Who’s your pick for Lions 2021

[JP14]

I agreed with Dallaglio, Wales should have been fired up for that, coming off a poor performance versus France the week before and it being AWJ’s record-breaking cap but they were rather flat.

Glad Scotland won to be honest.

[tigerburnie]

Gatland will still pick loads of Welsh players, when on current form, only one or two are even close to being good enough and the Irish didn't put their hands up really either. More Scots than English going on yesterdays performances, England's pack were poor in the scrums yesterday, Farrells kicking from hand was poor, he's no play maker is he, missed George Ford badly.

[ay2oh]

Gatland will still pick loads of Welsh players, when on current form, only one or two are even close to being good enough and the Irish didn't put their hands up really either. More Scots than English going on yesterdays performances, England's pack were poor in the scrums yesterday, Farrells kicking from hand was poor, he's no play maker is he, missed George Ford badly.

No chance of more Scots than English going. Don’t forget Tuilagi, Lawes, Nowell, all missing yesterday+ Farrell, Itoje, George, Vunipola, Curry, Underhill, Sinckler, May and Watson will all probably go. The Scots have improved but only Hogg, Ritchie, Gray and Russell . With Gatland in charge any 50-50 calls will go to a welshman.

[tigerburnie]

Gatland will still pick loads of Welsh players, when on current form, only one or two are even close to being good enough and the Irish didn't put their hands up really either. More Scots than English going on yesterdays performances, England's pack were poor in the scrums yesterday, Farrells kicking from hand was poor, he's no play maker is he, missed George Ford badly.

No chance of more Scots than English going. Don’t forget Tuilagi, Lawes, Nowell, all missing yesterday+ Farrell, Itoje, George, Vunipola, Curry, Underhill, Sinckler, May and Watson will all probably go. The Scots have improved but only Hogg, Ritchie, Gray and Russell . With Gatland in charge any 50-50 calls will go to a welshman.

We are all guessing as there's two more competitions before the Lions proposed tour, that could even yet not happen, but on yesterdays performances Farrell was anonymous, George average, both Vunipolas quiet and Sinkler was below parr, will Manu play in any of the games coming up?

[Tiglon]

I think Tuilagi's out until end of year so probably won't feature. If he's fit for the tour you'd expect him to go though, regardless of form or anything else.

Very few players yesterday staked much of a claim for the Lions. It's an odd time for the British and Irish teams, Wales and Ireland are going through a rebuilding phase, and England to a certain extent, so a lot of the talent isn't quite there yet.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

One thing was obvious from yesterday the Boks will be hoping Maku is selected, he wouldn't look out of place in the infamous uncontested scrums Wasps pack of the not too distant past.

[JP14]

Continued to be impressed by Rory Sutherland of Scotland, if he stays fit I think there’s a good chance he will go.

[mol2]

Assuming the Lions tour goes ahead as planned I would think Manu would be unlikely to make it.

Given his history of taking a long time to recover from tendon injuries and the need to get fit again I suspect it may be a long shot given the massive force he puts through his limbs.

[Noggs]

As quoted in the Rugby Paper Alex Sanderson believes Maro Itoje is developing the emotional intelligence to captain the British & Irish Lions on next summer’s tour of South Africa!

Whilst he is a great player his discipline still leaves a lot to be desired. With limited play at the highest level this season there may be questions as to whether or not he will make the tour.

[ay2oh]

As quoted in the Rugby Paper Alex Sanderson believes Maro Itoje is developing the emotional intelligence to captain the British & Irish Lions on next summer’s tour of South Africa!

Whilst he is a great player his discipline still leaves a lot to be desired. With limited play at the highest level this season there may be questions as to whether or not he will make the tour.

There is absolutely no chance that he won’t make the tour barring injury. Johno’s discipline wasn’t great but he was the first name on the team sheet.

[Tigerbeat]

Whilst he is a great player his discipline still leaves a lot to be desired. With limited play at the highest level this season there may be questions as to whether or not he will make the tour.

I have never thought Itoje to be a penalty magnet and his disciplinary record is pretty good. I cant recall him getting may yellow cards or citings.

[Chobbsy]

Gatland will still pick loads of Welsh players, when on current form, only one or two are even close to being good enough and the Irish didn't put their hands up really either. More Scots than English going on yesterdays performances, England's pack were poor in the scrums yesterday, Farrells kicking from hand was poor, he's no play maker is he, missed George Ford badly.

The bottom line is it's Gatland's team so if AWJ goes he is captain although I do not think he is even good enough to be in the team let alone captain it

[TigerFeetSteve]

Gatland will still pick loads of Welsh players, when on current form, only one or two are even close to being good enough and the Irish didn't put their hands up really either. More Scots than English going on yesterdays performances, England's pack were poor in the scrums yesterday, Farrells kicking from hand was poor, he's no play maker is he, missed George Ford badly.

The bottom line is it's Gatland's team so if AWJ goes he is captain although I do not think he is even good enough to be in the team let alone captain it

I actually don't think he'll be captain. Think Gatland will give him midweek captaincy but doubt he'll pick him as a starter.

Likely starting Locks are Itoje and Ryan. AWJ will be a cert if fit to go but that's for leadership and experience for the squad not to start I don't think.

[Tiglon]

Itoje not on the Lions tour?

If he's fit, he'll go. 100%.

Poor discipline doesn't always mean headbutting an opponent and being sent off - it usually refers to the mental discipline required to consistently make good decisions and maintain accuracy. Itoje does give away a lot of penalties, but that's because he plays a high risk & high reward style of play so while he concedes more penalties than most 2nd rows, he also make more turnovers, more dominant tackles etc and is involved in every game to a ridiculous extent - he is simply everywhere and that leaves him open to more opportunities to be penalised.

Think of it like tennis - it doesn't matter how many unforced errors you make, it only matters how many unforced errors you make in comparison to winners. E.g. 40 unforced errors in a match is awful if you only make 5 winners, but brilliant if you make 80 winners. Itoje is a bit like that, his unforced errors look high, but he makes a huge amount of winners to compensate.

If you look at his errors in isolation, you are missing the point.

[Scott1]

Itoje not make the tour? What?! He’s the worlds best lock at his best,ask Retallick,twice,