So 40 players, who's in?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I hate Keith Earls so much that I genuinely cannot tell if he is any good at all. Appears to have no talent whatsoever but does get on the end of some walk-ins for Ireland so fair play. Their Chris Ashton almost?

He's been absolutely excellent for us this tournament and I say that as someone who wasn't happy to see him in the squad, never mind the team. He's a much more rounded player than Ashton as you might expect from someone who has played Test rugby in every position 11-15. If you based Lions selection on this 6N alone, he would absolutely deserve to tour. I think your hatred of him - which is a curious thing of itself - has rather blinded you to his attributes.

[Sandydragon]

Stephen Jones has excelled himself in The Sunday Times today. He has left Hogg out the squad completely, and has included Maitland. Scott Williams is in, and starts at 12 in his 1stXV, Haskell is picked but no sign of Tipuric. The icing on the cake is him name checking Jake Cooper-Wooley as being in contention if it weren't for mid-season issues with concussion. On the plus side, he hasn't mentioned either Burrell or Attwood which must've hurt.

Quite a few pundits are naming Hartley in the starting team. Almost as if the six nations never happened.

[Digby]

Stephen Jones has excelled himself in The Sunday Times today. He has left Hogg out the squad completely, and has included Maitland. Scott Williams is in, and starts at 12 in his 1stXV, Haskell is picked but no sign of Tipuric. The icing on the cake is him name checking Jake Cooper-Wooley as being in contention if it weren't for mid-season issues with concussion. On the plus side, he hasn't mentioned either Burrell or Attwood which must've hurt.

Quite a few pundits are naming Hartley in the starting team. Almost as if the six nations never happened.

Tradition says Hartley will be picked and then find a new way to be banned prior to flying out

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Stephen Jones has excelled himself in The Sunday Times today. He has left Hogg out the squad completely, and has included Maitland. Scott Williams is in, and starts at 12 in his 1stXV, Haskell is picked but no sign of Tipuric. The icing on the cake is him name checking Jake Cooper-Wooley as being in contention if it weren't for mid-season issues with concussion. On the plus side, he hasn't mentioned either Burrell or Attwood which must've hurt.

Quite a few pundits are naming Hartley in the starting team. Almost as if the six nations never happened.

The 6n and the preceding 10 years.

[Sandydragon]

He's probably done enough to earn a spot, but it'll be at the expense of someone like Ken Owens or Fraser Brown, imo.

I'd suggest that Owens, Best and George are the best hookers at the moment. It wouldn't surprise me if Warburton was pencilled into the open side slot and potential captain given his experience, so unless Hartley is going on form then it's a bit of a kick for the inform guys.

That said, the diet tracker side needs solid leadership as well. If they fall off the pace then the whole tour can be undermined.

[whatisthejava]

I hate Keith Earls so much that I genuinely cannot tell if he is any good at all. Appears to have no talent whatsoever but does get on the end of some walk-ins for Ireland so fair play. Their Chris Ashton almost?

He's been absolutely excellent for us this tournament and I say that as someone who wasn't happy to see him in the squad, never mind the team. He's a much more rounded player than Ashton as you might expect from someone who has played Test rugby in every position 11-15. If you based Lions selection on this 6N alone, he would absolutely deserve to tour. I think your hatred of him - which is a curious thing of itself - has rather blinded you to his attributes.

Id agree with u , i also hate Earls, find him a horrible cheating wee bastrd, so would probabbly love him if he was scotish, but he has been your best threat in the 6N, he is a utility player so may or may not go , better players in every position he offers but very few offer his versatility.

I dont think he will go but the fact he actually scored trys with the irish backs shows some real skill

[Big D]

I hate Keith Earls so much that I genuinely cannot tell if he is any good at all. Appears to have no talent whatsoever but does get on the end of some walk-ins for Ireland so fair play. Their Chris Ashton almost?

He's been absolutely excellent for us this tournament and I say that as someone who wasn't happy to see him in the squad, never mind the team. He's a much more rounded player than Ashton as you might expect from someone who has played Test rugby in every position 11-15. If you based Lions selection on this 6N alone, he would absolutely deserve to tour. I think your hatred of him - which is a curious thing of itself - has rather blinded you to his attributes.

I don't think I'd take him for similar reasons I think a lot of Scots will miss out. 6N form will not be the only criterion and I think in general there are better wingers available and also players who can cover a lot of the positions he can. Not that I think he is a bad player or hasn't been pretty good lately.

I would probably take (in no order); North, LWilliams, Seymour, Watson, Daly as wingers ahead of him. And I would be looking for specialist centres to travel with maybe Daly providing emergency 13 cover.

Picking a squad now of 38 - based on nothing more than the Lions app only allows 37 or 38 to be picked which may or may not be indicative of what will be picked. Tended to pick partnerships to help hit the ground running:
LHP: Mako, McGrath, Healy
Hooker: Best, George, Owens/Brown
THP: Furlong, Cole, AN Other
2nd row: Gray, Itoje, Launchbury, Gray, Lawes
Back Row: Stander, Billy V, Warburton, Tipuric, Faletau, Barclay (covers all 3 positions ideal for midweek)
20 Forwards

9: Murray, Webb, AN Other (one of Laidlaw, Youngs etc)
10: Sexton, Russell/Ford
10/12: Farrell
Centres: Henshaw, JJ, Ringrose, +2
Wing: North, Seymour, LWilliams, Watson,
15: Hogg, probably 1/2p
Utility: Daly
18 Backs

Can't make my mind up over 3 or 4.

[kk67]

Id agree with u , i also hate Earls, find him a horrible cheating wee bastrd, so would probabbly love him if he was scotish, but he has been your best threat in the 6N, he is a utility player so may or may not go , better players in every position he offers but very few offer his versatility.

I dont think he will go but the fact he actually scored trys with the irish backs shows some real skill

Maybe a better attacking threat but Zebo looked the more complete player.

[whatisthejava]

Id agree with u , i also hate Earls, find him a horrible cheating wee bastrd, so would probabbly love him if he was scotish, but he has been your best threat in the 6N, he is a utility player so may or may not go , better players in every position he offers but very few offer his versatility.

I dont think he will go but the fact he actually scored trys with the irish backs shows some real skill

Maybe a better attacking threat but Zebo looked the more complete player.

I dont need any excuses to slag off Earls but Zebo did nothing during the Scotland or Wales game, Earls was the only real threat with ball in hand for Ireland

[kk67]

Id agree with u , i also hate Earls, find him a horrible cheating wee bastrd, so would probabbly love him if he was scotish, but he has been your best threat in the 6N, he is a utility player so may or may not go , better players in every position he offers but very few offer his versatility.

I dont think he will go but the fact he actually scored trys with the irish backs shows some real skill

Maybe a better attacking threat but Zebo looked the more complete player.

I dont need any excuses to slag off Earls but Zebo did nothing during the Scotland or Wales game, Earls was the only real threat with ball in hand for Ireland

Zebo was busy during the Wales game.

[Numbers]

Maybe a better attacking threat but Zebo looked the more complete player.

I dont need any excuses to slag off Earls but Zebo did nothing during the Scotland or Wales game, Earls was the only real threat with ball in hand for Ireland

Zebo was busy during the Wales game.

I'm not sure how Zebo gets into the Ireland side ahead of Craig Gilroy who is a try scoring machine, if Zebo's defence was good I would understand, Zebo looked a shoe in for a starting test spot on the last Lions tour but didn't do enough in the warm-up games.

[whatisthejava]

I dont need any excuses to slag off Earls but Zebo did nothing during the Scotland or Wales game, Earls was the only real threat with ball in hand for Ireland

Zebo was busy during the Wales game.

I'm not sure how Zebo gets into the Ireland side ahead of Craig Gilroy who is a try scoring machine, if Zebo's defence was good I would understand, Zebo looked a shoe in for a starting test spot on the last Lions tour but didn't do enough in the warm-up games.

Craig Gilroy cant tackle, very good try scorer but is a defensive liability.

Zebo is in because Tommy Bowe is old and Kearney is dependable even though he adds nothing to the party.

[kk67]

They probably won't travel but for what it's worth I think Nowell and Zebo both fall into the same camp as guys who go looking for work more frequently than the average winger, Boo-boo.

[Numbers]

Zebo was busy during the Wales game.

I'm not sure how Zebo gets into the Ireland side ahead of Craig Gilroy who is a try scoring machine, if Zebo's defence was good I would understand, Zebo looked a shoe in for a starting test spot on the last Lions tour but didn't do enough in the warm-up games.

Craig Gilroy cant tackle, very good try scorer but is a defensive liability.

Zebo is in because Tommy Bowe is old and Kearney is dependable even though he adds nothing to the party.

I wouldn't say Earls is rock solid and he doesn't add the try scoring, it's a bit like Wales not picking Shane Williams imo.

Tho I may be biased as I've won a fair amount betting on him scoring tries.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I'm not sure how Zebo gets into the Ireland side ahead of Craig Gilroy who is a try scoring machine, if Zebo's defence was good I would understand, Zebo looked a shoe in for a starting test spot on the last Lions tour but didn't do enough in the warm-up games.

Craig Gilroy cant tackle, very good try scorer but is a defensive liability.

Zebo is in because Tommy Bowe is old and Kearney is dependable even though he adds nothing to the party.

I wouldn't say Earls is rock solid and he doesn't add the try scoring, it's a bit like Wales not picking Shane Williams imo.

Tho I may be biased as I've won a fair amount betting on him scoring tries.

I'd love Gilroy to warrant that praise. Sadly I don't think he's close.

[Galfon]

Sinkler & Ryan will be interesting - not first names on most lists but talked up by senior pros. as worthy tourists.

[Hooky]

We all know Stephen jones is mental but Hibbard, Wigglesworth and Kearney

[ad_tigger]

Sounds increasingly like Gatland is also mental.

[Hooky]

Sounds increasingly like Gatland is also mental.

Indeed it does. No Ford or Joseph but Roberts and Te'o in. FFS

[ad_tigger]

Should we just swap this to a biggest 40 players in the british isles thread?

[Mellsblue]

I can't wait to see the Sean O'Brien - Furlong centre partnership.

[Galfon]

Given the normal attrition rate of recent tours, decent little'ns like joseph, ford & wade may get a chance once the tharg list had been exhausted..I recall WG even called on Ikkle on the last tour ..

[bruce]

Given the normal attrition rate of recent tours, decent little'ns like joseph, ford & wade may get a chance once the tharg list had been exhausted..I recall WG even called on Ikkle on the last tour ..

Might still do again, still playing and scoring tries.

[Stom]

So:

Mako
Marler
McGrath

Best
Owens
George

Cole
Sinckler
Furlong

AWJ
Itoje
Kruis
Lawes
Henderson

POM
SOB
Stander
Warburton
Tipuric
Moriarty

Faletau
BillyV

Murray
Webb
Youngs

Sexton
Farrell
Biggar

Te'o
Henshaw
Payne
Joseph
Davies
Daly

Watson
North
Nowell
Williams
Seymour

Halfpenny
Hogg

[jngf]

I think Gatland may have miscalculated by not taking Chris Robshaw. Stander and Moriarty both offer the same thing and I would have still picked the latter but taken Robshaw in place of the former to have at least one out and out workrate grafter in the squad. There's also an argument that SOB and Warburton are too similar to both be selected and one of the Scot's genuine opensides could have offered more flexibility in place of one of these, probably Warburton to be honest.