PJ_BECKS wrote:Rumours: Vunipola, Parling, Lydiate, B. Youngs and Bowe to start with O'Brien on the bench.
It will be interesting to see how the much-vaunted Adam Jones (aka the unfit waste of space when there isn't a scrum happening) does with Vunipola as his loosehead, and then we'll see if Cole can do any better with Grant.
How good is the source? I feel that Lydiate starting is unlikely given that he played for so long on Tuesday. Benching again, perhaps (though O'Brien is the better bench option anyway). Also, it makes a lot of changes from a winning team (even if the win was lucky). Of course, that's not mentioning all the other reasons to have Croft start over Lydiate.
[quote="TigerAlex"][quote="PJ_BECKS"]Rumours: Vunipola, Parling, Lydiate, B. Youngs and Bowe to start with O'Brien on the bench.[/quote]
It will be interesting to see how the much-vaunted Adam Jones (aka the unfit waste of space when there isn't a scrum happening) does with Vunipola as his loosehead, and then we'll see if Cole can do any better with Grant.
How good is the source? I feel that Lydiate starting is unlikely given that he played for so long on Tuesday. Benching again, perhaps (though O'Brien is the better bench option anyway). Also, it makes a lot of changes from a winning team (even if the win was lucky). Of course, that's not mentioning all the other reasons to have Croft start over Lydiate.[/quote]
Not sure how good the source is but talk about Croft being on the bench as 2nd row cover. Phillips could miss out with knee trouble. Team announced in the early hours.
So the rumors were correct. Certainly can't say that Gatland doesn't make big calls.
On balance i feel he is correct. Losing POC is a big blow physically, and add in that they have left out Phillips, and without Roberts. So for me the substitution of Lydiate for Croft has some justification.
