Lads thinking gats will pick Hogg, Ringrose and Finn Russell in his team 
Scrum half is a worry as there’s no real outstanding candidate amongst the 5 nations at the minute. The choice of flyhalf will obviously have a bearing here and Ali Price could well come into the reckoning if Russell is in the squad, which I suspect he will be.
Jones has made that selection just to look for attention, no different to Barnes, really, with his England-heavy team. The last time a team of Englishmen went up against the Saffers they got their holes handed to them.
I like Van Der Merwe and think he could be a bolter on the wing. Tall, strong, good in the air, decent defensively and has savage pace.
Last time they were back to speed they got obliterated by South Africa
At scrum half Wales used Davies, Lloyd Williams, Tomis Williams and kieran Hardy at various stages in the 6n…used 3 diff starters in 5 games
And I’d say Rhys Webb is still the best of em and could tour as a garland favourite…
VdM and zammit on the wings for me.
All 4 are better than Ben youngs
Russel will be in squad but don’t see how gatland would ever trust him… Price is as bad as youngs and IMO was the source of most of Scotland woes in the 6n
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All 5 are… Incl webb
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You need a reliable goalkicker. Can’t have Russell as your primary kicker
Murray could very well make it yet.
We all know Murray is a cert pal
He’ll hold his end up.
It doesn’t say much for the lions if stumbling like a drunk books you a ticket on the plane.
Murray, sexton, Farrell and George north would be gattys pick at 9/10/12/13.
The Lions needs Ulster
Sexton isn’t surging 240 minutes against the Boks
Scrum half looks weak this time around. Wouldn’t rule out Conor Murray making the squad. He’s very much a Gatland type player. Players like Hogg and Russell very much not Gatland payers. Gatland invariably makes conservative selections and goes with experienced players. I could see Gatland selecting a test team along the following lines:
Liam Williams
Anthony Watson
Robbie Henshaw
Jonathan Davies
Josh Adams
Owen Farrell
Gareth Davies
Rory Sutherland
Ken Owens
Tadhg Furlong
Maro Itoje
Alun Wyn Jones
Tadhg Beirne
Tom Curry
Taulupe Faletau
I think he’ll pick zammit. Farrell shouldn’t be on the team, though I could see why you’d take him on tour tbh as a utility player. He’s not first choice for the worst team in the tournament (Italy don’t count)
Stephen Jones updated 35 man squad splits England (13), Wales (10), Ireland (8), Scotland (4).
No Louis Rees-Zammit or Stuart Hogg in his squad.
The worst team in the competition by a mile.