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No idea if this will generate any interest here but me and a few mates have been coming up with our Lions squads for the tour to New Zealand later in the year.

Mine is below, with the next in line for each position in brackets. I.e. If someone gets injured the bracketed player would fly out.

All thoughts and opinions welcome!

Loosehead Prop:
Jack McGrath
Mako Vunipola
Gethin Jenkins
(Joe Marler)

Hooker:
Rory Best
Dylan Hartley
Jamie George
(Ken Owens)

Tighthead Prop:
Tadhg Furlong
Dan Cole
WP Nel
(Kyle Sinckler)

Lock:
Alun Wyn Jones (capt)
Joe Launchbury
Maro Itoje
Richie Gray
Jonny Gray
(George Kruis)

Back Row:
Sean O'Brien
Sam Warburton
CJ Stander
Chris Robshaw
James Haskell
Jamie Heaslip
Billy Vunipola
(Ross Moriarty)

Scrum-Half:
Conor Murray
Ben Youngs
Rhys Webb
(Greig Laidlaw)

Fly-Half:
Jonny Sexton
Dan Biggar
(George Ford)

Centre:
Owen Farrell
Robbie Henshaw
Jonathan Davies
Jonathan Joseph
(Huw Jones)

Wing:
Elliot Daly
Anthony Watson
Sean Maitland
George North
(Simon Zebo)

Full Back:
Stuart Hogg
Leigh Halfpenny
Liam Williams
(Rob Kearney)

14 English
9 Irish
9 Welsh
5 Scottish

Haven't bothered with a starting 15/23 as all dependant on form on tour for me, but you are welcome to offer your own!

cannot wait! love Lions tours

my squad (with those also in consideration in brackets)


1

McGrath
M Vunipola
Rob Evans
(Marler)

2

Hartley
George
Owens
(Best, Brown)

3

Furlong
WP Nel
Cole

4-5

AWJ
Itoje
Launchbury
Gray x 2

(Kruis, Lawes, Ball, Toner, Henderson). Probably the most strength in depth of any position we have

6-7

Stander
Tipuric
Warburton
Haskell
Sean O'Brien
(Robshaw, Watson, Barclay)

8

Vunipola
Moriarty
Faletau
(Heaslip, Strauss, Hughes)

9

Murray
Youngs
Webb

(Laidlaw, Care, G Davies)

10

Sexton
Biggar

(Russell, S Davies, Ford)

12-13

O Farrell capt
Henshaw
S Wlliams
Joseph
J Davies

(Ringrose, Dunbar, H Jones)

11,14

Watson
North
Daly
Seymour

(Nowell, Maitland, Zebo, Earls, May

15

Hogg
Halfpenny
L Williams

but thats 39 players which is too many. going to be leaving some good ones behind

AWJ is probably captain but lock os so competitive. Farrell at 12 is an auto astarter and developing leader for me



crack at a 23

Vunipola
Owens
Furlong
Itoje
Launchbury
Stander
Tipuric
Vunipola
Murray
Sexton
O Farrell
Joseph
North
L Williams
Hogg

McGrath
Hartley
Nel
AWJ
Warburton (covers 6,7 and 8 at a push)
Youngs
Halfpenny (OF moves to 10 if Sexton is crokced)
Daly (covers all the back 5)

Gatland is on record as saying 37 or 38 to go, so think you'll need to lose a centre Rich. Daly can play there after all.

Farrell as Captain is an absolutely brilliant shout imho. Instantly converted - not sure Gatland has ever had a back as captain though?

ok

i really rate Scott Williams but its tough to get in ahead of Henshaw or Farrell next to Sexton

Possibly Joseph's form needs to pick up to get in

one of those two stays behind

--

i think the captain will be AWJ, its been setting up that way since the last tour. Don't want to leave out Itoje and a Gray or Launchbury though to get him in the test team

similarly I don't have Hartley as an automatic choice

Farrell is, I think

Joseph would shade it for me, but yes his form needs to improve.

Think to be honest that only Farrell, Hogg, Sexton and probably Murray are guaranteed starters for me in the test team, and of them Faz the only 100% certainty.

If it's 38 rather than 37, it will be 8 back rowers and then I would also take Moriarty.

Did a quick count and we are taking 33/38 the same - we would make a good tour committee!

Jenkins/Evans
Best/Owens
Robshaw/Tipuric
Heaslip/Faletau
Maitland/Seymour

I can't persuade you with the experience/test match animal argument in any of these cases?

Gethin is very long in the tooth. Rob Evans is good and i think can play both sides?

Never really rated Rory Best. went on the last tour, got nowhere near the test team and Owens is v good. rate jamie george highly too

Tipuric is the out and out open side flyer i want against the all blacks. Robshaw is yet another fridge freezer at 6, and i have those covered

Vunipola is my test 8 but faletau is too good not to take. moriarty or heaslip is close

seymour is a great finisher, but neither of the scottish wings get in my test team

i will be doing well to get 70% of my selected names right. he'll pick some combinations we won't expect and can be expected to favour some Welsh names he knows well

Gethin can also play both sides and would be making a 4th tour. Mako or McGrath would start the test anyway so take Gethin to captain the midweek side and show the young uns what makes a good tourist etc.

Faletau needs to get back to his form of 2-4 years ago for me - Heaslip has been fantastic whenever I have watched him over the last 12 months.

I could live with Tipuric over Robshaw but I'd actually be looking to SOB to start the tests at 7. The guy is phenomenal on the floor and we have to slow down their back row somehow.

Owens or Best I'm ok either way. Owens is a little on the small side for me, but I'm really expecting Jamie George to be the test hooker anyway - Gatland loves his hookers to be aggressive and dynamic - think Hibbard 4 years ago.

I think the squad is actually easier to pick than previous years - only huge competition in the second and back row for me tbh. In most other positions it's a couple of definitely and then a toss up isn't it?

Warren Gatland keeping cards close to his chest on Lions squad decisions

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/feb/16/warren-gatland-lions-squad?CMP=share_btn_tw

Brilliant Owen Farrell is the only nailed-on selection for the Lions so far

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/16/brilliant-owen-farrell-nailed-on-selection-lions-far/

One round of the six nations to go then, who needs a big game to give themselves a chance of touring?

Rob Evans
Kyle Sinckler
Courtney Lawes
Ross Moriarty
Finn Russell
George Ford
Huw Jones
Jack Nowell

Have all given me food for thought recently - I could find an opening for all of the above in my squad if they continue the way they're going.......

are there any scots left without injuries?

Alan Wun Jones is the best name in sport at the moment.

i thought i would have another go post yesterday

my squad

changes from last time shown by *


1

McGrath
M Vunipola
Marler *

2

Owens (clearly the best British/Irish hooker)
George
Best * I have dropped Hartley, after a really disappointing championship.


3

Furlong
Cole
Fargerson *

4-5

AWJ
Itoje
Launchbury
Gray x 2

I have to leave out Lawes, Kruis, Henderson but just can't fit them in

6-7

Stander
Tipuric
Warburton
O'Mahoney * (for Haskell, played his way into the squad yesterday)
Sean O'Brien


8

Vunipola
Moriarty
Faletau


9

Murray
Youngs
Webb

10

Sexton
Russell * (over Biggar and Ford)


12-13

O Farrell
Henshaw
H Jones *
Joseph
J Davies

tough on all of S Williams, Ringrose, Dunbar

11,14

Watson
North
Daly
Nowell *


15

Hogg
Halfpenny
L Williams (utility)


England 13
Ireland 9
Wales 11
Scotland 6

AWJ Capt, Farrell vice.



crack at a 23

McGrath
Owens
Furlong
AWJ
Launchbury
Stander
Tipuric
Vunipola
Murray
Sexton
O Farrell
Joseph
North
L Williams
Hogg

M Vunipola
George
Cole
Itoje
Warburton
Webb
Halfpenny (OF moves to 10 if Sexton is crocked)
Daly (covers all the back 5)

Can never get anyone to go with me on these trips, think next time around I might just do a short 10 dayer that straddles 2 games.

Only Scottish back that I'd have in there is Hogg. Russell struggles when put under any sort of pressure and Huw Jones looks very, very green to me. Very exploitable in defense and pretty predictable going forward.

Test team barring injury:

Tight Head: Tagdh Furlong
Hooked: Jamie George
Loose Head: Mako Vunipola
Lock: Joe Launchbury
Lock: Jonny Gray
Blindside: Ross Moriaty
Openside: Sam Warburton
Eight: Billy Vunipola

Scrum Half: Conor Murray
Fly Half: Johnny Sexton
Wing: George North
Inside Centre: Owen Farrell (capt)
Outside Centre: Jonathan Joseph
Wing: Liam Williams
Full Back: Stuart Hogg

Bench: Dan Cole, Cian Healey, Ken Owens, Maro Itoje, CJ Stander, Ben Youngs, Robbie Henshaw, Elliot Daly

Have started writing a long piece about the squad in my view - will post later.

In the meantime, you need to leave 2 of those at home Rich. Gatland pretty clear on the fact he is taking 37 players.....

Who gets the chop?!

the fourth winger, so Watson maybe (Liam williams covers wing and 3rd full back)

maybe the sixth prop, Fargerson

its not easy to keep it to 37. leaving a lot of good players behind

the following don't make my squad

Rob Evans
Healy
Hartley
Henderson
Kruis
Lawes
Haskell
Robshaw
Watson
Barclay
Heaslip
Biggar
Ford
Scott Williams
Ringrose
Kearney

suppose thats good as typically 8-10 are lost to injury, so the standby list is always fully used

Rugby Union Weekly has picked a whole Lions squad. Get the podcast here: http://bbc.in/2nE2FUg

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7licUiUwAACGXS.jpg)

Lions 2017

So the final meaningful round of games has passed in terms of Lions selection and it’s time to finally consider a squad of 37 to attempt to live with the might of the All Blacks. Here’s my choice of men for Warren Gatland to consider worthy of the highest honour rugby can bestow. It will be done in two parts, forwards first and then the backs.

Loosehead Prop
Jack McGrath has been immense for Ireland and Leinster all season and travels as first choice. Mako Vunipola offers drive and dynamism in the loose and is a natural second option. The third decision is more difficult. If he’d been fit enough to play international rugby this spring, Gethin Jenkins would have a great option due to his experience, ability to play both sides, and leadership qualities. Rob Evans has done a fine job deputising in the Six Nations and has added some great work in the loose in to his game. Joe Marler is solid in the scrum but is less of an impact off the bench and this needs to be considered here. Cian Healy has re-invented himself as a fine impact prop who is combative, strong in the scrum and experienced in the heat of battle. He grabs the third spot on the plane for me.

Hooker
A position that can be looked at two ways - either a position of weakness due to no true stand-out candidate, or a position of strength due to the wide variety of options available. Rory Best, captain of Ireland in their famous sweeping aside of the All Blacks in Chicago in the Autumn, has to tour. He was brilliant against England in Dublin and seems to rise to the biggest of occasions. Ken Owens was perhaps the finest hooker in the Six Nations and has played himself onto the plane, though Richard Hibbard is extremely unlucky as he still looks like the best Welsh hooker available. However, his exile from the national fold means he hasn’t been tested at this level for too long. He would certainly be my first option if injury befalls any of the chosen hookers. The third spot is a shootout between the two English hookers, and Jamie George edges Dylan Hartley due to his superior set piece and potential impact from the bench.

Tighthead Prop
Tadhg Furlong and Dan Cole have been inked in for this position for over 6 months and nothing has changed in the intervening period to change things. The third spot is more tricky. Had he been fit, WP Nel would mean taking three immensely strong tight heads to upset the New Zealand scrum was a real option. As it is, no other starting number 3 has shone enough to merit real inclusion. The amount of penalties conceded by Tomas Francis has counted against him, while Zander Fagerson looks a little short of the quality required. A left-field choice could be John Ryan of Munster who has improved immensely this season, but the potential impact offered by Kyle Sinckler from the bench, and the point of difference his ball-carrying skills offer puts him on the plane with a chance to make a real impression. Don’t be surprised if he has the number 18 shirt come the test series.

2nd Row
An incredibly competitive position where some people are going to be very unfortunate to be staying at home. Maro Itoje and Joe Launchbury have played themselves into the touring party, and potentially the test team, through their ball carrying and defensive work all season long, and are absolute definite choices for me. Alun Wyn Jones may have had his leadership questioned on a couple of occasions but it is imperative to take players who know what this tours entail, how to prepare on them and what is required in terms of supporting the whole squad. He has been there and done it all in this respect and deserves his spot on the plane again. Devin Toner and Iain Henderson are right on the cusp of touring and in any other year they, along with Richie Gray and Courtney Lawes, would be shoe-ins. However, the form of the younger Gray brother, Johnny gets him  on the plane just in front. Finally, winning in New Zealand requires dictating the set-piece and there is no better exponent of the line-out than George Kruis. If fit, he will offer a combination physicality and cuteness in the air which could have the All Blacks scratching  their heads and having to think on their feet.

Back Row
7 from the 15 or so potential options was always going to be difficult. Sam Warburton has had a 6 Nations up there with his best ever and could find himself starting the Test Series back in his favoured number 7 shirt. Billy Vunipola can compete with Kieran Read as a truly world-class number 8 and simply must travel. C J Stander may play at 6 for Ireland, but his ability to cover 8 means that both Jamie Heaslip and Ross Moriarty stay at home. Taulupe Faletau will be staying them due to not being the player he can be over the past 12 months. Justin Tipuric is exciting in the loose, a fine ball player and a clever line-out option who edges Hamish Watson on experience too. In a better club side, Watson will be an excellent prospect in 4 year’s time. After recent weeks, to ignore Peter O’Mahony would seem madness at this moment in time. He offers very similar qualities to Tipuric whilst wearing 6 on his back, but has that added menace to his game which could certainly upset the All Blacks when they try to play the expansive style they are so used to. Further to this, taking a 6 who will do all the dirty work that goes unnoticed while tackling himself to a standstill will be vital. Chris Robshaw does this in spades and would bring great leadership to the midweek team if he misses out on test selection. And so to the final forward spot. Sean O’Brien covers the entire back row and on his day is a fine harrier who links play at the same time as smashing anything in sight. His form has been patchy this season though, and there have been days where he perhaps played himself out of the tour. In a similar vein, James Haskell has his good days and bad. His potential qualities as a tourist, coupled with his ability to impact games from the bench makes him a very close, but potentially very vital, selection.

Please feel free to offer comments and opinions before I post my backs in a couple of day's time....

In summary:

McGrath
M Vunipola
Healy
Best
Owens
George
Furlong
Cole
Sinckler
Itoje
Launchbury
A-W Jones
J Gray
Kruis
Warburton
B Vunipola
Stander
Tipuric
O'Mahony
Robshaw
Haskell

You've only picked one number 8

surely one of faletau (one of his favourites), heaslip or moriarty has to go as billy's back up?

Stander plays 8 week in week out for Munster.

Haskell or Warburton would be fine there too I think tbh. Heaslip for Haskell perhaps......

stander's in my test team at 6. wouldn't have him in the midweek team at 8

i would have an 8 for haskell (or robshaw) yes

Nice write up. I'd be shocked if Robshaw or Haskell are close to selection. Both are average backrowers, made to look better by a sensational 8 and magnificent second row.

And the backs....

Scrum-Half
Grieg Laidlaw has been unfortunate to be injured at a vital point in the season. Certainly, his leadership would be valuable, but he isn’t quite the quality of the other options available. Conor Murray is perhaps the finest number 9 in world rugby and will be a strong favourite to start the Test Series. His excellent kicking game will be crucial in the territorial battle. Rhys Webb continues to be an imaginative attacking threat, especially in broken field, and his form alone warrants selection. Again, there is an English shootout for the third spot. Danny Care is more similar to Webb, sniping around the fringes and always on the lookout for a gap. There are unlikely to be such spaces to exploit against the All Blacks though, and so the extra control, experience and leadership offered by Ben Youngs gets him on the plane instead.

Fly-Half
Jonny Sexton will start the Test Series at 10. He is a battle-hardened warrior who gets hit time and time again and still keeps his sides moving in the right direction. His goal kicking has also improved over the past 4 years and he would be a fine option if required in this regard. Owen Farrell has matured as a playmaker in the past 12 months to the extent that he could start at either 10 or 12 and be the most influential player on the pitch. His composure under pressure as a goal kicker is second to none and he will likely be the kicker come the 1st Test, though with 12 on his back. With Sexton and Farrell both in the Test side, a third fly half is imperative. George Ford has been influential in a winning England team, but importantly, he has had the comfort of a playmaking 12 next to him. He won’t have this in New Zealand, and therefore finds himself heading to Argentina with England instead. It’s a close call between Dan Biggar and Finn Russell, but Russell’s attacking intent and ability to stand out even in defeat earns him the chance to make a real name for himself this summer.

Centre
Robbie Henshaw has been the form centre of the past 12 months and could play at either 12 or 13 at Test level. He can truck it up if required but also has subtlety and a clever kicking game which can unlock high quality defences. His club and country partner, Garry Ringrose, has been a revelation and could be a real bolter for the Test side at 13. His selection ahead of Jonathan Joseph may raise eyebrows, but Jospeh’s best recent performances have come against wide-open Italy and Scotland defences which certainly won’t be replicated in New Zealand. Scott Williams didn’t have the 6 Nations he needed to be considered and Alex Dunbar unfortunately looks slightly one-dimensional to tour. There’s nothing wrong with an inside-centre who is physical and runs straight lines to makes space for others, but if taking one of those, why not a man who has toured successfully before? A man who understands what it takes to be a Lion, who could lead a midweek team by example and be a sounding-board for younger players on tour. Jamie Roberts offers all of this and more, and is worthy of a place on tour with so many options in midfield. Jonathan Davies had a great tour 4 years ago but has had a poor 6 Nations. The flexibility offered by Elliot Daly, and his ability to play in so many different roles couple with his wand of a left boot, makes him a natural choice to tour, and another real option for the 13 shirt come the Test Series.

Wing
George North needs no introduction. If his form gets anywhere near his best, and he comes alive as he did 4 years ago, he will start the Test Series on one wing. The other side will be more challenging. Anthony Watson is a fine athlete, quicker than any other potential tourist, and has the ability and qualities to play at full-back if required. Jack Nowell offers a different dimension to all other wingers. He bounces off tackles like they aren’t there, works incredibly selflessly for the team, and is rock-solid in defence. His potential impact on games late on makes him a genuine candidate for the 23 shirt in the Test Series. The final spot is very tricky indeed. Denny Solomona, with another 6 months in the sport, could be a brilliantly maverick choice. Tim Visser and Christian Wade are both incredibly good finishers, but neither has ever consistently delivered at international level. Sean Maitland is strong and tireless, much like Nowell, but does not have the finisher’s instinct of others. Chris Ashton is close, very close. He seeks out work, he is an incredible finisher, his defence is actually better than people give him credit for. But he is shaky under the high ball. Ben Smith will be testing the Lions back three all series and therefore it is imperative for the wingers to be strong in this area. It is a long time since a winger has come out of Scotland's good in the air as Tommy Seymour. Not only does he tour, he may well start the Test Series.

Full-Back
Nowell, Watson and Daly at a push, can play at full-back, so only 2 will travel. Mike Brown has lost form and perhaps confidence recently, and Rob Kearney comes with his own injury worries. They will have to wait by the phone in case of a raft of casualties. Stuart Hogg was again a standout player in the 6 Nations, exhilarating in attack and brave from as deep as his own line. His defence will need work if he is to start the Tests but he tours nonetheless. Leigh Halfpenny was superb 4 years ago, but he has only shown patches of that form in the past 2 years and his goal kicking is now less of requirement with the improvement shown by both Farrell and Sexton. Instead, his countryman, Liam Williams must travel in his favoured 15 shirt. His rangy running style, fierce defence and eye for the try-line means he must be considered a real front-runner for the Test spot.

So that’s my backs done, please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts….

In summary:
Murray
Webb
Youngs
Sexton
Farrell
Russell
Henshaw
Ringrose
Roberts
Daly
North
Watson
Nowell
Seymour
Hogg
Williams


To finish, a potential Test 23:
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Itoje
5. Jones (c)
6. Stander
7. Warburton
8. B Vunipola
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Farrell
13. Henshaw
14. Seymour
15. Williams

16. George
17. M Vunipola
18. Sinckler
19. Kruis
20. O’Mahony
21. Webb
22. Daly
23. Nowell

And a Midweek Massive:
1. Healy
2. Owens
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. J Gray
6. Robshaw
7. Tipuric
8. Haskell
9. Youngs
10. Russell
11. Daly/Nowell
12. Roberts
13. Ringrose
14. Watson
15. Hogg

The only bone of contention i have is jamie roberts in and jospeh out

with farrell like at inside centre for the tests and henshaw the obvious choice if he has to mov inside, roberts is a luxury pick. i don't see farrell playing inside and henshaw playing outside, got to have more pace than that to help free a potent looking back 3

joseph is a potential match winner and has to go and will go

jonathan davies would get picked ahead of roberts too...matchwinners at outside centre more needed than another battering ram


i think he might be sorely tempted to pick Chris Ashton too

and i couldn't have best as test hooker

oh and the whispers are that warburton is captain again

apart from all that, good job!

squad tomorrow and there are leaks

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/04/17/jonathan-joseph-george-ford-chris-robshaw-among-englands-six/

no launchbury? i would be stunned

no joseph? surprised. ben te'o ahead of Joseph? stunned again

and more besides

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9pX3lgW0AEcqUR.jpg)

12pm today.

rumours

15 englishmen

1 scotsman, hogg

which means 21 irish and welsh

and some big names haven't made it,now said to include Hartley

British and Irish Lions 2017 squad

Forwards:

Rory Best (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), George Kruis (England), Courtney Lawes (England), Joe Marler (England), Jack McGrath (Ireland), Ross Moriarty (Wales), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Peter O'Mahony (Ireland), Ken Owens (Wales), Kyle Sinckler (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Billy Vunipola (England), Mako Vunipola (England), Sam Warburton (Wales)

Backs:

Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Jonathan Joseph (England), Conor Murray (Ireland), George North (Wales), Jack Nowell (England), Jared Payne (Ireland), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Tommy Seymour (Scotland), Ben Te'o (England), Anthony Watson (England), Rhys Webb (Wales), Liam Williams (Wales), Ben Youngs (England)

So

loosehead

Marler
McGrath
mako

tighthead

furlong
cole
sinckler

hooker

best
george
owens

lock

AWJ
Itoje
lawes
henderson
kruis

flank

stander
o'mahoney
warburton
o'brien
tipuric

8

billy v
moriarty
faletau

9

webb
murray
youngs

10

sexton
biggar
farrell

12-13

joseph
henshaw
j davies
te'o
payne

11-14

north
seymour
nowell
watson

utility

daly
l williams

15

hogg
halfpenny



two i didn't seewere te'o and payne

joe launchbury my biggest surprise


no robshaw,haskell, finn russell,hartley, gray brothers

2 scots

2 scots is a disgrace

we gave every team a stiff test in the 6 nations beating wales and ireland

totally unjustified that not one of the gray brothers are in never mind both
finn russell should of been in the team and not one of the players on the fringe of the squad made it

the lions is huge in the experience and growth of players scots are never going to get that growth to help us be more competitive if our best players are overlooked as badly as this

I do feel that Johnny Gray is particularly unlucky. Super strong position and AWJ purely picked on his previous body of work rather than any form his season (he has been probably the least ineffectual lock in the 6 Nations). Henderson a shock selection too. Would have picked Launchbury over Lawes too.

Can't complain about the backrow or front row, would have been my selections too.

Surprised by Te'o, Payne and Biggar in the backs.

 

a team that was left behind

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9yAqlpWsAAG9FR.jpg)

apparently Joseph was a late call

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9zhViXWAAEH2kr.jpg)

Eddie Jones hints he would be interested in leading the Lions in 2021 (south africa)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/04/22/eddie-jones-hints-would-interested-leading-lions-2021/ …

now that would be fun

exciting times

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_T5o9bXUAAS2n2.jpg:large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBVJGrhU0AoEhlR.jpg)

Not one player putting their hand up here so far. Teo'o and Best the pick of a bad bunch.

Fair time to start speculating about what dirt Alun Wynn Jones has on Gatland imo. Worst second rower on the tour in form terms - over extended period too - but seemingly undroppable. Fear we could be looking at a 30 point defeat here.

Fair play, can't fault a win, showed their mettle to get back into it from 18-9 down with 20 mins left. Sonny Bill such a key piece for the All Blacks, presumably gets a suspension for that head shot.

Gonna be brilliant next week, can't wait!!

Thought it this week but think it even more for next week. In the cold light of day, the Lions scrapped over the line against a team that played 55 mins with 14 men, and whom missed 3 very kickable penalties. Can't see anything but a double digit victory for NZ but would love to be proved wrong again.

Great for getting a price next week though with all the hype and believers distorting the price.

I actually thought exactly the same thing!

Obv no bookies offer it as there are so many combinations, but what do you reckon you'd get for a specific correct score prediction on Lions game? You'd think they could use the points expectations with some data about frequency of certain totals to do a request-a-bet style mechanic where punter enters their choice and it gives them a (big) price.

Favourite 50/1?

Minimal thought on this so far but my instinct is it's shorter than 50's. Scoring structured and correlated . It's a good question, I need to think more and run the numbers.

I would probably happily lay 100/1 the field providing the points total was north of 40 on the spreads.  I am amazed 365 haven't offered this tbh given what else they offer and they have the spreadsheet boys in house to develop a product like this easily.

For example the spreads reckon something like 28-17 NZ tomorrow.

So what price would we expect that vs say the reverse score.

Is it as simple as the price for exact points for each team doubled? Can prob get a rough number for those from the ranges priced up.

I saw correct score betting on the Superbowl once. It was 100/1 the field. And I think rugby is more random than NFL as the kick after a try is much more difficult than a PAT.

If 100/1 the field was available on a reasonably low total on the nfl then 100/1 the field on rugby is a great lay as key numbers are nowhere near as important.  My biggest ever bad beat in my punting career was laying a correct score winner in an England scotland 6 nations games to the landlord of my local boozer at 25/1!   Total was 45 on the spreads as well so it was probably a 500/1 poke what i laid!  I still have nightmares about handing the money over 10 years on!

Indeed. Guy at my club wants to back a score but not sure I'd get over the story being retold for the next 20 years if it copped 😳

I still routinely hear this story on a monthly basis (weekly during the 6 nations) for the past ten years!  It was the most incredible £1250 i have ever paid out in my life!

Just spotted Sky have priced up a bunch of them as part of their request a bet feature. Lowest there is 100/1.

A great series.

Fuuuuuuucking hell, so near yet so far.....what a game. Draw a bit of an anticlimax after all that  :-X

Phenomenal performance to draw the series with the world champions after just a month together. What an incredible talent Maro Itoje is - colossal display today.

in the three test series the all blacks led for 153 minutes, were level for 84 minutes and were behind for three minutes

drew 1-1

i know the all blacks fumbled three clear chances today, and the poite penalty/scrum call at the end was controversial, but quite a feat for the Lons to burgle a series draw today