2013 British and Irish Lions

[UlsterRugby2012]

Miles ahead was a bit of an over exaggeration lol - but how can you possibly say Kearney isn't on form? Maybe not his best, but I haven't seen him have a 'bad' game. (Exception for England game - but then again there wasn't much kicking)

 

[Draggs]

Fullbacks: Halfpenny, Foden, Kearney.
Pick one more if Leigh is on the wing. Have fun kids!

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

I haven't seen many people outside this forum pick Foden for FB.
Will Greenwood has RK at fullback
Telegraph poll had Kearney fullback 43% and Halfpenny 33%
TalkSport also has Kearney at fullback
Jonathan Davies has Kearney at fb
Jeremy Guscott has HP at fb
Andy Nicol has HP
Keith Wood has HP
Gavin Hastings Lee Bryne

So not a lot of talk about Foden [Planet Rugby even said he shouldn't tour]. Here's Gavin Hastings 15 if anyone is interested lol....

The Gavin Hastings Lions XV:
15. Lee Byrne, 14. George North, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 12. Jonathan Davies, 11. Tim Visser, 10. Jonny Sexton, 9. Danny Care, 8. Nick Easter, 7. Chris Robshaw, 6. Stephen Ferris, 5. Courtney Lawes, 4. Richie Gray, 3. Adam Jones, 2. Matthew Rees, 1. Joe Marler

 

[Draggs]

Sure, play Kearney. Watch the crims send Ioane and Cummins steaming down the flank though.

 

[j'nuh]

The Halfpenny/Foden/Kearney topic again? No one is clearly better than the other, and with half a season to play, all of them have a chance. All of them will probably go and get given a chance to prove themselves anyway.

I haven't seen many people outside this forum pick Foden for FB.

He's been injured since September. Naturally people aren't talking about him.

 

[lucky number 7]

Oh dear...

Kearney is twice the player Foden is..

 

[Draggs]

Armitage.

 

[lucky number 7]

Sure, play Kearney. Watch the crims send Ioane and Cummins steaming down the flank though.

In the same manner the Oz backs did against us in the WC

 

[Draggs]

In the same manner the Oz backs did against us in the WC

Oh aye. With extra Anthony Fainga'a.

Also, the Aussie wings were AAC and JOC, apart from having too many initials, they are much smaller than Ioane and Cummins.

 

[lucky number 7]

Oh aye. With extra Anthony Fainga'a.

Also, the Aussie wings were AAC and JOC, apart from having too many initials, they are much smaller than Ioane and Cummins.

Digby Ioane - 1.79
AAC -1.82


A Faingaa - 1.82 m
Cummins -1.89


Nothing huge in difference indeed Ioane is the smallest of the 4.

Kearney is top knotch..He's not the first fullback to take a Dummy pass.

 

[Draggs]

Digby Ioane - 1.79
AAC -1.82


A Faingaa - 1.82 m
Cummins -1.89


Nothing huge in difference indeed Ioane is the smallest of the 4.

Kearney is top knotch..He's not the first fullback to take a Dummy pass.

Ioane is bulky, and plays a different style than AAC.

 

[lucky number 7]

Ioane is bulky, and plays a different style than AAC.

perhaps perhaps , but it doesn't mean that Kearney will be less able to deal with them.

Fullback shouldn't have to hit one on one if the men in front do their jobs correctly anyways

 

[Draggs]

True, but as last line of defence I want someone who can tackle. Kearney is certainly the best in attack, but lacking in other facets. Foden and and Halfpenny are more rounded, IMO.
Can you really see North tackling?

 

[lucky number 7]

True, but as last line of defence I want someone who can tackle. Kearney is certainly the best in attack, but lacking in other facets. Foden and and Halfpenny are more rounded, IMO.
Can you really see North tackling?

No and as such I think we should have more rounded wingers...

But Kearney can tackle when he wants to..Dammned well too

 

[Draggs]

What about rounded centres?

 

[big ginger 8]

Seriously? I understand questions about Kearney's defense but not his tackling. Especially when talking about but wingers. I can't remember him ever been boshed. The only criticism I could at all understand is over his positioning when tracking behind the line. Even then I only understand where people are getting the idea from I don't actually agree with it.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Kearney is twice the player Foden is..

Look at both these players over the last 3 years. In 2009 Kearney was at the top of his game and that was reflected in the extent of his Lions tour involvement. After 2010, Kearney fell out of form somewhat and in many ways dropped off the radar. Yes he was injured for parts of 2010 - 2011, but he also just wasn't playing that well. For me it was clear at that time that Kearney isn't someone who will make every match-day XV regardless of the form he's in - he needs to have some semblance of form. People were not talking about Kearney much back then and if TRF had a similarly named thread back then(which it probably did and I think I remember it), Foden (or Byrne) were considered to be the top full backs who would play at 15 if there was a Lions tour the next day. I remember some people at that time saying Kearney was quite an average player(which is harsh as he clearly isn't, but it reflects that he was out of form). In 2012 Kearney came back into form and now people feel able to say Kearney is wayy better than Foden.

For all this time, regardless of form, Foden has been a quality player even without being particularly 'in form' with an excellent all-round game. He doesn't come and go, and it's not as if defence is his only strength, he has a quality counter-attacking game with great understanding of the game.

ok ok, I'm not going to take from this and say 'Foden is miles better than Kearney', but I do think it's almost unbelievable that 3 or 4 people here have stated that Kearney is miles better than Foden, and unfortunately I do think it's telling that those people are all Irish.....

 

[big ginger 8]

Kearney, Halfpenny and Foden are all excellent players and it probably wouldn't make a huge difference which one plays but everyones gonna have a favourite. Hell you could even make a proper backthree if you wanted from them. With Kearney and Halfpenny on the wings.

 

[coonor]

People are thinking about this fullback selection way too much. Let's just wait and see how each of them play in the 6N, if Kearney returns to his form of last year then the jersey is pretty much his but at the moment that's not guaranteed. Foden is in the same position but needs to have an upsurge in form to reach the same level as Halfpenney and Kearney in my opinion. Halfpenney just needs to sustain his form and continue playing like he is. That's he can do and I'm sure that will put him in a good position come the tour.

 

[Teh Mite]

Kearney, Halfpenny and Foden are all excellent players and it probably wouldn't make a huge difference which one plays but everyones gonna have a favourite. Hell you could even make a proper backthree if you wanted from them. With Kearney and Halfpenny on the wings.

Holy crap, he made a sensible comment and I agree with him!

As usual though, the Lions debate has desended into "player x was born in the same country as me so he's the best, end of" instead of discussing the merits the likely individuals.(despite valiant attempts of some members to the contrary).