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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="Leonormous Boozer" data-source="post: 831224" data-attributes="member: 45598"><p>You're ignoring Heaslip's strengths, his passing and positioning is the best of any 8 in world rugby, his intelligence when it comes to deciding whether hitting a ruck or offering himself in attack/defence is incredible, his fitness, durability and leadership is the best of the three, I can't remember the last time I've seen him isolated or under pressure with ball in hand either. If Vunipola wasn't such a force of nature I'd argue that there's no real competition at 8 because to beat NZ you need multiple game breakers and incredibly intelligent footballers Vunipola and Heaslip tick one of those boxes each, Faletau has neither if you ask me. Heaslips flexible style is invaluable too, apart from a big ball carrying 8 he can give a coach anything they want from an 8. Faletau is a jack of all trades and a pretty good one too but its a lot less useful when you world class guys doing what you can do better in the second row, on the flanks and in the centres, he stands out in Wales because they don't have a huge amount of talent in the second row, their flankers are very specialised players to the breakdown and tackle area and their centres are pretty rubbish, shouldn't be a problem when you have English and Irish players filling those gaps.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Leonormous Boozer, post: 831224, member: 45598"] You're ignoring Heaslip's strengths, his passing and positioning is the best of any 8 in world rugby, his intelligence when it comes to deciding whether hitting a ruck or offering himself in attack/defence is incredible, his fitness, durability and leadership is the best of the three, I can't remember the last time I've seen him isolated or under pressure with ball in hand either. If Vunipola wasn't such a force of nature I'd argue that there's no real competition at 8 because to beat NZ you need multiple game breakers and incredibly intelligent footballers Vunipola and Heaslip tick one of those boxes each, Faletau has neither if you ask me. Heaslips flexible style is invaluable too, apart from a big ball carrying 8 he can give a coach anything they want from an 8. Faletau is a jack of all trades and a pretty good one too but its a lot less useful when you world class guys doing what you can do better in the second row, on the flanks and in the centres, he stands out in Wales because they don't have a huge amount of talent in the second row, their flankers are very specialised players to the breakdown and tackle area and their centres are pretty rubbish, shouldn't be a problem when you have English and Irish players filling those gaps. [/QUOTE]
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2021 British & Irish Lions Tour
Backline Dilemma for Gatland in the British Lions Team
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