 10. I just reckon Farrell will go for the more conservative option and then maybe have Russell to come on if things need to be changed up. I'd deinitely have Itoje as captain. There are a lot of positions I wouldn't like to be selecting as there have been some really good performances. Struggling to think of a Welsh player who should even tour let alone make a Test squad which is sad. People talk about Jac Morgan but I feel there are others that do what he does just as well and also offer better options in other areas like ball carrying. Blair Murray has been OK but there have been loads of other very good performances at full back and wing. I would possibly take Max Llewellyn and Ben Thomas to get experience but they'd be midweek team at best.

 

[Dorset Boy]

It does feel like one campaign too far for some of the Irish players, but they will still provide the core of the squad.

With regards to Marcus, he's great to watch, but really doesn't create much for anyone other than himself, and just confuses others. Not really his fault as I think very few are on the same wavelength.
Compare that with Finn R, who is constantly creating space for others to exploit.

 

[Dorset Boy]

I'm probably the only one who thinks Russell won't be the starting 10. I just reckon Farrell will go for the more conservative option and then maybe have Russell to come on if things need to be changed up. I'd deinitely have Itoje as captain. There are a lot of positions I wouldn't like to be selecting as there have been some really good performances. Struggling to think of a Welsh player who should even tour let alone make a Test squad which is sad. People talk about Jac Morgan but I feel there are others that do what he does just as well and also offer better options in other areas like ball carrying. Blair Murray has been OK but there have been loads of other very good performances at full back and wing. I would possibly take Max Llewellyn and Ben Thomas to get experience but they'd be midweek team at best.

You don't go on a Lions tour to gain experience though, so that should rule both of them out. All the other nations' centres are better than those two (even if a few aren't really British or Irish!!!).
I think Tomos Williams will go as one of three scrum halves.

You do seem to have a 'thing' against Finn R though Pross. Having obviously watched him a lot playing for Bath, he really is truely exceptional with ball in hand and has to be the starting 10 if fit. He brings the best out of those around him, and the way he shrugs off his mistakes helps those around him to relax too, and not worry too much if they make a mistake.

 

[Pross]

You don't go on a Lions tour to gain experience though, so that should rule both of them out. All the other nations' centres are better than those two (even if a few aren't really British or Irish!!!).
I think Tomos Williams will go as one of three scrum halves.

You do seem to have a 'thing' against Finn R though Pross. Having obviously watched him a lot playing for Bath, he really is truely exceptional with ball in hand and has to be the starting 10 if fit. He brings the best out of those around him, and the way he shrugs off his mistakes helps those around him to relax too, and not worry too much if they make a mistake.

It's not so much I have a 'thing' about him. He's an exciting player to watch but in general international coaches seem to favour steady and consistent over mercurial. Even Scotland were reluctant picking him a few seasons back. I'm also pretty sure most touring parties take some players for experience even if they don't say that's the reason. There's been plenty of previously uncapped players selected over the years alebit not since Will Greenwood in 1997.

 

[matticus]

Have they got anyone else to argue with the ref about every little moment?

 

[Dorset Boy]

Have they got anyone else to argue with the ref about every little moment?

Err, he's joint captain for Scotland, and likes to be clear about what the offence was against his team. You never see him arguing with the ref, but he's often in dialogue with them. Unlike the likes of Dorris who is always in the ref's ear questioning the decision, or James Lowe berating the touch judge when a decision goes against him.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

I'd put Fin Smith ahead of Prendegast too.
Finn Russell to be the test 10.
Fin Smith and then one of George Ford or Prendegast as back up, with Marcus Smith as 4th choice waiting for the phone call.

Then the backs could be known as the Fin Red Line.

 

[laurentian]

It does feel like one campaign too far for some of the Irish players, but they will still provide the core of the squad.

With regards to Marcus, he's great to watch, but really doesn't create much for anyone other than himself, and just confuses others. Not really his fault as I think very few are on the same wavelength.
Compare that with Finn R, who is constantly creating space for others to exploit.

Yeah - I've heard others say the same about Marcus and, to back up what you're saying, I have read that his talents are much more beneficial to Quins who he plays with week in week out. I don't get to see an awful lot of Premiership rugby as I play on a Saturday but the timings of international matches mean I see them more often. He looks a mercurial talent to me and, like I said above, things seem to happen when he has the ball. Contrary to what you say, I think he does put others into space but, again, as I don't see many Premiership games, I don't really see Finn Russell play there either.

I do think that Ollie Lawrence has been bloody unlucky with his injury. The stand out centre for England in the 6N I thought and would be on the plane if I were selecting on the strength of the 6N

 

[Dorset Boy]

Oh my, how terrible have Saints been in the first 40 this evening? 0-23 down at home to their biggest rivals, and haven;t fired a shot.
It really looks like they have been on holiday for 6 weeks and not trained at all.