NPR

Big D wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 6:58 pm

Begbie wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:24 pm Who do we all fancy to replace AWJ then?

Will be Ryan or Gray. Both have pluses and negatives.

The fact that Hill and LCD are already touring may help Gray. Assuming LCD is OK to fly tomorrow.

If Hill can't dramatically change his discipline problems he shouldn't get near the test side, so whoever comes in has a serious shot

I thought Gray had a good game today.

He never catches the eye but his stats are always off the scale when you read back after a match.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:57 pm

Begbie wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:24 pm Who do we all fancy to replace AWJ then?

I'd call up Kruis. He works well with Itoje. And he's very fit according to reports.

Sympathy quote

Adam Beard

Connor Murray captain.

Congrats to him but he'll need to be better than today

Navidi too for Tipuric.

Slightly surpised by beard but Navidi is a good player to take against SA.

Happyhooker wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 8:36 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:57 pm

Begbie wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:24 pm Who do we all fancy to replace AWJ then?

I'd call up Kruis. He works well with Itoje. And he's very fit according to reports.

Sympathy quote

Not laughing now.

Gatland must have about 30 Welsh on standby.

Not very original is he.

I suppose this puts Henderson next in line for a test starting spot. Thought he was good today. Tips is a huge loss, saw him 50 50 with curry for the test team. Navidi is a good player though

Beard?

Murray as Captain?

Eh?

Beard

Navidi is a good call up.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 10:02 pm Beard?

Murray as Captain?

Eh?

This is really quite bizarre. You’d have put money on the replacement for AWJ being either Gray or Ryan. Beard? Seriously?

Navidi was always fantastic at club level, and I became a big fan, but he has never reproduced that form in a test.

Beard?

Good to see Gats not picking the players he knows or his contacts know

I'm now annoyed over this, Navidi over Jamie Ritchie?


That's laughable.

Biffer wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 10:02 pm Beard?

Murray as Captain?

Eh?

Bonkers calls.

Murray begins to make a little sense of they decided they wanted someone who had been with the squad the whole time to be tour captain.

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 11:11 pm I'm now annoyed over this, Navidi over Jamie Ritchie?


That's laughable.

I really don't think it is too be honest. Navidi has been pretty good for Wales in the past and can play across the back row. We saw today Faletau looks of the pace. So an additional option at 8 is no bad thing.

They may also push Bierne more as a second row rather than a 6.

https://superxv.sportsmatemobile.com/news/17164

Are the lions just an excuse for other home nations supporters to bitch and moan about other nations players?
Players have good games then they have shit games.
It is usually 50 50.
Who cares.
It is only the Sky Sports Lions.
90% of players are doing it to boost their own professional stock in the marketplace, mainly to get out of playing for the clubs and nations they are currently in, and away from the very supporters who think that by being nasty about other nations players, they are supporting their own , when instead you are pushing them away.
Wales are predictably going to be shit next year btw.
AWJ and Tipuric both serious casualties already.
Lots more to come too, I'm sure.
Wales has never won a six nations, the season after the lions tour in the Pro era.
Usually they come fourth or fifth.
Next year, it is going to even more humiliating than usual, looking at the fixture list.
The growing Welsh lions casualty list, together with the poor results could easily be the end of Pivac.

Beard is a fucking joke selection, there are probably half a dozen players way better than him that could have been chosen, Gatland really showing his Wales bias there. As for picking Murray as the Captain, again, crazy selection, you surely pick someone who is a nailed on starter, Murray is definately not that.

ASMO wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:59 am Beard is a fucking joke selection, there are probably half a dozen players way better than him that could have been chosen, Gatland really showing his Wales bias there. As for picking Murray as the Captain, again, crazy selection, you surely pick someone who is a nailed on starter, Murray is definately not that.

Bloody bonkers calls both of them
Adam Beard ffs

ASMO wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:59 am Beard is a fucking joke selection, there are probably half a dozen players way better than him that could have been chosen, Gatland really showing his Wales bias there. As for picking Murray as the Captain, again, crazy selection, you surely pick someone who is a nailed on starter, Murray is definately not that.

I think Gatland has jumped the shark. He was fairly awful coaching the Chiefs. Much like Eddie Jones, they feel insulated by the sheer length of their coaching careers that they believe their ideas, intuition and decision making is bullet-proof. Surrounded by self-appointed yes men only confirms their feelings of infallibility.

They're dinosaurs.

AWJ was the dinosaur in the squad. Cuts the average age by about 11 years.

He's 35. Not a total dinosaur. And he's been good for the last 18 months at least.

James Ryan is injured. Would have e thought he was next in line.

Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 9:19 am James Ryan is injured. Would have e thought he was next in line.

Jonny Gray must have upset Gatland somewhere down the line to be behind Adam Beard

Yup. Gray and Ritchie should've been the calls based on the last year of form. Oh well.

SaintK wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 9:53 am

Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 9:19 am James Ryan is injured. Would have e thought he was next in line.

Jonny Gray must have upset Gatland somewhere down the line to be behind Adam Beard

Will have been a decision made by more than just Gatland. I assume the call is based around the line outs, but either way he is a lion now so good luck to the lad.

Fissler from TRP with a scoop? To be fair he gets more wrong than right
[media] [/media]

I just don't see the point in not adding a top class lock like Gray to the tour given he'd miss no tour games and would be a full part of it. Such a wasted opportunity.

So which hooker is on standby.
L C-D was stone cold ko'd for several minutes after he mistimed a chop tackle in the Prem Final yesterday
Was able to eventually walk off but looked as if he'd just gone 10 rounds with Tyson!!!

SaintK wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:41 am So which hooker is on standby.
L C-D was stone cold ko'd for several minutes after he mistimed a chop tackle in the Prem Final yesterday
Was able to eventually walk off but looked as if he'd just gone 10 rounds with Tyson!!!

Kelleher was with the squad in Jersey.

SaintK wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:41 am So which hooker is on standby.
L C-D was stone cold ko'd for several minutes after he mistimed a chop tackle in the Prem Final yesterday
Was able to eventually walk off but looked as if he'd just gone 10 rounds with Tyson!!!

probably some obscure squad player for one of the Welsh regions

Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 12:15 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 11:11 pm I'm now annoyed over this, Navidi over Jamie Ritchie?


That's laughable.

I really don't think it is too be honest. Navidi has been pretty good for Wales in the past and can play across the back row. We saw today Faletau looks of the pace. So an additional option at 8 is no bad thing.

They may also push Bierne more as a second row rather than a 6.

The lack of a “proper 7” was evident yesterday when Tips went off, if they were looking for a direct replacement Ritchie or van der Flier would have been my first two calls. Navidi has not been at their level in an international jersey.
Faletau will come good and he’ll be duking it out with Conan for the starting 8 shirt, with Lawes, Beirne, Hendo and Itoje there is plenty of depth in utility back row/locks.

SaintK wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:41 am So which hooker is on standby.
L C-D was stone cold ko'd for several minutes after he mistimed a chop tackle in the Prem Final yesterday
Was able to eventually walk off but looked as if he'd just gone 10 rounds with Tyson!!!

Presumably Elliot Dee as the next available Welsh player.

You slightly get the impression that Gatland’s assistants wouldn’t let him fill the squad with second-tier Welsh players, and he’s been in a sulk about it, so that’s what we’ll get with every injury replacement now.

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:45 am

Big D wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 12:15 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 11:11 pm I'm now annoyed over this, Navidi over Jamie Ritchie?


That's laughable.

I really don't think it is too be honest. Navidi has been pretty good for Wales in the past and can play across the back row. We saw today Faletau looks of the pace. So an additional option at 8 is no bad thing.

They may also push Bierne more as a second row rather than a 6.

The lack of a “proper 7” was evident yesterday when Tips went off, if they were looking for a direct replacement Ritchie or van der Flier would have been my first two calls. Navidi has not been at their level in an international jersey.
Faletau will come good and he’ll be duking it out with Conan for the starting 8 shirt, with Lawes, Beirne, Hendo and Itoje there is plenty of depth in utility back row/locks.

If they were looking for a direct replacement. They obviously weren't. Gatland hasn't picked Navidi as a 7 since the 2018 six nations. It is unlikely he and MacBryde have all of a sudden thought of him as a specialist. There may be players carrying injuries that we are not aware of. Conan picked up a knock yesterday.

With only 5 games til the first test both Watson and Curry will do the heavy lifting at 7.

Next cabs off the replacement rank

ASMO wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 2:44 pm Next cabs off the replacement rank

Pretty much sums it up.

Navidi I can sort of understand but Beard FFS!?