2013 British and Irish Lions

[UlsterRugby2012]

Really? Why?

Personally I'm not a fan of George North. He's a great player and a physical specimen. I just don't think he's as smart as H/P - I think he cuts great lines and he rarely has a bad performance - it would be a shame not to have him in the starting line up. He's also a very good goal kicker if anything should happen to Sexton, or maybe he doesn't feel he has the distance that Halfpenny does.
As for Bowe, eh, I suppose they're pretty neck and neck and I'd love to see him start. But is he really as good as he was a few years back?

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

Personally I'm not a fan of George North. He's a great player and a physical specimen. I just don't think he's as smart as H/P - I think he cuts great lines and he rarely has a bad performance - it would be a shame not to have him in the starting line up. He's also a very good goal kicker if anything should happen to Sexton, or maybe he doesn't feel he has the distance that Halfpenny does.
As for Bowe, eh, I suppose they're pretty neck and neck and I'd love to see him start. But is he really as good as he was a few years back?

I don't see why he isn't? Hes had a very good year by all accounts, and probably the best six nations of his career. Scoring tries for fun, including two amazing poaches to get Ireland a draw in France away. He's also started the season very well for Ulster this season, scoring plenty of tries and playing his part in the greatest run they've been on in years. He was also one of the standout players for us in the Autumn internationals, playing well in both the Argentina and SA game's. And adding into it all his experience, and he's going to be a serious contender for a starting place on the wing next year for the lions.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

I suppose, you're probably right. I'm just a big fan of Halfpenny.

 

[Thingimubob]

I'm a huge fan of Bowe and would probably pick him as a certain starter for one of the wing spots, however I'm also a huge fan of North, Visser, Cuthbert (bar a few defensive lapses anyway - not as bad as some make out though!), Sharples (still feel he needs to prove himself on the big stage however) and Gilroy too! I also would love to see Halfpenny start too, be it at 15 or on the wing, but there's also Kearney, Foden and all I've already mentioned to compete with!
Either way, can see us having a cracking back 3 no matter who we pick!

 

[Draggs]

Cuthbert>North>Visser.

 

[psychic duck]

Cuthbert>North>Visser.

North outplayed Cuthbert when they last faced each other. Ran through his tackle with a great sidestep (which Cuthbert can't do) and then gave a great offload (which Cuthbert can't do) to set up a try.

Cuthbert just runs straight and fast, North is a more complete player and has better hands and far better agility.

 

[Draggs]

Really? Cuthbert runs some great angles. Look at when he scored against France, great run and knew where he had to go.
I'd pick Cuthbert over North every day. North just plays like a big wing. Another hyped player given no time to develop.

Cuthbert has barely a year of international rugby under his belt. North's defence was woeful and still iffy.

 

[Peat]

Tbh, I doubt wingers will be going mainly on defensive ability, or it will be Trimble and Monye. I for one welcome this idea.

 

[psychic duck]

Really? Cuthbert runs some great angles. Look at when he scored against France, great run and knew where he had to go.
I'd pick Cuthbert over North every day. North just plays like a big wing. Another hyped player given no time to develop.

Cuthbert has barely a year of international rugby under his belt. North's defence was woeful and still iffy.

North is a more co-ordinated player than Cuthbert.

North has more agility and the ability to side step. You would never see Cuthbert do this.

Cuthbert just runs hard and straight, and that can be effective when he is found suspect defenders (see his 6 Nations tries), but he has no agility and just runs fast and straight and has less variety and is a less complete player, ball skills and handling is another area where North comes out on top. North isn't the complete player, but he is nearer than Cuthbert.

Also I don't see a big problem with North's defence, whilst for a guy as large as Cuthbert he has no excuse for allowing himself to be steamrollered quite like this by Romano.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Surely Draggs is taking the Michael here?

 

[martinspoonboy1]

Christian Wade to have a blinding six nations and make it to the lions squad ! you heard it here people ;-) (i can dream!)

 

[Draggs]

No, I genuinely prefer Cuthbert.
North is being utilised ineffectively. Wales and the Scarlets just have him take contact constantly. He needs to learn that a 190cm+ wing can be stopped, unlike during the 90s.
North's last good match was against Ireland, when we tried to play with width. Since then, we stick him interchangeably with Roberts for first phase lineout attacks which never work. That gif was North in mid-2011. Since then he has be turned into a boring crashball wing. Cuthbert can exploit gaps and while he runs hard and fast, he can indeed move (and score!).

I certainly think Cuthbert will develop into being a better defender. He is taller than most players, which can work against him at times.

The one that really gets me is Jonathan Davies. I can't tell you how many moves he has killed with his non-passing/running from support. Sure he makes breaks, but we lose the ball afterwards.

 

[martinspoonboy1]

No, I genuinely prefer Cuthbert.
North is being utilised ineffectively. Wales and the Scarlets just have him take contact constantly. He needs to learn that a 190cm+ wing can be stopped, unlike during the 90s.
North's last good match was against Ireland, when we tried to play with width. Since then, we stick him interchangeably with Roberts for first phase lineout attacks which never work. That gif was North in mid-2011. Since then he has be turned into a boring crashball wing. Cuthbert can exploit gaps and while he runs hard and fast, he can indeed move (and score!).


I certainly think Cuthbert will develop into being a better defender. He is taller than most players, which can work against him at times.

The one that really gets me is Jonathan Davies. I can't tell you how many moves he has killed with his non-passing/running from support. Sure he makes breaks, but we lose the ball afterwards.

I really rate J. Davies, Wales seem to have more potency and urgency when he plays. he's no monster like Tuilagi but he'd make my lions squad as a sub for sure. never seems to have a shocker either.

 

[j'nuh]

Christian Wade to have a blinding six nations and make it to the lions squad ! you heard it here people ;-) (i can dream!)

I get really excited at the thought of Wade playing for England, and that makes me feel apprehensive about him playing for England! It's because he could be something special, and I don't want all the confidence knocked out of him so early in his career, only for him to take years to recover. That said, I've been feeling this for as long as he's been playing Wasps, so when will he be ready? Would be much easier to tell this if Wasps had Heineken cup rugby.

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

I suppose, you're probably right. I'm just a big fan of Halfpenny.

Yeah your right, Halfpenny's class, and certain won't weaken an position he plays in, either wing or fullback. Its going to be razor close in those two positions though, with so much class there.

Strangely enough, I haven't heard too many mention pick Alex Goode as a potential starting fullback. Hes been playing really well recently, in the Autumn internationals and for his club, with Foden only recently coming back from injury, and looking less than spectacular in his return against Ulster. Goode's got to be considered at least.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

An Englishman has no place in the Wales and Leinster Lions.

 

[lynam1104]

Goode definitely has a shot could well go ahead of Foden if he keeps form and Foden dosen't pick his up.

 

[Amiga500]

An Englishman has no place in the Wales and Leinster Lions.

Behave you.

If Gatland has any sense, it'll be 12 or 13 Ulstermen and a few other token gestures.

 

[martinspoonboy1]

I get really excited at the thought of Wade playing for England, and that makes me feel apprehensive about him playing for England! It's because he could be something special, and I don't want all the confidence knocked out of him so early in his career, only for him to take years to recover. That said, I've been feeling this for as long as he's been playing Wasps, so when will he be ready? Would be much easier to tell this if Wasps had Heineken cup rugby.

It may take an injury for him to play more than the last ten vs Italy ! tbh it took shane williams retirement and stoddarts horrific leg break for cuthbert to even get a sniff!

 

[nickdnz]

I would like to see

1. Michael Bent
2. Dyland Hartley
3. Mako Vunipola
4. Mouritz Botha
5. Simon Shaw (had a great last tour - may be getting a bit past it at 39)
6. Toby Faletau
7. David Denton
8. Thomas Waldrom (big loose forwards with a good running game).
9. Isaac Boss
10. Ronan O'Gara (depends how Ben Botica is coming along)
11. Tim Visser
12. Brad Barritt
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Sean Maitland
15. Jared Payne (eligable by then?)