2013 British and Irish Lions

[big ginger 8]

I'd take him so many have called him the most annoying player to play against you need a few players like that to win a series.

 

[mattykay69]

My Lions team after the 1st weekend of the 6 nations;

1 Healy / Jenkins
2 Best
3 Cole / Jones
4 Ryan / Launchbury
5 Parling / Gray
6 Wood / POM
7 Brown / Robshaw
8 Heaslip / SOB

9 Murray / Youngs
10 Farrel / Sexton
12 Barritt / 36
13 BOD / Davies

11 Zebo / Maitland
15 Hogg / Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert / Ashton

I know injuries will take its toll & this is only my opinion after this weekend matches.

 

[pete82]

My Lions squad based on what rugby I've seen this season

Props/Hookers:

Cian Healy (Leinster and Ireland), Tom Court (Ulster and Ireland), Andrew Sheridan (Toulon)
Adam Jones (Ospreys and Wales), Dan Cole (Leicester and England), Euan Murray (Worcester and Scotland)
Rory Best (Ulster and Ireland), Tom Youngs (Leicester and England), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys and Wales)

Second Row:

Nathan Hines (Clermont), Geoff Parling (Leicester and England), Ian Evans (Ospreys and Wales)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps and England), Richard Gray (Sale and Scotland)

Back Row:

Dan Lydiate (Dragons and Wales), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins and England), Steffon Armitage (Toulon)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys and Wales), Sean O'Brien (Leinster and Ireland), Toby Faletau (Dragons and Wales)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster and Ireland), John Beattie (Montpellier and Scotland)

Scrum Half:

Ben Youngs (Leicester and England), Danny Care (Harlequins and England),
Paul Marshall (Ulster and Ireland)

Fly Half:

Jonathan Sexton (Leinster and Ireland), Owen Farrell (Saracens and England)
Johnny Wilkinson (Toulon)

Centre:

Jonathan Davies (Scarlets and Wales), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester and England), Jamie Roberts (Blues and Wales)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester and England), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland)

Wings:

Chris Ashton (Saracens and England), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues and Wales)
Tim Visser (Edinburgh and Scotland), Simon Zebo (Munster and Ireland)
Mike Brown (Harlequins and England)

Full Backs:

Rob Kearney (Leinster and Ireland), Delon Armitage (Toulon)
Ben Foden (Northampton and England

 

[Saintjay]

I think scrum V were giving BOD the captain spot last night if memory serves. If in theory your captain is the first name on the team sheet i still have a feeling Gats will see red and go for Sam Warburton.

 

[Aedaphon]

Not sure why everyone is throwing Twelvetrees into the running here. I think he's a great prospect, but he has not been test nearly enough at Test Level to be included on the tour. If he starts every game of the 6 Nations and has fantastic games in all of them, he could potentially squeeze into the squad. His debut was not nearly good enough to warrant a spot in the Lions by itself though.

My bet is on some combination of BOD, Davies, Tuilagi, Roberts and Barritt.

 

[mattykay69]

Neither were Earls & Halfpenny on the last tour all I saying that after this weeks games those are the players I would have in the squad.

 

[jcahill1]

Really harsh on Donnacha Ryan.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

My Lions team after the 1st weekend of the 6 nations;

1 Healy / Jenkins
2 Best
3 Cole / Jones
4 Ryan / Launchbury
5 Parling / Gray
6 Wood / POM
7 Brown / Robshaw
8 Heaslip / SOB

9 Murray / Youngs
10 Farrel / Sexton
12 Barritt / 36
13 BOD / Davies

11 Zebo / Maitland
15 Hogg / Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert / Ashton

I know injuries will take its toll & this is only my opinion after this weekend matches.

Did you even watch the 6 nations?

Not sure why everyone is throwing Twelvetrees into the running here. I think he's a great prospect, but he has not been test nearly enough at Test Level to be included on the tour. If he starts every game of the 6 Nations and has fantastic games in all of them, he could potentially squeeze into the squad. His debut was not nearly good enough to warrant a spot in the Lions by itself though.


My bet is on some combination of BOD, Davies, Tuilagi, Roberts and Barritt.

I don't think Barritt will be near the Lions, decent player but nothing fantastic. Davies was atrocious but I'm sure he'll find some form again.

 

[McTallshort]

Sorry but why is Gray making anyones team? please explain when he last played well at any level?

 

[psychic duck]

Sorry but why is Gray making anyones team? please explain when he last played well at any level?

Hasn't turned to a awful player overnight. Did have a good game for Sale's last Premiership win against Worcester.

 

[Zed]

Did you even watch the 6 nations?

I don't think Barritt will be near the Lions, decent player but nothing fantastic. Davies was atrocious but I'm sure he'll find some form again.

I doubt he'll make it. How many centres do they take - 4? I think the 6N should have a big bearing on who is selected for the Lions as opposed to a players reputation. If Wales struggle then really you can't justify selecting half the Welsh backline in the Lions XV. I thought players like North & Davies were shithouse. Unless they improve then they shouldn't be on the plane. I'd be looking at a backline similar to this (based on recent performances)

9.Youngs hasn't been playing that well, but then the other half backs haven't either
10.Farrell
12 Tuilagi
13. BOD
14. Ashton
11. Hogg (I know he's a FB - but has the pace for wing)
15. Kearney

 

[j'nuh]

Hasn't turned to a awful player overnight. Did have a good game for Sale's last Premiership win against Worcester.

He's still done very little to deserve a spot this season. Some Sale fans on their message board have even questioned the effort he puts in for them. I think the fact he makes a lot of Lions teams comes down to a combination of past performances and that everyone wants a token Scot in the team. Even Hamilton would be a better selection at this point imo. (Although Launchbury, Parling, Evans and Ryan make it for me so far.)

 

[Peat]

He's still done very little to deserve a spot this season. Some Sale fans on their message board have even questioned the effort he puts in for them. I think the fact he makes a lot of Lions teams comes down to a combination of past performances and that everyone wants a token Scot in the team. Even Hamilton would be a better selection at this point imo. (Although Launchbury, Parling, Evans and Ryan make it for me so far.)

I've never believed he was that great. Good in the lineout, good in the carry - he's really conspicuous, stands out in a poor team, has freakish physical stats and does the flashy stuff well, so people believe/d he is/was great. However, after time spent studying his tight game closely, I came to the considered opinion that he was a bit of a fanny. The Pierre Spies of second rows if you will.

 

[Amiga500]

If in theory your captain is the first name on the team sheet i still have a feeling Gats will see red and go for Sam Warburton.

I wonder what he would be basing that decision on!

Warburton shouldn't even be starting for Wales right now.

 

[mattykay69]

Did you even watch the 6 nations ??

Yeah why ? the starting players in my team were the best players over the weekend ?? my team purely on the basis of the weekend just gone.

Would like to see your answer at why my team wouldn't be the team after the weekend matches. Rather then just dismiss it & ask rubbish questions

 

[Teh Mite]

I wonder what he would be basing that decision on!

Warburton shouldn't even be starting for Wales right now.

Because Gatland always picks the same old players every time, regardless of form or talent!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I've never believed he was that great. Good in the lineout, good in the carry - he's really conspicuous, stands out in a poor team, has freakish physical stats and does the flashy stuff well, so people believe/d he is/was great. However, after time spent studying his tight game closely, I came to the considered opinion that he was a bit of a fanny. The Pierre Spies of second rows if you will.

The Scottish James Gaskell, if you will

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

 

[Teh Mite]

Whatever happened to Gaskell being the best thing since sliced bread?

 

[Saintjay]

It is a guess on my part. I see some bookies have BOD as the lions captain at the moment..

Warburton is Gatland's captain. The player that should be first on your team sheet and the best in his position. I can't remember what Lions tour it was when a number of players threw the toys out the pram for not getting selected. I am just not sure Gatland has the balls to risk upsetting the Wales squad and the Welsh captain by not selecting them. Picking an Englishman as captain ahead of a Welsh captain I can't see it. He might go for an Irish player to stop some of the moans.

 

[psychic duck]

He's still done very little to deserve a spot this season. Some Sale fans on their message board have even questioned the effort he puts in for them. I think the fact he makes a lot of Lions teams comes down to a combination of past performances and that everyone wants a token Scot in the team. Even Hamilton would be a better selection at this point imo. (Although Launchbury, Parling, Evans and Ryan make it for me so far.)

I agree, especially on the past performances and token Scot bit. I think possibly some thought he was better than he was when he was on top, and worse than he actually is now just because he's playing in a struggling side.

But still, he has a bit in the bank from those past performances, and he's still a player most would not turn down to sign for their club, Toulouse were interested in him before he signed for Sale for a reason.

No way would that penalty machine Hamilton be a better selection by the way.