Lions 2021

[GB72]

Confirmed no fans in the stadiums.

[Scott1]

Scotland's Stuart Hogg captains a new-look British and Irish Lions XV in their tour opener against the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

15. Stuart Hogg – captain (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales)
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland) #835
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
2. Jamie George (Saracens, England) #819
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) – Prop #787
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
19. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England)
21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)
22. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

I like the pack and bench tbf

[JP14]

This is a chance for Hogg to stake his claim for not just a Test spot but a test captaincy too, the selection of O’Mahoney as captain in the first test in 2017 proved Gatland was willing to change his mind.

[Scott1]

This is a chance for Hogg to stake his claim for not just a Test spot but a test captaincy too, the selection of O’Mahoney as captain in the first test in 2017 proved Gatland was willing to change his mind.

Do you go Willliams,Watson,Hogg then?

[JP14]

This is a chance for Hogg to stake his claim for not just a Test spot but a test captaincy too, the selection of O’Mahoney as captain in the first test in 2017 proved Gatland was willing to change his mind.

Do you go Willliams,Watson,Hogg then?

Against the Boks it’s handy to have a back three full of players with international experience of playing at fullback. However, Gatland likes to have backs that can switch to play in a forward role and against Japan he selected three in van der Merwe, Henshaw and Aki so who knows?

[RagingBull]

former Tiger Ew Viljoen starts at 15

[Offside]

former Tiger Ew Viljoen starts at 15

For the BI Lions sake I hope he makes the same impact for the Boks that he made for us!

[Scott1]

So apparently the doctors could take some risks with AWJ injury so he can be rushed back to play some part in the tests,why?!

[Scott1]

Henshaw out of the Sharks game with a hamstring strain. Be interesting to see who he goes with in MF for this one,could be Biggar,Aki,Daly

[Dokie]

So apparently the doctors could take some risks with AWJ injury so he can be rushed back to play some part in the tests,why?!

Not read any mention of risks. Where did you read that?

[Scott1]

So apparently the doctors could take some risks with AWJ injury so he can be rushed back to play some part in the tests,why?!

Not read any mention of risks. Where did you read that?

ESPN article
“ But Gatland, who is overseeing his third consecutive Lions tour, has now confirmed that Jones could play some part in the Test series with doctors prepared to take a few risks with the treatment of his shoulder injury.”

[Dokie]

So apparently the doctors could take some risks with AWJ injury so he can be rushed back to play some part in the tests,why?!

Not read any mention of risks. Where did you read that?

ESPN article
“ But Gatland, who is overseeing his third consecutive Lions tour, has now confirmed that Jones could play some part in the Test series with doctors prepared to take a few risks with the treatment of his shoulder injury.”

Fair enough. Now we know why you call him the warrior.

[Scott1]

Not read any mention of risks. Where did you read that?

ESPN article
“ But Gatland, who is overseeing his third consecutive Lions tour, has now confirmed that Jones could play some part in the Test series with doctors prepared to take a few risks with the treatment of his shoulder injury.”

Fair enough. Now we know why you call him the warrior.

He's not that great a player to be rushed back imo.

[TigerFeetSteve]

ESPN article
“ But Gatland, who is overseeing his third consecutive Lions tour, has now confirmed that Jones could play some part in the Test series with doctors prepared to take a few risks with the treatment of his shoulder injury.”

Fair enough. Now we know why you call him the warrior.

He's not that great a player to be rushed back imo.

Well the person who agrees on the medical treatment is AWJ, he makes the decision & his thought process is much more down the lines of the fact he won't get another Lions tour so this is his last chance to play for the Lions. So to him a few risks are worth taking.

[sam16111986]

Fair enough. Now we know why you call him the warrior.

He's not that great a player to be rushed back imo.

Well the person who agrees on the medical treatment is AWJ, he makes the decision & his thought process is much more down the lines of the fact he won't get another Lions tour so this is his last chance to play for the Lions. So to him a few risks are worth taking.

Players should be saved from themselves at times. AWJ rushing back and risking longer term damage to his shoulder is not a good idea, neither is playing LCD the week after getting knocked out even if he has passed the protocols give him another week off to be on the safe side. Player fitness should be paramount and there should be a thought towards the image of rugby, the media will have a field day and the sport will be shown in a poor light should either of those injuries resurface.