2013 British and Irish Lions

[SelimNiai]

My main gripe is they don't serve any decent purpose, its beyond hypothetical what theyre doing.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just seen that the RFU have made Farrell and Rowntree "available" for the Lions tour.

Rowntree is a no brainer, but Farrell?! Don't put ideas in Gatland's head!

 

[Peat]

Just seen that the RFU have made Farrell and Rowntree "available" for the Lions tour.

Rowntree is a no brainer, but Farrell?! Don't put ideas in Gatland's head!

You haven't seen it being floated around the media already?

Me, I'm just sticking my fingers in my ears and going "La la la".

 

[Teh Mite]

How ironic if Farrell is representing Union while O'Neil wants the sport to be league.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

If Farrell gets in we all know what the lions tactics would be....kick...chase...kick....chase...kick...cash!

UNLESS they just use him as defensive coach instead of S Edwards?

 

[Teh Mite]

Kick-chase-blitz defence.

I'm sure a country which prefers Mungoball will have absoloutly no idea how to deal with that...

 

[smb64]

The Telegraph Lions team poll as it stands is currently :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...our-Lions-team-to-beat-Australia-in-2013.html

15 : Kearney
14 : Bowe
13 : Tuilagi
12 : Roberts
11 : North
10 : Sexton
9 : Philips
8 : Heaslip
7 : Warburton
6 : Lydiate
5 : Gray
4 : Lawes
3 : Jones
2 : Hartley
1 : Jenkins

Descent team - Lawes and Gray would be a tasty combination.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm literally flabbergasted by this and by the Lions teams picked by the four bbc pundits: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20266978

Jeremy Guscott's Lions XV: Halfpenny (Wales), Cuthbert (Wales), O'Driscoll (Ireland), Roberts (Wales), North (Wales); Sexton (Ireland), Phillips (Wales); Jenkins (Wales), Best (Ireland), A Jones (Wales), Charteris (Wales), Gray (Scotland), Ferris (Ireland), Warburton (Wales), Heaslip (Ireland).

Keith Wood's Lions XV: Halfpenny (Wales), Bowe (Ireland), J Davies (Wales), O'Driscoll (Ireland), North (Wales); Sexton (Ireland), Phillips (Wales); Jenkins (Wales), Best (Ireland), A Jones (Wales), Gray (Scotland), AW Jones (Wales), O'Brien (Ireland), Warburton (Wales), Ferris (Ireland).

Andy Nicol's Lions XV: Halfpenny (Wales), Bowe (Ireland), Tuilagi (England), Roberts (Wales), Visser (Scotland); Sexton (Ireland), Phillips (Wales); Jenkins (Wales), Hartley (England), A Jones (Wales), Gray (Scotland), Lawes (England), Ferris (Ireland), Warburton (Wales), Faletau (Wales).

Jonathan Davies's Lions XV: Kearney (Ireland), Bowe (Ireland), O'Driscoll (Ireland), Tuilagi (England), North (Wales); Sexton (Ireland), Care (England); Sheridan (England), Best (Ireland), Cole (England), AW Jones (Wales), Lawes (England), Ferris (Ireland), Tipuric (Wales), Heaslip (Ireland).

Jeremy guscott is the worst - does he even watch rugby or just read what other people think about it? How can all these 'pundits continue to make choices such as Warbuton at 7 when form is clearly against that. On current form how can you look past Tipuric or Robshaw.. 3 out of 4 have opted for Mike Philips as 9. Jenkins is hardly in the form of his life, and Healy has been a standout Irish performer for ages now. To be honest I think Jonathan Davies' team is the most common sense except he's adopted for Andrew Sheridan...?

 

[smb64]

Does seem like a lot of selections are based on how well they know these players can play rather than how well they are playing. Though I would imagine Gatland will select primarily on six nations form, so there is plenty of time for players to play their way into or out of the team.

 

[Draggs]

I've figured it out! We are playing like **** so none of our players get selected for the Lions, giving us an undisturbed run up to 2015.

 

[Tony Manx]

Wrong thread!!

 

[Saintjay]

If you read the article they picked who they thought were the best players. Form, injurt etc was not taken into account.

 

[DorceOutSide]

15 : Kearney
14 : Bowe
13 : Tuilagi
12 : Roberts
11 : North
10 : Sexton
9 : Philips
8 : O'Brien
7 : Warburton
6 : Ferris
5 : Gray
4 : Lawes
3 : Jones
2 : Rees
1 : Jenkins

 

[Draggs]

The Lions are spoiled for choice in the back row and back three, but in dire need for hookers and halfbacks.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Untrue.

Rory Best
Dylan Hartley

Danny Care
Mike Blair

Johnny 10
James Hook

Sorted.

 

[Draggs]

Right, but that is nowhere near good enough when you include midweek matches, injuries, etc.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Right, but that is nowhere near good enough when you include midweek matches, injuries, etc.

Couldn't give a toss about midweeks. Win the tests. 2 in each position is fine.

 

[big ginger 8]

Richardt Strauss for the midweek team?

 

[Draggs]

Richardt Strauss for the midweek team?

I know where this is going!

@Feic, sure, but somebody has to play there. Dickie Hibbs would be a good option, in all honesty. Has a good engine in him this year.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Nope. He's a Saffer, not a LION.