2013 British and Irish Lions

[Joseph14]

Anyone taking Cuthbert can only ever be accused of bias I'm afraid!

 

[TommyV]

Hey. First post here. I don't know much about rugby as I don't follow it year round so bare with me. :lol:

Think my Lions squad at present would be probably:

Props: Gethin Jenkins, Cian Healy, Adam Jones, Dan Cole, Andrew Sheridan
Hookers: Rory Best, Dylan Hartley
Locks: Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling, Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris
Backrow: Sam Warburton, Chris Robshaw, Justin Tipuric, Ben Morgan, Tom Wood, Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien
Scrum Half: Ben Youngs, Greg Laidlaw
Fly Half: Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton
Centres: Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Manu Tuilagi, Jonathan Davies, Billy Twelvetrees
Wingers: George North, Chris Ashton, Tim Visser, Craig Gilroy
Full Back: Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg, Rob Kearney

Sheridan is a bit of a wildcard pick, but he's in their purely for scrummaging strength, could potentially destroy the Aussie scrum, although I haven't seen him play for a while so no idea how he's doing, wasn't he starting over Jenkins for Toulon though? Twelvetrees is a bit of a wildcard too, but I like what he offers at 12. Like Roberts, will carry all day at 12 and make gains, is a try scoring threat, a big body defensively and offers a kicking option. Gilroy a bit of a wildcard too, I just like his step, think he has a lot of flair and it's a position you can afford to throw a wildcard at IMO.

My starting line-up would be something like:

1 Cian Healy
2 Rory Best
3 Dan Cole

4 Alun Wyn-Jones
5 Geoff Parling

6 Justin Tipuric
8 Ben Morgan
7 Chris Robshaw

9 Ben Youngs
10 Owen Farrell

12 Manu Tuilagi
13 Brian O'Driscoll

11 George North
15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Chris Ashton

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

TommyV
I really can't see Tuilagi and BOD working well together. Also Tipuric is a 7 not a 6, maybe if you swap him and Robshaw round. & apart from goal kicking, Farrell is still way behind Sexton.

 

[Zed]

TommyV
I really can't see Tuilagi and BOD working well together.

I see Tuilagi as more of a threat than BOD.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

I see Tuilagi as more of a threat than BOD.

Why, because he's stronger?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

TommyV
I really can't see Tuilagi and BOD working well together. Also Tipuric is a 7 not a 6, maybe if you swap him and Robshaw round. & apart from goal kicking, Farrell is still way behind Sexton.

Sexton is an average international first five. I don't mean that as an insult by any means, but he doesn't worry me one bit, and likewise he won't worry the Australian team. He plugs a hole in the back line without really offering anything extra. I would definitely have Farrell as the 10, with Sexton backing up.

 

[Zed]

Why, because he's stronger?

Yup. Basically. BOD is a better tackler, better passer, better reader of the game, but I'd still opt for MT. He rarely has a bad game and always makes the gain line. When at full tilt he's nigh on impossible to bring down. He was really impressive against the ABS, you don't get many players that can break the ABs defence like he did. Australia would struggle to deal with his power & pace, whereas I think we could contain BOD. And yes I do remember BODs Lions try against us, so you don't need to embed it!

 

[Zed]

Sexton is an average international first five. I don't mean that as an insult by any means, but he doesn't worry me one bit, and likewise he won't worry the Australian team. He plugs a hole in the back line without really offering anything extra. I would definitely have Farrell as the 10, with Sexton backing up.

I agree. I don't get to see him play club rugby, but certainly at international level I haven't really seen him do much. I mean he's OK, decent pass, kick, he's got a bit of pace etc but he's no Dan Carter.

 

[Peat]

I agree. I don't get to see him play club rugby, but certainly at international level I haven't really seen him do much. I mean he's OK, decent pass, kick, he's got a bit of pace etc but he's no Dan Carter.

At club level, he is undoubtedly the best 10 in the hemisphere by a mildly embarrassing margin. Internationally, he has often been something of a disappointment, which I place squarely at the feet of Kidney being a window licker. Tour form is always the best decider, but Farrell would have to go some to persuade me he should be pencilled in ahead of Sexton. Nowhere near at the moment.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Lets not forget Farrels game is based on kicking and only recently has started to have more of a passing game. Sexton has a kicking and passing game, he may not be on top form now but he'd still be my top pick for the lions.

I'd take Sexton, Farrell and an old head for the mid week games like S Jones or J Wilkinson or even O Gara. Someone who offers a steady option and can slot in without worry. We don't need 3 young FH's.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

My preferred flyhalf would be an on form Priestland (should we ever see that again!) - is there going to be any time for him to force his way in?

 

[Feicarsinn]

TommyV
I really can't see Tuilagi and BOD working well together. Also Tipuric is a 7 not a 6, maybe if you swap him and Robshaw round. & apart from goal kicking, Farrell is still way behind Sexton.

I don't see why they wouldn't work well together. BOD has always done pretty well with a crash ball centre around him, be it Rob Henderson or Jamie Roberts.

 

[Wilko's left boot]

My preferred flyhalf would be an on form Priestland (should we ever see that again!) - is there going to be any time for him to force his way in?

Very very unlikely by all accounts.

Although... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21436074

 

[Thingimubob]

Anyone taking Cuthbert can only ever be accused of bias I'm afraid!

Really, why? He has a superb strike rate for both club and country, which is impressive considering how bloody awful the Blues have been for the majority of this season. He's a great finisher, a good ball carrier, especially when a bit of space is created. As far as I know, he actually has a better record than North recently? That said the style that the Wales back line isn;t helping either of their causes - we need to see them in more space!
Yes of course there's the defensive issues, but he does seem to be working on them - he actually had a fairly tidy Tour of Oz defensively last summer if I remember rightly. So not convinced why exactly he shouldn't be in contention?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Sexton is an average international first five. I don't mean that as an insult by any means, but he doesn't worry me one bit, and likewise he won't worry the Australian team. He plugs a hole in the back line without really offering anything extra. I would definitely have Farrell as the 10, with Sexton backing up.

I'll have some of what your on mate! Sexy's a top top player, and I fail to see what Farrell at this moment in time has that Sexton doesn't. Whether it's his huge tackles allowing his back-row to win turnovers, top class distribution, or attack of the gain-line, he's a team player who enables a back-line to flourish which is the only reason why nobody would attach the adjective 'mercurial' to him.

 

[Teh Mite]

I'll have some of what your on mate! Sexy's a top top player, and I fail to see what Farrell at this moment in time has that Sexton doesn't. Whether it's his huge tackles allowing his back-row to win turnovers, top class distribution, or attack of the gain-line, he's a team player who enables a back-line to flourish which is the only reason why nobody would attach the adjective 'mercurial' to him.

2 working legs.

 

[smb64]

I don't see why they wouldn't work well together. BOD has always done pretty well with a crash ball centre around him, be it Rob Henderson or Jamie Roberts.

I agree, if anything Tuilagi is just a more effective version of Jamie Roberts. As long as neither dip in form I think they could make a successful combination.

 

[Peat]

Lets not forget Farrels game is based on kicking and only recently has started to have more of a passing game. Sexton has a kicking and passing game, he may not be on top form now but he'd still be my top pick for the lions.

I'd take Sexton, Farrell and an old head for the mid week games like S Jones or J Wilkinson or even O Gara. Someone who offers a steady option and can slot in without worry. We don't need 3 young FH's.

No. Just no. In fact... hand in your right to have an opinion... that one was a disgrace

 

[big ginger 8]

Sexton is an average international first five. I don't mean that as an insult by any means, but he doesn't worry me one bit, and likewise he won't worry the Australian team. He plugs a hole in the back line without really offering anything extra. I would definitely have Farrell as the 10, with Sexton backing up.

You need to watch a bit more of Sexton.

 

[Tony Manx]

You need to watch a bit more of Sexton.

With you on that one!