Gatland eyes English riches for Lions rugby tour

Ah yes, Warren Gatland. He of the very strong Welsh connection (their current coach). And the one who essentially picked a Welsh Lions the last time out (10 Welsh in the final test 15). So Mr Gatland, in the interests of not accusing you of Welsh bias, let's see you do exactly the same with the current record-breaking English. Lets see you pick 15 Englishmen and play 10 in a test.

There is a very strong argument here that this Lions tour provides the chance for world rugby to see these record-breaking English take on the All Blacks over a year ahead of schedule. Ridiculously world number 2 England dont get to play the All Blacks until the end of 2018. But here is a big chance for England to dominate the Lions selection and one of the tests could be the All Blacks v England we are all waiting for.

There is a very strong argument here that this Lions tour provides the chance for world rugby to see these record-breaking English take on the All Blacks over a year ahead of schedule.

never will happen, the Lions schedule is brutal. Any one of the Kiwi super rugby teams on their day could beat half of the six nations teams. Poms will have to wait till 2018.

random, I see your point. But you must agree, if only for the romance of the sport, that an England 10 (plus 5 Lions) versus the All Blacks in one of the tests will give us a teaser. And another of the 6 Nations teams could dominate in 2018 so its only right that the current 2017 world 1 and 2 get to face off.

Very much looking forward to this year's tour. The 2017 Lions would have smashed both SA and Oz (they are imo much stronger than their 2013 and 2009 predecessors) and they are probably the only team (albeit hybrid) in world rugby that can match the AB over 3 tests. That's why I reckon we will learn more about both the kiwis and Brits over 6 weeks of NZ v Brits/Irish rugby than we will in next year's one-off Eng v NZ test where either team could have an off-day, injuries etc.

Don't think we will see 10 poms in Lions best starting XV tbh (would only have B. Vunipola, Joseph and Itoje as near-certain starters. Launchbury, Farrell, Hartley, Cole and a couple others are in the mix but face tough competition). A few of them could cement their starting spot if they do well next w-e vs Ireland though.

Gold, if England do beat Ireland and break all records (still a big if), then surely Gatland has to do what he did with the Welsh Lions and pick 15 for the squad and play 10 in the test.

The following should start:- Itoje (a rugby god), Farrell, Daly, All front 3 (Hartley, Marler, Cole), Haskell, Launchbury, Nowell, and Lawes.

Agree TTD, next w-e should clarify a couple of things. Perso have never rated Marler for example and don't think the whole Eng front row is better than say Ireland's Best, Furlong and McGrath.

Re Gatland, I think he will still pick some of his boys (guys Davies, Roberts, Warburton, AWJ etc) no matter what that's why I don't see 10 eng players in the starting XV considering Hogg, perhaps Gray and at least 4-5 Irish will probably make the XV.

I actually think Gatland is/will be Lions' weak link (Schmidt or Cotter would have been much better imo).

Yep. The Welsh scrum half Rhys Webb should be the starter. He has had a quality 6 Nations. Hogg could also make the starting 15. Alun Wyn Jones is inspirational but if he isn't captain, and there is an extremely strong argument for Hartley, then he loses his point on the pitch.

They could always shake it up a bit and have a British and Irish and French and Italian Lions team. And Georgian ; )

The Lions are still on a hiding to nothing with that schedule. All 5 NZ Super Rugby teams plus NZ Maori, not to mention 3 tests against the All Blacks. All at the end of a long season. A repeat of 2005's whitewash is very likely I'm afraid. The All Blacks have not lost in NZ since 2009. Winning in NZ is ridiculously hard.

Akula, just play the B team against the Super teams/ Maori, then give the Lions A team a game a week leading up to the All Blacks tests and only play them for 40 minutes the week before.

TIGERS : Lions teams don't go out to not win, a B team would be doing just that, thereby pissing on the legacy of their forebears for the last 128 years. Play your strongest team everytime or be like the ABs losing to Ireland.

3-0 to New Zealand. The reality of how good NZ are is being kissed with the gap between England and other 6Ns teams.