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What's your squad look like?

I reckon a Welsh back 3 player might make it, for diplomatic reasons - maybe Blair Murray? Covers wing and fullback, good for the dirt road team

Duhan injured atm but due back this month
 
Pieter Steph du Teague said:
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.
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Hard to see him pushing for a test place now TBH and not sure Farrell does sentimentality. But I wouldn’t rule it out.

It’s ridiculous that someone as good as Underhill isn’t even in the conversation. I’d die laughing if Farrell chose him as one of his wildcards.
 
Vieux Talonneur said:
Hard to see him pushing for a test place now TBH and not sure Farrell does sentimentality. But I wouldn't rule it out.
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Not necessarily sentimentality. He brings a ton of experience, including 2 previous Lions tours. He's also brings something different to the other options with his lineout ability and in fairness had a decent 6N.

In terms of what Farrell will do I'd expect something like:
LK: Itoje, McCarthy, Ryan
LK/FL: Beirne, Chessum
FL: Curry, JVDF, Morgan, O'Mahony
N8: Conan, Earl, Faletau
 
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Pieter Steph du Teague said:
No necessarily sentimentality. He brings a ton of experience, including 2 previous Lions tours. He's also brings something different to the other options with his lineout ability and in fairness had a decent 6N.


In terms of what Farrell will do I'd expect something like:
LK: Itoje, McCarthy, Ryan
LK/FL: Beirne, Chessum
FL: Curry, JVDF, Morgan, O'Mahony
N8: Conan, Earl, Faletau
Click to expand...

Give me Pollock over Morgan and that might override a potential George Ford pick.
 
Pieter Steph du Teague said:
Think I just heard the entire nation of South Africa shout out that this is a lie because Pollard has technically never been picked for a Lions tour.
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Lions aren't the Boks so he'd play like a bag of spanners for them anyway
 
Pieter Steph du Teague said:
Joey Carbery has kicked the winning points against the ABs twice and in a couple of weeks is likely to have more CC medals than anyone in the Leinster squad bar Healy. It's clearly him.
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Joey's problem was that in his mind he was already a Lion's player. When he got that red jersey for Munster he only played every 4 years.
 
Have seen quite a lot of people on here and in the media make a point about Osborne or Daly having a decent shot of going due to needing a utility back but the more I think about it the more convinced I become that that’s just not the case.

As far as I can see, since 2013 only 3 backs have played across more than 1 “unit” (Scrum Half, Fly Half, Centre, Back Three). Hogg did 10 & 15 in 2013, Faz did 10 & 12 in 2017 and Payne did 13 & 15, also in 2017. In 2021 no one played across more than 1 unit; even Daly only ever played 13. The idea that we need to/should take a guy who can play across the whole backline just isn’t true.

If someone deserving of selection can cover multiple positions then cool, but picking someone purely on the basis that they can cover multiple positions just isn’t needed in such a large squad.
 
Pieter Steph du Teague said:
Have seen quite a lot of people on here and in the media make a point about Osborne or Daly having a decent shot of going due to needing a utility back but the more I think about it the more convinced I become that that's just not the case.

As far as I can see, since 2013 only 3 backs have played across more than 1 "unit" (Scrum Half, Fly Half, Centre, Back Three). Hogg did 10 & 15 in 2013, Faz did 10 & 12 in 2017 and Payne did 13 & 15, also in 2017. In 2021 no one played across more than 1 unit; even Daly only ever played 13. The idea that we need to/should take a guy who can play across the whole backline just isn't true.

If someone deserving of selection can cover multiple positions then cool, but picking someone purely on the basis that they can cover multiple positions just isn't needed in such a large squad.
Click to expand...

Agreed, and neither deserve it but to take the opportunity to go on a rant:

If Osborne goes I'd defend him as a player, I think he is one of the top 5 centres but he's been totally failed by the Leinster / Ireland system this spin around.

This time last year, when injuries allowed it, he was Leinster's centre and was one of the best in the Heineken Cup and to my mind his level last year has been well clear of Henshaw's this year. Him v Moefana (20 months older) wasn't even a debate imo, 12 months later and it still isn't because it's completely flipped. Osborne has played 12 four times this year which is the same amount of times he's played on the wing.

Despite this, he might be one of the best itw in four years time and be going over as a nailed on starter and all will be forgotten. However, with the acquisition of Jordie this year amd Reiko next year he really should have been loaned out for a season or two. It's hard to believe this season has done his development more good than a stint at Toulon for example regardless of player welfare. Toulon aren't afraid to pick up a guy for a year and are thin enough in midfield.
 
Pieter Steph du Teague said:
Have seen quite a lot of people on here and in the media make a point about Osborne or Daly having a decent shot of going due to needing a utility back but the more I think about it the more convinced I become that that's just not the case.

As far as I can see, since 2013 only 3 backs have played across more than 1 "unit" (Scrum Half, Fly Half, Centre, Back Three). Hogg did 10 & 15 in 2013, Faz did 10 & 12 in 2017 and Payne did 13 & 15, also in 2017. In 2021 no one played across more than 1 unit; even Daly only ever played 13. The idea that we need to/should take a guy who can play across the whole backline just isn't true.

If someone deserving of selection can cover multiple positions then cool, but picking someone purely on the basis that they can cover multiple positions just isn't needed in such a large squad.
Click to expand...
Fair point. It's interesting how a couple of injuries can highlight that there isn't actually much depth in certain positions for all of the teams.

I was trying to think of players with a point of difference and versatility was the only area that came to mind.

When you take away the injured players, there isn't that much quality to call upon behind the obvious choices. In normal circumstances, I don't think we'd be talking about Daly (in 2025) or Blair Murray being anywhere near the squad.

With Kinghorn a doubt and Furbank out, quality specialist fullbacks are in very short supply. It would be strange to see it happen given his current situation with England, but I'd argue that Steward is probably the next best option for the Lions. Marcus Smith isn't a 15, even if the idea of him as a 'game breaker' has some merit. Blair Murray is OK but Steward is better IMO.
 
Tom Jordan as a bolter as he covers 10, 12, 15. Add to this that Kinghorn can cover wing, 10 and 15, and there’s no need to shoehorn in Marcus Smith - who is an average 10 and a woeful 15.
 
Pieter Steph du Teague said:
Have seen quite a lot of people on here and in the media make a point about Osborne or Daly having a decent shot of going due to needing a utility back but the more I think about it the more convinced I become that that's just not the case.

As far as I can see, since 2013 only 3 backs have played across more than 1 "unit" (Scrum Half, Fly Half, Centre, Back Three). Hogg did 10 & 15 in 2013, Faz did 10 & 12 in 2017 and Payne did 13 & 15, also in 2017. In 2021 no one played across more than 1 unit; even Daly only ever played 13. The idea that we need to/should take a guy who can play across the whole backline just isn't true.

If someone deserving of selection can cover multiple positions then cool, but picking someone purely on the basis that they can cover multiple positions just isn't needed in such a large squad.
Click to expand...

Yep, although versatility always handy for the bench especially if you start looking at 6:2 or, please no, 7:1.
 

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