Priestland set to tour with Lions?

Sorry no link as story is behind a paywall, but in The Times today they state that Rhys Priestland is currently Gatland's preferred choice to tour Australia as backup to Sexton, instead of either Dan Biggar or Owen Farrell. It goes on to suggest that Farrell needs a MoTM display tomorrow to secure his place ahead of the Scarlets player.

It is obvious that Gatland likes Priestland as a player - and certainly seems to favour him over Biggar - but bearing in mind his form pre-achilles injury and limited time back for Scarlets would this be wise?

For me I have no real preference between Biggar and Farrell - but feel both should be well ahead of Priestland.

If he is it will make a mockery of the Lions, Gatland will show that he's just another Woodward, Priestland has never, ever been a good player, in fact he's a very bad player by international standards, he was even more woeful than usual before he was injured and has barely played since. Priestland certainly wouldn't start for any of the home nations and would struggle to get onto the bench. Wilkinson, Farrell and Biggar should all be ahead of him in fact so should Jackson, Burns and Madigan. In fact I don't think Priestland's the best fly-half at the Scarlets, the young 10 that started against Glasgow was better than I've ever seen Priestland play.

I agree with you there LT. Gatland is certainly a fan of Priestland, but it's the RP pre World Cup who looked a class act. He hasn't looked as good ever since but welsh fans live in hope.

mikey_philVIII wrote:I agree with you there LT. Gatland is certainly a fan of Priestland, but it's the RP pre World Cup who looked a class act. He hasn't looked as good ever since but welsh fans live in hope.

If he gets picked on the basis that he was good before the World cup Gatland might as well pick Parks

Parks is better than priestland

Come on not in a million years!

Just to play devils...

RP is a very good distributor of the ball, and is the closest thing to Sexton with regards of getting a backline looking good, Biggar, Farell, Hook, Wilko all struggle to get the best out of backlines, so I could kinda understand if Gatland prefers his 10's to be distributors first, and the kicking duties can go elsewhere, I mean all back 3 options can kick, as well as a very cultured left peg from Davies and Phillips can box longer than most can kick clear anyway.

Sexton wouldn't be kicking at goal anyway with 1/2p on the park, as would RP.

I'm not saying I would take RP mind, just trying to justify why Gatland would.

Gordon Ross is better than Priestland!

Before I get accused of being anti-Welsh I think Biggar should travel

If Preistland comes straight back into the Wales starting lineup in the Autumn I will not be happy

As for the Lions...

I doubt the Times has got better information than any other paper or rugby internet website.
Gatland is known to be pretty ruthless but it would suprise me if Priestland tours ahead of Farrell or Biggar.

If he wanted a ball playing 10 and specifically wasn't looking to take Biggar or Farrel then it has to be either Madigan or Flood who tour. Flood at least has a shed load of experience and is a.proven against the Wallabies and b. in good form currently.

If Gatland likes Priestland then he will also like Toby Flood who is a very similar player.

When Wales were winning Priestland looked like a class act who was able to make those around him look good. Warburton as captain and Priestland as Fly half copped an unfair amount of flak when wales were on their 8 match losing run.

Scrumdown wrote:If Gatland likes Priestland then he will also like Toby Flood who is a very similar player.

When Wales were winning Priestland looked like a class act who was able to make those around him look good. Warburton as captain and Priestland as Fly half copped an unfair amount of flak when wales were on their 8 match losing run.

I disagree, they deserved all the flak they got IMHO, RP was almost single handedly crippling Wales, and Warbs wasn't anywhere near fit. I will say however that neither shouldve been selected in the first place, it was clear both were struggling and there were better options not used, so Howley has to take all the credit for the losing streak!!!

FFs if he does pick the Priest he is a pillock and i may kick my dog, might as well take Henson too

I am really not convinced by Gatland. I hope I am wrong

Who else was there????

To be Biggar ,Sexton and the English lad" whos name escapes me but his dad is on the England coaching team" are not fit enough to shine Priestlands boots!

Also why not Henson? he is better than the South African and Samoan centres who play for England?

I really do hope this is some kind of late April fools joke.
Preistland should not be nay where near the Lions IMHO.

BUT, then again he is Welsh, and Gatland is head Wales coach.... So i guess it could be true.

If it is true the LIONS WILL DEFFO LOSE.

And that is one thing that Warren Gatland does not want to do is lose.

viewtothegym wrote:To be Biggar ,Sexton and the English lad" whos name escapes me but his dad is on the England coaching team" are not fit enough to shine Priestlands boots!

Also why not Henson? he is better than the South African and Samoan centres who play for England?

Give it a rest will you.

If we see Priestland and Warburton as Captain- well, they better both deliver! Because there would be two very questionable decisions to get us off on the wrong foot.

majesticimperialman wrote:
If it is true the LIONS WILL DEFFO LOSE.

Pretty big effect from a second choice bench warmer Flyhalf

Doing an O'Gara I guess...

wales606 wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:
If it is true the LIONS WILL DEFFO LOSE.

Pretty big effect from a second choice bench warmer Flyhalf

Doing an O'Gara I guess...

If Gatland does pick Priestland, i dont think he will be a bench warmer flyhalf.

What the article actually says is that Gatland is considering other options to Farrell - that maybe he believes that the kind of game Farrell offers isnt suitable to hard fast grounds in Oz and that Farrell needs a really good game tomorrow. One of the options Gatland may be considering is Priestland....

The emphasis is on Farrell, Priestland is mentioned in passing.

In my opinion Farrell is limited as we know but has a habit of doing the right things at the right time, is a great kicker and defender and generally has nerves of steel - a big game animal.

Flood - who has been mentioned in this thread.. Well - a fit on form Flood would be an asset as a back up to Sexton. He hasnt really shown great form internationally this season and I dont think this is his year.

He will be. But every bench warmer is only one injury away from the test team.

Remember last time Croft wasn't even picked initially and made the test team due to injuries to players ahead of him in the pecking order.

Notch wrote:If we see Priestland and Warburton as Captain- well, they better both deliver! Because there would be two very questionable decisions to get us off on the wrong foot.

I'd say one extremely questionable and possible deranged (Priestland) and one debatable but by no means ridiculous (Warburton).

and one debatable but by no means ridiculous (Warburton).

Griff

Posts: 2142
Join date: 2011-06-03
Location: Newport


I would agree not ridiculas as a player... But very much ridiculas as (a captain) or even too be considered a captain. IMHO.

Yep, we're all entitled to opinions Maj so I'll respect yours. But I don't personally feel that a current captain of one of the 4 nations being chosen as Lions captain is 'ridiculous', especially one that's won two major tournaments on the trot. You could argue that others were better, but it's far from ridiculous.

Preistland touring is ridiculous though....!

123456789 wrote:If he is it will make a mockery of the Lions, Gatland will show that he's just another Woodward, Priestland has never, ever been a good player, in fact he's a very bad player by international standards, he was even more woeful than usual before he was injured and has barely played since. Priestland certainly wouldn't start for any of the home nations and would struggle to get onto the bench. Wilkinson, Farrell and Biggar should all be ahead of him in fact so should Jackson, Burns and Madigan. In fact I don't think Biggar's the best fly-half at the Scarlets, the young 10 that started against Glasgow was better than I've ever seen Biggar play.

Biggar doesn't play for the Scarlets

viewtothegym wrote:To be Biggar ,Sexton and the English lad" whos name escapes me but his dad is on the England coaching team" are not fit enough to shine Priestlands boots!

Also why not Henson? he is better than the South African and Samoan centres who play for England?

Out done yourself with this one view.

Grannygate alert!

Biggar
Sexton
Hook

In that order

I would be disgusted if Priestland is even in Gatland's mind. Yes, most certainly the more Welsh the merrier but this lad merits the biggest NO possible.

rainbow-warrior wrote:I would be disgusted if Priestland is even in Gatland's mind. Yes, most certainly the more Welsh the merrier but this lad merits the biggest NO possible.

!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18973923

lostinwales wrote:

rainbow-warrior wrote:I would be disgusted if Priestland is even in Gatland's mind. Yes, most certainly the more Welsh the merrier but this lad merits the biggest NO possible.

!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18973923

No North Wales there sunshine unless you look at the Top 5 and Ynys Mon.

lostinwales wrote:What the article actually says is that Gatland is considering other options to Farrell - that maybe he believes that the kind of game Farrell offers isnt suitable to hard fast grounds in Oz and that Farrell needs a really good game tomorrow. One of the options Gatland may be considering is Priestland....

The emphasis is on Farrell, Priestland is mentioned in passing.

In my opinion Farrell is limited as we know but has a habit of doing the right things at the right time, is a great kicker and defender and generally has nerves of steel - a big game animal.

Flood - who has been mentioned in this thread.. Well - a fit on form Flood would be an asset as a back up to Sexton. He hasnt really shown great form internationally this season and I dont think this is his year.

Flippin heck man why did you have to go and read the article in a logical manner and deliver an accurate assessment of what was written! this does not suit 606v2, how is anyone supposed to hate now?

Preistland at the top of his game would be a great asset and perhaps the best around right now. Unfortunately he has not been at the top of his game for a while so shouldn't be in the reckoning

viewtothegym wrote:To be Biggar ,Sexton and the English lad" whos name escapes me but his dad is on the England coaching team" are not fit enough to shine Priestlands boots!

Also why not Henson? he is better than the South African and Samoan centres who play for England?

Give it a rest view, either participate constructively or leave it alltogether.

Griff wrote:

Notch wrote:If we see Priestland and Warburton as Captain- well, they better both deliver! Because there would be two very questionable decisions to get us off on the wrong foot.

I'd say one extremely questionable and possible deranged (Priestland) and one debatable but by no means ridiculous (Warburton).

It's not ridiculous but you have two guys who have been there and done it as far as the Lions have concerned and command unconditional respect across the rugby world. Warburton isn't quite of the same stature- yet. If he is Captain it could be the making of him.

But certainly O'Connell and O'Driscoll are the outstanding, established candidates. Having been part of both good Lions tours and bad Lions tours they know exactly what their role needs to be and what pitfalls to avoid and they have years of Captaincy and top-level test match experience. They've both pretty much done everything there is to do in the game and naturally lift the performances of the men around them every time they take to the pitch. Legend is not strong enough a word.

In light of that, I'd be concerned that Warburton would suffer the same fate as Heaslip for Ireland. Seeing the team naturally deferring to the most natural leaders on the pitch despite who's wearing the armband. We all know who was really calling the shots for Ireland when the chips were down.

t1000advancedprototype wrote:Biggar
Sexton
Hook

In that order

I'd still have Sexton as a starter, still unsure on if Hook should travel. Watched him play the other night and he wasn't brilliant. Bigger, again still unsure about.

Sexton is the best 10 eligible by a long way when you consider form, temperament. skills , game style etc etc

Farrell / flood are the next then the cupboard looks a bit bare

Notch wrote:

Griff wrote:

Notch wrote:If we see Priestland and Warburton as Captain- well, they better both deliver! Because there would be two very questionable decisions to get us off on the wrong foot.

I'd say one extremely questionable and possible deranged (Priestland) and one debatable but by no means ridiculous (Warburton).

It's not ridiculous but you have two guys who have been there and done it as far as the Lions have concerned and command unconditional respect across the rugby world. Warburton isn't quite of the same stature- yet. If he is Captain it could be the making of him.

But certainly O'Connell and O'Driscoll are the outstanding, established candidates. Having been part of both good Lions tours and bad Lions tours they know exactly what their role needs to be and what pitfalls to avoid and they have years of Captaincy and top-level test match experience. They've both pretty much done everything there is to do in the game and naturally lift the performances of the men around them every time they take to the pitch. Legend is not strong enough a word.

In light of that, I'd be concerned that Warburton would suffer the same fate as Heaslip for Ireland. Seeing the team naturally deferring to the most natural leaders on the pitch despite who's wearing the armband. We all know who was really calling the shots for Ireland when the chips were down.

Yeah, I know what you mean, but they are at different points on the 'very questionable scale' for me.

By the way, I'd choose BOD or POC. Warburton needs to focus on his game and hope that he can play his way into the test side. POC out of those 2 for me as I think BOD isn't at his best either.

TJ wrote:Sexton is the best 10 eligible by a long way when you consider form, temperament. skills , game style etc etc

Farrell / flood are the next then the cupboard looks a bit bare

Priestland, Biggar, Hook look a stronger trio.

Also, Sexton has never looked world class playing for Ireland, which is a worry.

Farrell is a world class goal kicker but as halfpenny will be the main kicker in Aus, don't think he warrants a place in the squad.

For me sexton, priestland, hook.

How can u pick a player that's been injured the majority of the season? Bonkers decision if gats selects him...

Preistland has been woefully out of form and has not shown any signs ( that I have seen) of getting back into form. Hook is no international 10 - he can't even get a game for wales. He might go as a utility back but I think that would be a mistake.

Sexton may not have looked world class in your eyes - but he was by far the best 10 of the 6N overall - a different league to the rest.

TJ wrote:Preistland has been woefully out of form and has not shown any signs ( that I have seen) of getting back into form. Hook is no international 10 - he can't even get a game for wales. He might go as a utility back but I think that would be a mistake.

Sexton may not have looked world class in your eyes - but he was by far the best 10 of the 6N overall - a different league to the rest.

The lads having a larrrrrrrfffffffff

rainbow-warrior wrote:

TJ wrote:Preistland has been woefully out of form and has not shown any signs ( that I have seen) of getting back into form. Hook is no international 10 - he can't even get a game for wales. He might go as a utility back but I think that would be a mistake.

Sexton may not have looked world class in your eyes - but he was by far the best 10 of the 6N overall - a different league to the rest.

The lads having a larrrrrrrfffffffff

TJ is correct in my eyes.

rp was selected for wales time and again when biggar was the inform 10, howlers biggest howler.

rp is also mentally fragile at the moment and not 100% fit.

wouldnt be shocked if biggar went and not farrell.

gavstar wrote:rp was selected for wales time and again when biggar was the inform 10, howlers biggest howler.

rp is also mentally fragile at the moment and not 100% fit.

wouldnt be shocked if biggar went and not farrell.

gavstar

After todays performance from Farrell, neither would i. But i think if any one had a chance based on recent games over the weekend then Madigan for me.

majesticimperialman wrote:

gavstar wrote:rp was selected for wales time and again when biggar was the inform 10, howlers biggest howler.

rp is also mentally fragile at the moment and not 100% fit.

wouldnt be shocked if biggar went and not farrell.

gavstar

After todays performance from Farrell, neither would i. But i think if any one had a chance based on recent games over the weekend then Madigan for me.

Madigan was playing inside centre. Sexton was at flyhalf.

All the more reason.....

SecretFly wrote:All the more reason.....

Certainly adds reason to consider him as a utility player.