Lions

[Mikey Brown]

Give it a rest. The players want to be part of it. To actually be considered equals with other British & Irish players and to be involved in these fantastic tours. Say what you want about the coaching team or the likelihood of a win but the opportunity to play for the Lions will push our players further. We seriously need to build some depth anyway.

[Cameo]

Im with Mikey although today will have killed mently of chances. At least it will have killed any Nowell bamdwagon though.

[cashead]

It like the Scots took one look at the Irish against Wales and went "you call that ruining your chances? Pffft, amateurs."

[OptimisticJock]

The Lions Tour is for the Welsh, Irish & English fans anyway.

Aye nae dramas Nikki.

[kk67]

Can't see Gatland picking Hartley as captain but Launch' is skip' at Wasps. Seems the engine room will primarily be English and he's the sort of bloke who gets on with everyone. It's a bit leftfield but AWJ, Greig and Hartley aren't guaranteed their positions. Which just leaves Rory and Jamie..?.

[whatisthejava]

Can't see Gatland picking Hartley as captain but Launch' is skip' at Wasps. Seems the engine room will primarily be English and he's the sort of bloke who gets on with everyone. It's a bit leftfield but AWJ, Greig and Hartley aren't guaranteed their positions. Which just leaves Rory and Jamie..?.

Not sure Rory is either, his hooking has got worse since the start of the 6N

If you cant hit TOner something is wrong, the guy is the height of a weather baloon in full flight

[kk67]

Can't see Gatland picking Hartley as captain but Launch' is skip' at Wasps. Seems the engine room will primarily be English and he's the sort of bloke who gets on with everyone. It's a bit leftfield but AWJ, Greig and Hartley aren't guaranteed their positions. Which just leaves Rory and Jamie..?.

Not sure Rory is either, his hooking has got worse since the start of the 6N

If you cant hit TOner something is wrong, the guy is the height of a weather baloon in full flight

Yeah. Lions always comes down to the last few games but Iain Henderson is nowhere to be seen.

[QwentyJ]

They have one last game to prove their chances at least but all that talk about our players having the confidence in their game to beat anyone will look particularly incredulous after the England game. We're going to have to tear Italy a new one for increase our chances.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

They have one last game to prove their chances at least but all that talk about our players having the confidence in their game to beat anyone will look particularly incredulous after the England game. We're going to have to tear Italy a new one for increase our chances.

The Italy game will do absolutely nothing, whether its a 5 point margin win or we stick 70 on them.

You won't get a better acid test for NZ than heading down to Twickenham in the current climate. Away from home, intimidating environment, a seemingly unbeatable team and many individual players better than their counterparts. They failed every single test. That was their big chance to show they can produce or at least stay competitive in that kind of arena.

Hogg will travel with JG also likely. Seymour an outside bet. And those are simply because of the other options also not performing.

[QwentyJ]

They have one last game to prove their chances at least but all that talk about our players having the confidence in their game to beat anyone will look particularly incredulous after the England game. We're going to have to tear Italy a new one for increase our chances.

The Italy game will do absolutely nothing, whether its a 5 point margin win or we stick 70 on them.

You won't get a better acid test for NZ than heading down to Twickenham in the current climate. Away from home, intimidating environment, a seemingly unbeatable team and many individual players better than their counterparts. They failed every single test. That was their big chance to show they can produce or at least stay competitive in that kind of arena.

Hogg will travel with JG also likely. Seymour an outside bet. And those are simply because of the other options also not performing.

I'm going on the maxim that the last match will stick in the mind. We'll get a few matches in New Zealand to at least prove our mettle. Absolutely take your point about where better to prove yourself than a braying Twickenham, mind.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

They have one last game to prove their chances at least but all that talk about our players having the confidence in their game to beat anyone will look particularly incredulous after the England game. We're going to have to tear Italy a new one for increase our chances.

The Italy game will do absolutely nothing, whether its a 5 point margin win or we stick 70 on them.

You won't get a better acid test for NZ than heading down to Twickenham in the current climate. Away from home, intimidating environment, a seemingly unbeatable team and many individual players better than their counterparts. They failed every single test. That was their big chance to show they can produce or at least stay competitive in that kind of arena.

Hogg will travel with JG also likely. Seymour an outside bet. And those are simply because of the other options also not performing.

I'm going on the maxim that the last match will stick in the mind. We'll get a few matches in New Zealand to at least prove our mettle. Absolutely take your point about where better to prove yourself than a braying Twickenham, mind.

It wont and rightly so. Guys who were close calls previously like Jonny or Russell or Watson or Dunbar will not get a look in and I have no doubt they will tear Italy a new one.

Our players don't deserve to tour. You can't take players who have bad days at the office like that. You play like that, you potentially lose the series.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

The Italy game will do absolutely nothing, whether its a 5 point margin win or we stick 70 on them.

You won't get a better acid test for NZ than heading down to Twickenham in the current climate. Away from home, intimidating environment, a seemingly unbeatable team and many individual players better than their counterparts. They failed every single test. That was their big chance to show they can produce or at least stay competitive in that kind of arena.

Hogg will travel with JG also likely. Seymour an outside bet. And those are simply because of the other options also not performing.

I'm going on the maxim that the last match will stick in the mind. We'll get a few matches in New Zealand to at least prove our mettle. Absolutely take your point about where better to prove yourself than a braying Twickenham, mind.

It wont and rightly so. Guys who were close calls previously like Jonny or Russell or Watson or Dunbar will not get a look in and I have no doubt they will tear Italy a new one.

Our players don't deserve to tour. You can't take players who have bad days at the office like that. You play like that, you potentially lose the series.

Play like that on this Lions tour then you won't concede fewer than 50 in any of the matches.

I entirely agree that the last match won't be the one that sticks in the mind when it's what should be a straightforward win against Italy. None of the games on Lions tour will be remotely similar.

[Digby]

A reasonable number of Scotland's problems came from team system errors, and as POC observed recently it takes 2-3 days to learn how to play Gatball, so those more complex system issues mayn't be applicable. And you'd have to consider will the rucks in NZ be as we just saw in the games officiated by Raynal and Barnes? I'd expect in advance they'd progress somewhat quicker, and that brings the likes of Barclay more into the equation.

[Cameo]

I think for a few of them Glasgow v Sarries is more of a chance to redeem themselves in terms of Lions selection than the Italy game. Wont make up for the weekend but against a top team, under pressure, away from home

[whatisthejava]

I think for a few of them Glasgow v Sarries is more of a chance to redeem themselves in terms of Lions selection than the Italy game. Wont make up for the weekend but against a top team, under pressure, away from home

Id agree,

I actually think that Scotland tried to change patterns and it didnt work and they stuck with it, if they had went back to normal patterns the damage wouldnt have been so great, i see this as poor leadership but what do you expect when apart from Barclay most guys are quite young.

Against Sarries I think its a great chance for some key players to have 1 last chance to throw the dice, if they beat Sarries then the english game would be put to bed

[Big D]

I actually think that Scotland tried to change patterns and it didnt work and they stuck with it, if they had went back to normal patterns the damage wouldnt have been so great, i see this as poor leadership but what do you expect when apart from Barclay most guys are quite young.

Is that really an issue compared to experience? Reid, Brown, Gray, Gray, Barclay and Wilson all have 20+ caps over 3-4+ years of international rugby, have played in some big club games and also now plenty of important international games. Russell and Dunbar have enough caps where they should also start leading more than they do in the tougher games.

In fairness, Dicko and Nel may have steadied the ship.

Without Laidlaw, Russell needs to step up and become the leader in the backs going forward.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

That's absolutely fine with me. The Lions Tour is for the Welsh, Irish & English fans anyway.

You'd be surprised. Plenty Scots fans tour and watch on tele.

I'm aware. Was very enjoyable supporting the saffers in 2009.

Best tour I've ever been on that one. Great county, great people and some really good rugby, you should consider going on one of these tours mate, it might help temper some of your toy throwing melodramatics.

[kk67]

I sympathise with Hugh's emotional response.

[OptimisticJock]

You'd be surprised. Plenty Scots fans tour and watch on tele.

I'm aware. Was very enjoyable supporting the saffers in 2009.

Best tour I've ever been on that one. Great county, great people and some really good rugby, you should consider going on one of these tours mate, it might help temper some of your toy throwing melodramatics.

Looking at doing the next one. Tbf I fancy all 3 but something about SA stands out.

[Stones of granite]

I'm aware. Was very enjoyable supporting the saffers in 2009.

Best tour I've ever been on that one. Great county, great people and some really good rugby, you should consider going on one of these tours mate, it might help temper some of your toy throwing melodramatics.

Looking at doing the next one. Tbf I fancy all 3 but something about SA stands out.

Is it the low crime rate compared with Dundee?

[Big D]

You'd be surprised. Plenty Scots fans tour and watch on tele.

I'm aware. Was very enjoyable supporting the saffers in 2009.

Best tour I've ever been on that one. Great county, great people and some really good rugby, you should consider going on one of these tours mate, it might help temper some of your toy throwing melodramatics.

You hitting up this one Catman? My best mate is heading over and staying with a couple of the kiwis that played for us. Jealous as fuck.

[OptimisticJock]

Best tour I've ever been on that one. Great county, great people and some really good rugby, you should consider going on one of these tours mate, it might help temper some of your toy throwing melodramatics.

Looking at doing the next one. Tbf I fancy all 3 but something about SA stands out.

Is it the low crime rate compared with Dundee?

yeah and better weather.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

I'm aware. Was very enjoyable supporting the saffers in 2009.

Best tour I've ever been on that one. Great county, great people and some really good rugby, you should consider going on one of these tours mate, it might help temper some of your toy throwing melodramatics.

You hitting up this one Catman? My best mate is heading over and staying with a couple of the kiwis that played for us. Jealous as fuck.

Really wanted to, but couldn't swing it. I love New Zealand.

Just going roll over the fund to SA and do the full tour.

I'm with you on that Baz, the other two are great, but for some reason, South Africa feels like something more.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

I sympathise with Hugh's emotional response.

Ah now I would, but Greg flounces from one massive emotional response to another.

I like berating the cat.

[switchskier]

Is hooker the lions weakest position? Owens has been pretty ineffective today, Best looks old and Hartley is, well, Hartley.