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Rugby Union
2021 British & Irish Lions Tour
Backline Dilemma for Gatland in the British Lions Team
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<blockquote data-quote="Pieter Steph du Teague" data-source="post: 831199" data-attributes="member: 72520"><p>I agree Faletau doesn't out do either in their strengths, but unlike the other 2, he's capable of doing both and doing them very well. Having Vunipola there to make hard yards is all good and well but he's predictable and tacklers like Whitelock and Kaino will have no issues stopping him in his tracks. Heaslip is less predictable but as far as 8s go he's pretty desperately weak and doesn't have the pace to make up for it either. I can't see him causing the NZ defence any real problems. </p><p></p><p>In the Welsh tour of NZ, Faletau, along with Moriarty and Williams, is just about the only player to come away having done them self any favours. He demonstrated why he's such a threat. He is deceptively quick and is able to lurk outside the 13 causing some damage out there (see his 6 Nations try vs England for an example) or he can carry in the right with his equally deceptive strength (I'm always reminded of his 8 pick up vs Ireland). Even with his extra bulk I don't think Vunipola would've had the speed to score that try vs Ireland and Heaslip is without the to score that one vs England.</p><p></p><p>People also always talk about Heaslip's work rate in defence, but I would argue Faletau's is just as good, if not better. Was is it last year that he was the top tackler in the 6 Nations? Add his superior ball carrying to that and I'm taking him over Heaslip every day of the week.</p><p></p><p>I'm a big fan of Binny, but I really can't see a player as 1 dimensional as him causing any real problems in NZ (even if he is the best in the world at that 1 dimension). </p><p></p><p>Now of course, the beauty of the number 8 shirt is how diverse the range of players in it can be, so of course some will prefer an out and out ball carrier there, or an out an out work horse, but for me the ideal is a mixture of both, and that's why Faletau would be my starting 8.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pieter Steph du Teague, post: 831199, member: 72520"] I agree Faletau doesn't out do either in their strengths, but unlike the other 2, he's capable of doing both and doing them very well. Having Vunipola there to make hard yards is all good and well but he's predictable and tacklers like Whitelock and Kaino will have no issues stopping him in his tracks. Heaslip is less predictable but as far as 8s go he's pretty desperately weak and doesn't have the pace to make up for it either. I can't see him causing the NZ defence any real problems. In the Welsh tour of NZ, Faletau, along with Moriarty and Williams, is just about the only player to come away having done them self any favours. He demonstrated why he's such a threat. He is deceptively quick and is able to lurk outside the 13 causing some damage out there (see his 6 Nations try vs England for an example) or he can carry in the right with his equally deceptive strength (I'm always reminded of his 8 pick up vs Ireland). Even with his extra bulk I don't think Vunipola would've had the speed to score that try vs Ireland and Heaslip is without the to score that one vs England. People also always talk about Heaslip's work rate in defence, but I would argue Faletau's is just as good, if not better. Was is it last year that he was the top tackler in the 6 Nations? Add his superior ball carrying to that and I'm taking him over Heaslip every day of the week. I'm a big fan of Binny, but I really can't see a player as 1 dimensional as him causing any real problems in NZ (even if he is the best in the world at that 1 dimension). Now of course, the beauty of the number 8 shirt is how diverse the range of players in it can be, so of course some will prefer an out and out ball carrier there, or an out an out work horse, but for me the ideal is a mixture of both, and that's why Faletau would be my starting 8. [/QUOTE]
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2021 British & Irish Lions Tour
Backline Dilemma for Gatland in the British Lions Team
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