He's certainly the best English hooker. I can't remember how many hookers are usually included, if it is four, then I think he might be in with a shout to come off the bench. If they only take three, then I don't think Gatland will choose him over Owens, Best and Hartley. By the time the next 6N rolls around, I don't think Hartley will be a starter for England, albeit, I think Jones would be reluctant to dispense entirely given the amount of caps he has acquired.
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He's certainly the best English hooker. I can't remember how many hookers are usually included, if it is four, then I think he might be in with a shout to come off the bench. If they only take three, then I don't think Gatland will choose him over Owens, Best and Hartley. By the time the next 6N rolls around, I don't think Hartley will be a starter for England, albeit, I think Jones would be reluctant to dispense entirely given the amount of caps he has acquired.
teok
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It's a bizarre situation. I think EJ sees hartley as his spirit animal on the pitch despite george being a massively better rugby player. At this point you can't really question EJ because of his results, he thinks for england hartley is needed.
For the lions george is the complete player.
Mayyyte, of course he is!!! Gatland's picking the side!!!!!1!!!!1!!
Best in the NH? I've never heard that line trotted out consistently. I've only been to Wales three times though...I'm pretty sure it's written on the 'welcome to Wales' signs!
He's a warrior and I rate him, no doubt. He's just never been Johnno level. To be honest, he's never consistently been POC level imo...I can't even ask for forgiveness now, I know it's impossible!!!
Maro will eclipse them all eventually
Yeah, and I think there is method to the madness. Arguably, George plays a far more pivotal role coming off the bench, than he would do as a starter. It will be interesting to see how Tommy Taylor develops at Wasps over the next 12-18 months. At club level he is already outperforming Hartley.
By and large I think that is what he will go with from a Welsh perspective; not sure about Gethin, though - given his age. I wouldn't rule out Jamie Roberts, either, given how Gatland will want to play.
E17yid
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Best in the NH? I've never heard that line trotted out consistently. I've only been to Wales three times though...I'm pretty sure it's written on the 'welcome to Wales' signs!
He's a warrior and I rate him, no doubt. He's just never been Johnno level. To be honest, he's never consistently been POC level imo...I can't even ask for forgiveness now, I know it's impossible!!!
Maro will eclipse them all eventually
You could be right about Maro and it wouldn't surprise me to be honest, he's the next breed. Which is actually a good point if you're going to compare Johnson (who's obviously a great in the game) and Wyn Jones and that is the difference in fitness levels between the 2. Alun is a far superior athlete than Johnson ever was. And when you look at Itoje he's just as physical but even more dynamic, the next generation tend to get better.
nightgoat
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Arguably took even steelier balls by the ref in the England Argentina game to send off Daly after five minutes. I know there's less riding on an Autumn International than a Six Nations match, but he would have been aware of the crowd reaction in sending an England player off so early.
Daly landed on the area between lower neck and upper back, where impact really crunches the neck and can cause serious damage. It was the same way that Senatore landed for which Daly was red carded. Brown's tackle was not only late, but reckless and suggests a bit too much adrenaline early on in the game. Fortunately it didn't affect the outcome of the game so the decision won't overshadow a much improved England performance.
He did, but then all four studio pundits plus Scott Hastings commentating all agreed he was lucky to get away with a yellow and that it probably should have been red.
nightgoat
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Of course New Zealand will play it down by saying we didn't play them during the run, whilst totally overlooking the fact they didn't have to play us during their run. Also worth mentioning that, if we do make it 19 successive wins we'll have set a new record whilst beating the team that ended NZ's twice.
I thought you were listing squad picks as opposed to the starting fifteen. There is so much competition for places that it really is tough to assert who will make the first team. Sexton and Webb are the stand out half back pairing, but I could see the logic with going with Sexton and Murray on the grounds of the experience they have as an axis.
From a back row perspective, I think the only English player worth a starting slot would be B.Vunipola. So much choice from the Celtic nations on that front.
E17yid
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Ah, reading it back I wasn't clear. Number 8 is an interesting one. Moriarty has been better for us (though Faletau was bound to be eased back and be a tad rusty) but you're not going to not take Vunipola and I'd imagine Gatland will like what he can bring ball carrying wise so who knows.
mpickard2087
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Welsh and Irish players, particularly in the back line, are going to be in with a much better shout of the Lions, because they fit Gatland crashball tactics better.
If I was picking a side then on the form of the last year or so I'd say Liam Williams and Tipuric would be the only Welsh players in the XV, but you know it will be more than that.
If I was picking a side then on the form of the last year or so I'd say Liam Williams and Tipuric would be the only Welsh players in the XV, but you know it will be more than that.
E17yid
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Liam Williams over Hogg or on the Wing? What you say is not unfair but I think Webb is in there with Wyn Jones as Captain. Personally I think Liam Williams will go mainly as a utility player, I don't think he starts but you're right in terms of form over the last year.
mpickard2087
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Williams would be on the wing with Hogg fullback. Webb is behind Murray for me. AWJ is in contention to start, but so are half a dozen others. Choosing the 2nd and back row places is such a tough decision with the options available.
Nathan Hughes has flattered to deceive but his stats actually make decent reading. For example, I believe against Wales he made more carries and metres and beat more defenders than the entire Irish back row managed against the same opposition on Friday night!
Personally, I'd love to see a backrow of 6. Falateu 7. Tipuric 8. Vunipola
Billy and Toby can switch if needs be and I'm more than happy to see Warburton in for Tipuric if that's the case. SOB has been average lately, Stander is overrated and South African and Heaslip is on the wane. The back row is fiercely competitive but I think both Falateu and Vunipola are world class players so I'm having them both in the side. Falateu has so much to his game and Billy has played 6 himself plenty of times. It can be done I tells ya!!!
Personally, I'd love to see a backrow of 6. Falateu 7. Tipuric 8. Vunipola
Billy and Toby can switch if needs be and I'm more than happy to see Warburton in for Tipuric if that's the case. SOB has been average lately, Stander is overrated and South African and Heaslip is on the wane. The back row is fiercely competitive but I think both Falateu and Vunipola are world class players so I'm having them both in the side. Falateu has so much to his game and Billy has played 6 himself plenty of times. It can be done I tells ya!!!
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