2013 British and Irish Lions

[TRF_stormer2010]

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?)

yeah, the forum really is slow this time of year.

 

[Draggs]

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

Dammit Olyy, can't you see we threw those tests for a reason?
Do we have to drop the 6N to avoid this tour as well?

 

[lucky number 7]

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?)

About 2 of these are worthy of touring

 

[TRF_Olyy]

About 2 of these are worthy of touring

*woooooosh*

He was saying it cause none were born in Britain - ironic considering only three current All Blacks were born in New Zealand!

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

 

[Peat]

Behave you.

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

This.

Chris Henry for Lions captain.

 

[Draggs]

*woooooosh*

He was saying it cause none were born in Britain - ironic considering only three current All Blacks were born in New Zealand!

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

Baby steps, NZ, nice work.

 

[nickdnz]

*woooooosh*

He was saying it cause none were born in Britain - ironic considering only three current All Blacks were born in New Zealand!

We ran out of New Zealander's - they're all playing for England.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

We ran out of New Zealander's - they're all playing for England.

The Emerald Isle, you mean!

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

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.

Can I agree on Cuthbert? I want to agree on Cuthbert. North has stagnated since the middle of the Six Nations. He is, to repeat the point, being relied on to get us over the gainline, etc, rather than looking to use him for what he's actually good at. Use Roberts aand Faletau as crash-ball options, in order to work North into some space. Then we might see him find some form again. As it is, Cuthbert (Who has, in the last 12 months, developed more than any other player in the British Isles) is up there as one of, if not the, best finishers in the world.

I disagree on Davies, though. In terms of sheer ability to break the line, he's one of the best in the world. Granted, he's oh so prone to screwing up 2-on-1s with dodgy passes, but at least he has a pair of hands, unlike that mountain on legs, Tuilagi. I think he's too useful to get rid of just on the back of the lack of one skill. And, if anything, the worst thing is that he's fine with the timing of the pass, and having the vision to spot the support, it's the fact that the actual throwing of the egg is usually pretty off. (Cases in point: Stoddart's tries against both the Tigers and England, Shane Vs Samoa) While this is more frustrating at the time, it's also considerably easier to beat into somebody, something I'm actually surprised Davies/Easterby/Jones/Howley/Gatland hasn't done yet.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I prefer Cuthbert at the moment. Was one of the few Blues players who actually seemed to give a **** when they played us.



In other news Priestland's injury rules him out of touring. Result!

 

[Draggs]

That's the thing, Davies can pass, quite well seemingly. His issue is that he often doesn't.
If he can learn when to pass, he will be an international-class centre.

@Feic, yes, he is one spark in the Blues backline, along with Halfpenny. I'll always feel for Cuthbert, he could have been a Dragon. Little Will on one wing and Cuthbert on the other. They could also be good flatmates, Alex could help Will get things from the top shelf, and Will could manage the lower cupboards. This could be a really shitty TV show...

 

[Wilkinson]

I'm going to have a crack at naming an XV I'd like:

1. Cian Healy
2. Tom Youngs
3. Dan Cole
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Richie Gray
6. Tom Wood
7. Sam Warburton
8. Ben Morgan
9. Ben Youngs
10. Owen Farrell
11. Tim Visser
12. Jonathan Joseph
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Christian Wade
15. Alex Goode
----------------------------
16. Alex Corbisiero
17. Adam Jones
18. Rory Best
19. Stephen Ferris
20. Joe Launchbury
21. Johnny Sexton
22. Keith Earls
23. George North

Tell me what you think. For the record I am English.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

WTH let me have a honest stab at it listing players I don't like the Bokke playing against;

1 Cian Healy
2 Rory Best
3 Dan Cole
4 Nathan Hines
5 Joe Launchbury
6 Sam Warburton
7 Stephen Ferris (c)
8 Sean O'Brien
9 Ben Youngs
10 Jonathan Sexton
11 Mike Brown
12 Brian O'Driscoll
13 Manu Tuilagi
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Rob Kearney

16 Alex Corbisiero
17 Adam Jones
18 Richardt Strauss
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Tom Wood
21 Mike Philips
22 James Hook
23 Leigh Halfpenny

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

WTH let me have a honest stab at it listing players I don't like the Bokke playing against;

1 Cian Healy
2 Rory Best
3 Dan Cole
4 Nathan Hines
5 Joe Launchbury
6 Sam Warburton
7 Stephen Ferris (c)
8 Sean O'Brien
9 Ben Youngs
10 Jonathan Sexton
11 Mike Brown
12 Brian O'Driscoll
13 Manu Tuilagi
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Rob Kearney

16 Alex Corbisiero
17 Adam Jones
18 Richardt Strauss
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Tom Wood
21 Mike Philips
22 James Hook
23 Leigh Halfpenny

With the exception of Tuilagi I quite like that, (Davies in), but why Ferris as captain?

Edit: I'm guessing you meant Warburton 7 Ferris 6



There hasn't been much mentions of Ross Rennie, I seen some stats the other day and he made the most turn overs, most meters made and most line breaks from the AI (it was either that or the 6N)

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Stormer2010 - I think you've pretty much nailed that one! Sure I might change a couple of things but the majority of those players SHOULD feature in a lions test 23 .

and UlsterRugby2012, remember in South Africa 6 is openside, 7 blindside

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

With the exception of Tuilagi I quite like that, (Davies in), but why Ferris as captain?

Edit: I'm guessing you meant Warburton 7 Ferris 6

There hasn't been much mentions of Ross Rennie, I seen some stats the other day and he made the most turn overs, most meters made and most line breaks from the AI (it was either that or the 6N)

Stormer2010 - I think you've pretty much nailed that one! Sure I might change a couple of things but the majority of those players SHOULD feature in a lions test 23 .

and UlsterRugby2012, remember in South Africa 6 is openside, 7 blindside

Yeah, sorry for the confusion; I didn't think to change them.

Not exactly the ridicule I was expecting LOL, tx, guys. As for Ferris as captain, well I suppose I think he plays like a captain should IMO leading from the front and in the thick of it and he has the experience even if maybe not as captain.

Mostly this is based on guys I think might play well together and who I know I love to hate when they are facing my team. Tuilagi I think could do very well with some experience and play-making ability around him ala BO'D.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

These stats comparing the home nations' current opensides have been doing the rounds recently, not sure if they've been posted here. They really do justice to Robshaws fantastic work-rate in tackles, carries, metres... these are the attributes of a good six whilst they also show that he can win turnovers as well as the next guy.

Some big stats for Rennie, but it seems he's been quite costly at times in terms of penalty?

The stats don't read too brilliantly for Warburton...but then perhaps that just reflects his 2012 form.

 

[nickdnz]

Yeah, sorry for the confusion; I didn't think to change them.

Not exactly the ridicule I was expecting LOL, tx, guys. As for Ferris as captain, well I suppose I think he plays like a captain should IMO leading from the front and in the thick of it and he has the experience even if maybe not as captain.

Mostly this is based on guys I think might play well together and who I know I love to hate when they are facing my team. Tuilagi I think could do very well with some experience and play-making ability around him ala BO'D.

Only name that got me was Nathan Hynes. He's like 36 going on 84. Would be suprised to see him on tour - didn't think he's even played for Scotland this year (could be wrong). Richie Gray I'd say is a certain tourer as he's probably the best Scottish player that's Scottish (besides maybe Blair).

 

[TRF_Cymro]

2013 British & Irish Lions tour management team
(appointments to date)

CEO: John Feehan
Tour Manager: Andy Irvine

Operations
Director of Tour Operations: Guy Richardson
Logistics Officer: Gerard Carmody
Baggage Master: Patrick O'Reilly (Rala)
Lawyer: Max Duthie

Security
Head of Security: Neil Strang

Coaching and Conditioning
Head Coach: Warren Gatland
Assistant Coach: Rob Howley
Assistant Coach: Graham Rowntree
Assistant Coach: Andy Farrell
Head of Strength & Conditioning: Adam Beard
Fitness Coach: Paul Stridgeon
Head of Performance Analysis: Rhys Long
Performance Analyst: Rhodri Bown

Medical
Head of Medical: Dr James Robson
Physiotherapist: Prav Mathema
Physiotherapist: Phil Pask

Media and Communications
Head of Media & Communications: Greg Thomas
Media Manager: Dave Barton
Communications Manager: Christine Connolly


Massive news that Rala has made the trip!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think Hines has retired from international rugby - presumably that covers Lions as well.