1st test - Australia v British & Irish Lions

[Hmmmmmm]

I thought they wanted stronger squads...

But they’ll run out a bunch of players against us that they dragged over for cover, and that won’t see a test

 

[General Melchett]

Those issues which you have raised were not down to representation in the test match squads, but on the Lions tour as a whole as there were some Scots who were omitted from the tour in favour of either underperforming (at the time) Welsh players, or any perceived 50/50 call went in favour of the Welsh when it was felt others were more deserving of a place- Moriarty in favour of Watson, Biggar in favour of Russell, Jonny Gray not touring.

The fact you've highlighted Laidlaw's inclusion as a token gesture proves that point, and it also goes further to show why the form of inclusion that is being suggested is detrimental not only to the tour, but also to the players involved. It would be a case of "I'm here because I'm Scottish and they needed to fill a quota", rather than "I'm here because I've earnt my place as the top performer in my position".

Ahh that reminds me of the good old days under Gatland:

Gatland: "Hi Gregor, would you be interesting in coming on the 2017 Lions tour as an assistant to Rob Howley?"
Gregor: "Hi Warren, errr well I am a head coach and Scotland did finish above Howley's Wales in the 6N and so would rather be in charge of attack if you don't mind?"
Gatland: "Sorry Gregor, Howley's my main man for attack and so it's assistant or nothing"
Gregor: "Sorry Warren but working under Howler would be really bad for my career and reputation"
Phone goes dead as Gatland mutters "Scottish prick - I'll show those *****"

Gatland not holding any grudges proceeds to leave out form players like Hamish Watson & Jonny Gray.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Morgan might have deserved a test position, but Wales didn't.

Meanwhile a real city mourns for their greatest import from the south, who was actually done a disservice.

Josh, you'll be back stronger, and in matches that actually matter.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Ahh that reminds me of the good old days under Gatland:

Gatland: "Hi Gregor, would you be interesting in coming on the 2017 Lions tour as an assistant to Rob Howley?"
Gregor: "Hi Warren, errr well I am a head coach and Scotland did finish above Howley's Wales in the 6N and so would rather be in charge of attack if you don't mind?"
Gatland: "Sorry Gregor, Howley's my main man for attack and so it's assistant or nothing"
Gregor: "Sorry Warren but working under Howler would be really bad for my career and reputation"
Phone goes dead as Gatland mutters "Scottish prick - I'll show those *****"

Gatland not holding any grudges proceeds to leave out form players like Hamish Watson & Jonny Gray.

You have set me off on a rant about Warren Gatland. I don't think Gatland deserves any credit for what he did with the Lions.
If Kurtley Beale had kicked that penalty in the first test in 2013 the Lions would have lost the test and therefore the series. Gatland should have done better and not left it to the chance of whether Beale slipped over or not.
In 2017 the Lions were losing the 2nd test until Sonny Bill got himself sent off. The Lions would have lost that series if it hadn't been for Sonny Bill's stupidity. No credit to Gatland there.
And the one that annoys me the most is the awful style of rugby the Lions played on the 2021 south africa tour constantly box kicking for Duhan VDM to chase even though he is not that good at catching the high ball. The way to beat that south african team was to get the ball wide quickly as Fin Russell showed when he finally played in the 3rd test. Gatland's tactics were completely wrong and his selection was so muddled. He picked Daly at centre in the first test and then decided he wanted Chris Harris at centre. He couldn't decide whether Conor Murray or Ali Price was his first choice scrum half. If you are going to play a kicking game then pick players that compliment that style. Then Wyn Jones gets injured in the 3rd test and on comes Mako Vunipola who cant scrummage and gives away a penalty. Against south africa you have to pick your best scrummaging props.
The Lions could have won that series if the tactics were right.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

I can see the WRU trying to push for some sort of forced starting quota.

 

[TopTen2003]

Roll on a great rugby morning tomorrow.

Nice early start with NZ v France and then time to get a full breakfast on for the Lions v Australia.

Glad we’re at the business end now and the talking stops. All questions begin to get answered, can’t wait.

Can the Lions click and deliver the intensity of 2001 1st test or 2013 3rd test, have Australia got some guys ready to become big world stage players?

Bring it on.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Morgan might have deserved a test position, but Wales didn't.

Meanwhile a real city mourns for their greatest import from the south, who was actually done a disservice.

Josh, you'll be back stronger, and in matches that actually matter.

Oi, Williams deserved his matchday squad spot too.

I bet if Morgan knew of the “outrage” of his admission he’d be cringing. VdF deserves to start just as much.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Oi, Williams deserved his matchday squad spot too.

I bet if Morgan knew of the "outrage" of his admission he'd be cringing. VdF deserves to start just as much.

Unfortunately they cant start all 44 players on tour or however many there is.

Grow a pair of balls and get over it.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I bet if Morgan knew of the "outrage" of his admission he'd be cringing. VdF deserves to start just as much.

Look, the English coach picked an English player who’s a mate of his son who’s on the tour and also plays for the same club that one of the assistant coaches spent 8 years at. It’s fine.

 

[TommiG88]

I can see the WRU trying to push for some sort of forced starting quota.

I feel like your a bot with a personality of ruck

 

[Which Tyler]

Depends on if you see it as " It's Not the winning it's the taking part.

I think I'm with Farrell in that Winning is everything.

Winning is the most important thing, but it's not the only thing.
If it was, we'd applaud bloodgate, poaching, doping (chemical or financial), Rassie fuckwittery, etc etc.

But... this is the Lions. It's about more than just the results; it's also about the romance. If it's just another match, then ti's reason for existing has gone IMO.
The Lions is a scratch side, made up of the best that 4 nations can provide. There's no-one on tour (from the beginning) who isn't there on merit. No-one who's a big drop off from the contenders. It's not like Morgan (or Hogg on previous tours) is a DEI hire who's got no business sharing a rugby pitch with these luminaries.
It's also a scratch team; even after 5-6 weeks together.
I've usually got no patience fo "pick on form" - because when you have time, you appreciate the form is temporary and class is permanent, and you trust to come good at some point. But in a scratch team, with minimal drop-off in class, form actually matters.
I also get that that's a tough mindset to ask of a professional coach who's accustomed to trusting the class to shine through in time.

I'd have picked Jac Morgan - personally, I'd have started him. He's in the best form of any of our backrowers, he's the only Welshman left, and he fully earned a shirt. He's not so much worse than Curry or Beirne to start with* that he's a bad pick on class alone. And again, it's the Lions - it's not like anyone can claim to being the man in possession, who might be affected (+or-) by being dropped.


* without even getting into whether either will be able to show their top form ever again.

 

[Which Tyler]

I think it's interesting people are now claiming there should be representation from all four nations in a Lions test squad. On the 2017 tour, no Scottish players were involved in any one of the three test matchday squads, yet there were no claims then that each nation should be included in a test squad. Now the shoe is on a different foot, all of a sudden there are questions being raised about equal representation.

Where on earth were you that you didn't hear any complaints?

Those issues which you have raised were not down to representation in the test match squads, but on the Lions tour as a whole

That is simply not true

 

[ncurd]

Where on earth were you that you didn't hear any complaints?

Wales?

 

[IT157]

Wales not getting any players in the starting test is the universes way of righting the wrong of them having too many start in 2013.

 

[Saintjay]

Since 1899 Wales have had a player in every Lions test match.

The pain of the death of a loved one for me is a 10/10. To me, as a proud Cymru man, the pain of Morgan's omission is 8.5/10

And it's not even a biased national argument.

Facts are from CARRIES to METERS GAINED to ATTACKING RUCKS HIT to TACKLES to MISSED TACKLES to TURNOVERS to DEFENSIVE RUCKS HIT. Every stat (which the Lions staff knew about and looked at) showed Morgan to be playing much better than Curry...........like much better

So for them 2 ignore that ? And STILL omit Morgan in favour of Curry ? That's a sin.

Oh come on. Wales love a Curry and a Filipino. I've seen Cardiff at kicking out time on a Friday.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Wales not getting any players in the starting test is the universes way of righting the wrong of them having too many start in 2013.

A series we won?

 

[IT157]

A series we won?

Would have been a 3-0 whitewash if we had fewer Welsh players.

 

[AlRums]

The Lions is a scratch side, made up of the best that 4 nations can provide. There's no-one on tour (from the beginning) who isn't there on merit. No-one who's a big drop off from the contenders. It's not like Morgan (or Hogg on previous tours) is a DEI hire who's got no business sharing a rugby pitch with these luminaries.

Owen Farrell ?

 

[Welsh Exile]

Would have been a 3-0 whitewash if we had fewer Welsh players.

We were pretty decent back then to be fair.

 

[IT157]

We were pretty decent back then to be fair.

Yeah you were not too shabby.