Here is the Lions team for the midweek clash against the Highlanders.
What do you make of this line up?
15 Jared Payne – Ulster, Ireland, #830
14 Jack Nowell – Exeter Chiefs, England, #828
13 Jonathan Joseph – Bath Rugby, England, #809
12 Robbie Henshaw – Leinster, Ireland, #824
11 Tommy Seymour – Glasgow Warriors, Scotland, #813
10 Dan Biggar – Ospreys, Wales, #821
9 Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820
1 Joe Marler – Harlequins, England, #811
2 Rory Best – Ulster, Ireland, #793
3 Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
4 Courtney Lawes – Northampton Saints, England, #826
5 Iain Henderson – Ulster, Ireland, #808
6 James Haskell – Wasps, England, #823
7 Sam Warburton (capt) – Cardiff Blues, Wales, #800
8 CJ Stander – Munster, Ireland, #831
Replacements
16 Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales, #829
17 Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland, #827
18 Dan Cole – Leicester Tigers, England, #794
19 Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales, #761
20 Justin Tipuric – Ospreys, Wales, #786
21 Greig Laidlaw – Gloucester Rugby, Scotland, #810
22 Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
23 Elliot Daly – Wasps, England, #822
Warburton needs to play extremely well indeed. Currently he’s behind POM and Stander as a blind side flanker and O’Brien and Tipuric as an open side flanker
There’s nothing that says your tour captain has to be in the test side, but I think it would be a blow for the tour if he cannot make it on merit
It would also enhance the likelihood of AWJ being selected at lock and as captain, and I’d rather that didn’t happen…
I think Warburton has helped Gatland out massively (possibly planned) by saying (paraphrase) “I feel I’m behind others on form/performance so need a blinder Wednesday to have any chance of a test place.” He’s effectively given WG permission to omit him. That’s not to say he can be top drawer so could gain a test shirt Wednesday.
I’m excited those I feel pre-tour were pencilled in whose stock has fallen (Nowell, Henshaw, Warbs perhaps) get another chance
Hold to your horses; let me rephrase my point re: Warbs/WG.
I feel he’s (SW) shown class, foresight and an intimate awareness of the coach’s mindset by taking pressure off WG (who for his good reasons for perhaps showing an element of ‘blind’ loyalty) to pick him,not 100% on form but largely/partly because he’s named him skipper and because of their close personal/professional relationship.
Agreed, i think SOB played really well last out and Tipuric has looked very good too so it is not a shoe in for him to play; i think Stander has to be 6 regardless. Hoping Nowell has a better game and shows his worth, i think Williams has ruled himself so he could play himself into a starting/bench spot.
POM over Stander every day for me. Stander catches the eye with his big carries but POM does the hard graft in ruck and maul. Plus his linking play is very good and he appears to have a ‘never say die’ kind of attitude which is exactly what the Lions need.
Er, anyone know the Highlanders’ team? Just for the sake of interest. Not to be too picky, but presumably there are 2 teams playing tomorrow?
As per the below Don. Not their strongest team but still 5 capped ABs I think
15 Richard Buckman, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Kayne Hammington; 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Jack Hemopo, 6 Gareth Evans, 7 Dillon Hunt, 8 Luke Whitelock (c).
Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 James Lentjes, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Patrick Osborne.
Just the 3 ABs in the backline!!! Ally that to (according to the BBC) a pack which have an historic culture of playing physical/attritional rugby and it could be some challenge!
Pretty decent looking back line isn’t it? I seem to remember Tevita Li was pretty exciting at under 20 level and Buckman always seems to figure in the Super Rugby highlights