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'Astounded' - The one Lions omission that fans can't get head around
He was probably the form player of the British & Irish Lions series to date, but somehow Josh Adams hasn’t done enough to make Warren Gatland’s Test 23.
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The winger has beaten 13 defenders, made 266 metres and maybe most tellingly of all, crossed the whitewash eight times on tour. For many he was one of a select number of shoe-ins for a Test spot alongside the likes of Maro Itoje and Tadhg Furlong, but it wasn’t to be for the Cardiff Blues speedster.
“In my four Tours as a Lions coach, this was by far the hardest Test selection I have been involved in,” said Gatland in the statement announcing the Test side.
Adams’ omission, which was flagged by The Times in a reported leak that correctly identified all but one selection in the 23, had caused a minor outrage of social media. Many felt his exclusion was evidence that the leak was inaccurate.
Now confirmation of his omission has only heightened frustration at the snub, which has mainly come from Welsh fans.
“Astounded at Josh Adams’ omission, even allowing for Mr Gatland’s obsession with giant wings,” wrote Peter Jackson. “Duhan van der Merwe may be 4 inches taller and a good deal heavier but Adams must be wondering: What more could I have done? Same goes for Chris Harris.”
Astounded at Josh Adams' omission, even allowing for Mr Gatland's obsession with giant wings. Duhan van der Merwe may be 4 inches taller and a good deal heavier but Adams must be wondering: What more could I have done? Same goes for Chris Harris @gloucesterrugby.
— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) July 21, 2021
“Warren Gatland loves a curveball,” wrote Ross Harries. “Josh Adams appears to be the John Bentley of 2021, carving it up in the warm-ups, but overlooked for the test team. Selection though, has always been one of Gatland’s strong points. Rarely has he got the big calls wrong.
Warren Gatland loves a curveball. Josh Adams appears to be the John Bentley of 2021, carving it up in the warm-ups, but overlooked for the test team. Selection though, has always been one of Gatland’s strong points. Rarely has he got the big calls wrong. https://t.co/bwBj9CEPqL
— Ross Harries (@rossharries1) July 21, 2021
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Former Wales’ and Ospreys standoff James Hook posted: ‘Is Josh Adams injured?’
Is Josh Adams injured? ?
— James William Hook (@hookjameshook) July 21, 2021
Cardiff Rugby Life wrote: “As much as I know not to doubt a Warren Gatland selection for a Lions test by now, I still find myself somewhat bemused by a number of selections. Josh Adams has been superb so far, but perhaps after the emotional rollercoaster of the last week a weekend off will do him good.”
As much as I know not to doubt a Warren Gatland selection for a Lions test by now, I still find myself somewhat bemused by a number of selections.
Josh Adams has been superb so far, but perhaps after the emotional rollercoaster of the last week a weekend off will do him good.
— Cardiff Rugby Life (@CardiffRugbyWeb) July 21, 2021
Welsh pundit Phil Steele understood the selection as one that seeks to fight Springbok ‘fire with fire’. “A Lions selection designed to fight fire with fire. Feel for Josh Adams who couldn’t have done much more to push his case. Gatland has never shied away from making tough calls and is rarely proved wrong.”
A Lions selection designed to fight fire with fire.
Feel for Josh Adams who couldn’t have done much more to push his case.
Gatland has never shied away from making tough calls and is rarely proved wrong.
Good luck to the @lionsofficial for Saturday#InGatsWeTrust
— Phil Steele (@philsteele1) July 21, 2021
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“No injury to Josh Adams – it’s purely a selection decision,” wrote Welsh jouranlist Matthew Southcombe. “I’m shocked by that. Will be intrigued to hear Gatland’s reasoning.”
No injury to Josh Adams – it's purely a selection decision.
I'm shocked by that. Will be intrigued to hear Gatland's reasoning.
Press conference coming up on @WalesRugby
— Matthew Southcombe (@MattSouth7) July 21, 2021
British and Irish Lions team to play South Africa: S Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland); A Watson (Bath Rugby, England), E Daly (Saracens, England), R Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland), D Van Der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland); D Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales), A Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland); W Jones (Scarlets, Wales), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens, England), A W Jones (Ospreys, Wales, capt), C Lawes (Northampton Saints, England), T Curry (Sale Sharks, England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland).
Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets, Wales), R Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland), K Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England), T Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland), H Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland), C Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland), O Farrell (Saracens, England), L Williams (Scarlets, Wales).
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments