Rugby

FFS

Watching the Eng Vs Fra 6 Nations, and the commentary team insisting on calling England the "red roses" is awful.

Massive second half performance from Tigers tonight against Ulster. George Ford was just incredible along with Genge. Hope at least one of them goes to SA.

Reckon Gatland will go with Biggar and Sexton though, deservedly. Then it's between Ford and Russell, so probably the later as he offers something totally different to the others.

I’m sure he will take Farrell, he trusts him after the last tour. I think Sexton is most at risk, I think he will definitely take Biggar and Russell.

Farrell as he covers 12 also, bigger and Russell to be in the test squad and sexton only to go if he considers Farrell as taking a 12 slot in the squad. George not getting a lookin unfort.

Is my prediction.

So... Lions announcement in the next half an hour or so.

Be interesting to see which way Gatland goes on some of the fringe choices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpH6rioAkEA

live feed if anyone cares
(stealth edit)

AWJ as captain is such a bad call. He's not good enough, he was laughably bad in the 6 Nations, literally stands on the wing out of the way sucking in air for long periods. He's not got the engine for Test match Rugby anymore. The media's obsession with him as a modern day great will forever baffle me, the most overrated player of the professional era. Put it this way if he was South African he'd still have 150 odd Wales caps.

Rumours of Simmonds being picked are good for the Lions. Billy gets taken to the cleaners every time he faces Vermeulen and Simmonds will cause far more problems for SA. There'll be a lot of lucky English tourists (Daley, George, Farrell). If he picks Care I think that's a decent wild card option. Fundamental problem is that maybe 3 (max 4) Lions would make the SA team (Furlong, Curry, Hogg). Lions need to hope that the fact that SA haven't played since the WC final and will be seriously rusty will give them a chance. On paper should be 3-0 to the Boks but sadly it doesn't work like that.

the most overrated player of the professional era.

Lol. Might be on your own there

It's a close run thing with Billy, but the ludicrous hype AWJ gets edges it.

Hmmm..

Not too sure about that.

There are some big surprises in there.

Some players are very much being picked on club form: Simmonds, Daly, Conan etc.
Some players can feel harshly dealt with: Ryan, Davies, Ringrose & Slade

Aki looks like he wants a Tuilagi style centre, which is no surprise.

Despite being a chiefs fan, even I am a little surprised that Hill got a call up.

Hill a very lucky tourist. It's a bizarre squad, really odd mix.

I'm not sure I would describe Hill as a lucky tourist. He has been excellent for the Chiefs for the last 3 years, winning the premiership and european cup...

I think there are far luckier people in the group

It almost feels like a squad they put out by accident, with quite a few names I expected/hoped to see missing.

He's been awful at international level though. His ceiling is very much the club game.

Gatland obviously planning on playing one of the locks at 6 given how many he's picked.

Billy has been a bit of a dead weight since he broke his leg but he was one of the best 8s in the world for a couple of seasons. How you can have him and AWJ as the 2 most overrated players is beyond me. If you want hype, look at big Sam Burgess. Want overrated look at quade cooper or Billy 12trees.

Makes sense, ESP if he plans to pick one of Watson, Simmonds, tipuric to start.

Billy has never been one of the worlds best 8s in my opinion. He never shows up against decent opposition (read not the 6 Nations). AWJ is credited for his longevity rather than his talent, he'd be uncapped if he was from SA.

Yeah it is 100% the way to go. Beirne, Curry, Faletau is the best back row combo to take on PSDT, Kolisi and Duane.

Although AWJ is possibly my least favourite player and seems to get away with terrible dirty play all the time, he is very good. The sort of player that you want on your team but hate playing against.

I do not get the wall to wall adoration he gets for everything he does, especially when you watch the extra cover his team mates have to do towards the end of the game when his engines gone.

He is the main reason that I back all the other home Nations teams over Wales.

Agree that picking him as lions captain appears to be sentimental. I wouldn't have him touring but then again I'm pretty ignorant compared to actual rugby coaches.

That's a fair point, he is an excellent wind up merchant and along with Itoje's insistent calling and shouting maybe the plan is to wind Eben up for an early Red. Worked for Wales in the 6N.

That is a high risk high reward strategy.

That's who I'd pick also. People will be screaming for watson. I think he may get run over by a sa pack tho.

I find no sinkler weird.