What's your squad look like?

[big ginger 8]

Squad named on Thursday. Be interesting to see how close anyone can get or what wild calls you'd make. I've fond memories of being called horribly biased by one poster for saying Conan and Kelleher could go. Supposedly Farrell has said he'll take a 37 man squad but historically the squad tends to be a couple of lads bigger than what the coach initially says.

Loosehead: Porter, Genge, Schoeman
Hooker: Sheehan, George, Kelleher
Tighthead: Stuart, Bealham, Fagerson (depending on Fagerson's fitness, as we saw with Furlong, calf injuries for tightheads can be a long term issue)
Locks: Itoje (c), Beirne, McCarthy, Chessum, Ryan
Backrows: T Curry, Earl, Conan, Van der Flier, Morgan, Cunningham-South (have a sneaking suspicion Farrell would love his power) Coombes (jk),
Scrumhalves: Gibson-Park, Mitchell, Williams
Outhalves: Russell, F Smith, M Smith
Centres: Aki, Ringrose, Jones, Tuipulotu, Osborne (my understanding is the Glasgow lads are due back for Treviso)
Back three: Keenan, Kinghorn, Lowe, Freeman, Hansen, Graham

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Squad named on Thursday. Be interesting to see how close anyone can get or what wild calls you'd make. I've fond memories of being called horribly biased by one poster for saying Conan and Kelleher could go. Supposedly Farrell has said he'll take a 37 man squad but historically the squad tends to be a couple of lads bigger than what the coach initially says.

Loosehead: Porter, Genge, Schoeman
Hooker: Sheehan, George, Kelleher
Tighthead: Stuart, Bealham, Fagerson (depending on Fagerson's fitness, as we saw with Furlong, calf injuries for tightheads can be a long term issue)
Locks: Itoje (c), Beirne, McCarthy, Chessum, Ryan
Backrows: T Curry, Earl, Conan, Van der Flier, Morgan, Cunningham-South (have a sneaking suspicion Farrell would love his power) Coombes (jk),
Scrumhalves: Gibson-Park, Mitchell, Williams
Outhalves: Russell, F Smith, M Smith
Centres: Aki, Ringrose, Jones, Tuipulotu, Osborne (my understanding is the Glasgow lads are due back for Treviso)
Back three: Keenan, Kinghorn, Lowe, Freeman, Hansen, Graham

I think Prendergast will go instead of Marcus Smith. Otherwise I cant disagree with the squad

 

[Saintjay]

Bod back Fin Smith to go. He's a good lad is Bod

 

[BPM]

Here's mine:

1. Porter / Genge / Schoeman
2. Sheehan / Kelleher / George
3. Stuart / Fagerson / Furlong
4. Itoje (c) / McCarthy
5. Beirne / Chessum
6. T. Curry / Ritchie
7. van der Flier / Earl / Pollock
8. Conan / Faletau
9. Gibson-Park / Mitchell / Williams
10. F. Smith / Russell / Ford
11. Lowe / van der Merwe
12. Aki / Tuipolotu
13. Ringrose / Jones
14. Freeman / Graham
15. Kinghorn / Keenan / Osborne

I think Pollock will go as the bolter, getting the final back row place ahead of Morgan or Darge.

Osborne gets call to fill Hansen's spot.

Third 10 is probably the toughest spot. I think Ford gets it ahead of Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith, Prendergast or Crowley.

 

[Ddanno]

Are Tuipolotou and Kinghorn fit (or going to be)?

11. Lowe / van der Merwe

Gross.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

My squad:
1. Porter, Schoeman, Genge
2. Sheehan, Kelleher, George
3. Fagerson, Stuart, Bealham - feel like with Leinster's departure from the CC Furlong has lost his chance to make a case for himself. Wouldn't be upset to see him go though.
4. Itoje, Chessum
5. Beirne, McCarthy, Ryan
6. Curry, Morgan
7. van der Flier, Darge, Pollock
8. Conan, Earl, Faletau
9. Gibson-Park, Mitchell, Williams
10. F. Smith, M. Smith, Russell
11. Lowe, DVDM - sickening, I know.
12. Tuipulotu, Aki, Jordan
13. Jones, Ringrose
14. Freeman, Graham - would have loved to see IFW go but after the ongoing operations he's lost his chance to make a case for himself.
15. Kinghorn, Keenan

My 23:
1. Porter 2. Sheehan 3. Fagerson
4. Itoje (c) 5. Beirne
6. Curry 8. Conan 7. van der Flier
9. Gibson Park 10. F. Smith
12. Tuipulotu* 13. Jones
11. Lowe 15. Kinghorn 14. Freeman

16. Kelleher 17. Schoeman 18. Stuart
19. McCarthy 20. Morgan 21. Earl
22. Mitchell 23. M. Smith

* for me if he can get even close to his form pre-injury then he starts; if not then Aki.

I don't love the 6:2 split in general, but feel that the Lions are a team that should really be able to make the most of it. We should play to the strength in depth that we have in the forwards (back row especially) to punish their pack for the full 80. Between M. Smith, Kinghorn and Freeman's versatility we'd be pretty set for backline cover. The only real concern would be if Tuipulotu/Aki went down, but Jones has played a decent amount of rugby in that position before.

 

[BPM]

Are Tuipolotou and Kinghorn fit (or going to be)?

11. Lowe / van der Merwe

Gross.

Indeed. Two of my least favourite players but no way they're not going …

Had Hansen and Feyi-Waboso been fit, there might have been a bit more debate, but as it is, the four wingers @Pieter Steph du Teague and I picked are the obvious choices.

I read somewhere that Tuipolotu is due back this weekend. Not much time to build form but he'll surely go if he's fit.

Kinghorn should be OK. I went for Osborne as the utility back, but I wouldn't be totally surprised to see Daly or possibly Marcus Smith.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tuipulotu was back this weekend just gone, played against Bath


Edit: Wrong Tuipulotu lol, the main one plays for Glasgow and isn't back yet

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I feel the English fans are picking the back row like Borthwick would and not like farrell

Like 90% of the backrowers they pick are all the similar build and style nearly

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I feel the English fans are picking the back row like Borthwick would and not like farrell

Like 90% of the backrowers they pick are all the similar build and style nearly

Kinda agree, but what backrowers of different build/style deserve selection right now? Ritchie, maybe, but even he isn't that different, just a couple inches taller.

When all of our best performing flankers currently are in the openside mould, surely it's best to embrace that and play to that style rather than force in an underperforming but 'traditional' blindside like CCS or Baird.

 

[Geordie]

I feel the English fans are picking the back row like Borthwick would and not like farrell

Like 90% of the backrowers they pick are all the similar build and style nearly

Whos to say Farrell isnt looking at Chessum for 6?

 

[Geordie]

Are Tuipolotou and Kinghorn fit (or going to be)?

11. Lowe / van der Merwe

Gross.

Van der Merwe might not make it. Lowe is a starter...hes too influential to Irelands success.

11 Lowe
14 Freeman

Australia will have their hands full with those two.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Tbh if we're talking about what Farrell would select rather than what we'd select then I'd be pretty surprised if POM doesn't make the plane as a last hurrah.

 

[McTallshort]

Van der Merwe might not make it. Lowe is a starter...hes too influential to Irelands success.

11 Lowe (still a twat)
14 Freeman

Australia will have their hands full with those two.

FTFY

 

[BPM]

Van der Merwe might not make it. Lowe is a starter...hes too influential to Irelands success.

11 Lowe
14 Freeman

Australia will have their hands full with those two.

Totally agree on Lowe and Freeman. Why do you think DvdM might not make it? Is he injured? If not, who are you picking instead?

As I see it, options are pretty limited without Hansen, IFW and Sleightholme (to a much lesser degree).

Who else is there? Daly and Nash are the only realistic contenders I can think of.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Squad named on Thursday. Be interesting to see how close anyone can get or what wild calls you'd make. I've fond memories of being called horribly biased by one poster for saying Conan and Kelleher could go. Supposedly Farrell has said he'll take a 37 man squad but historically the squad tends to be a couple of lads bigger than what the coach initially says.

Loosehead: Porter, Genge, Schoeman
Hooker: Sheehan, George, Kelleher
Tighthead: Stuart, Bealham, Fagerson (depending on Fagerson's fitness, as we saw with Furlong, calf injuries for tightheads can be a long term issue)
Locks: Itoje (c), Beirne, McCarthy, Chessum, Ryan
Backrows: T Curry, Earl, Conan, Van der Flier, Morgan, Cunningham-South (have a sneaking suspicion Farrell would love his power) Coombes (jk),
Scrumhalves: Gibson-Park, Mitchell, Williams
Outhalves: Russell, F Smith, M Smith
Centres: Aki, Ringrose, Jones, Tuipulotu, Osborne (my understanding is the Glasgow lads are due back for Treviso)
Back three: Keenan, Kinghorn, Lowe, Freeman, Hansen, Graham

If that's right, I think CCS would be on cuddly toy carrying duty.

Wouldn't do much for his Mr Fearsome image. Pollock on the other hand…..

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Totally agree on Lowe and Freeman. Why do you think DvdM might not make it? Is he injured? If not, who are you picking instead?

As I see it, options are pretty limited without Hansen, IFW and Sleightholme (to a much lesser degree).

Who else is there? Daly and Nash are the only realistic contenders I can think of.

Is Graham fit? He'd offer something a bit different.

 

[Geordie]

Totally agree on Lowe and Freeman. Why do you think DvdM might not make it? Is he injured? If not, who are you picking instead?

As I see it, options are pretty limited without Hansen, IFW and Sleightholme (to a much lesser degree).

Who else is there? Daly and Nash are the only realistic contenders I can think of.

I just think Farrell likes wingers with more to their game than being a big lump that runs fairly quick (yes ive over simplify him in all fairness). Lowe, Hansen etc all have a much more rounded game, likewise Freeman. If they go with a similar gameplan to Ireland which makes sense if theres a big irish contingent, then i think VDM may miss out as being a little too one dimensional (again ive oversimplified it).

I think Darcy Graham probably has more chance than VDM and infact i wouldnt be surprised if a complete curveball like say Roebuck was picked.

Just my opinion and i might be WAY off the mark

 

[BPM]

I already picked Graham though (along with Lowe, Freeman and DvdM).

Roebuck would definitely be a curveball (because he's inexperienced, not because I don't rate him).

I don't see any Welsh wingers being in consideration. Murray might be, but only as a dirt track 15.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Tbh if we're talking about what Farrell would select rather than what we'd select then I'd be pretty surprised if POM doesn't make the plane as a last hurrah.

I haven't disregarded this at all tbh.