2013 British and Irish Lions

[dullonien]

Henson? Really?

Looks like my cunningly mischievous plan worked, mwahaha.

I would probably say best defensive centre is Barrit (ok not a 13). And i wouldn't be surprised if he is picked for the squad. You need grafters in a side and who else as a centre is better defensively then Barrit in the 6N? He runs the defence for England and England not exactly bad defensively are they?

I think gatland will take the risk and take him.

If you're going to pick on defence though, there may be no point looking past Roberts, hoping that he discovers some attacking form on tour (maybe by re-uniting that Roberts-BOD partnership). Barrit has certainly been better this 6 nations, but Roberts' defence has been excellent as well, and he's a more proven performer. What he did on the last Lions tour will probably come into it, even if it shouldn't.

 

[Draggs]

We all know Dull really wants Gavin Evans for the Lions.

 

[dullonien]

We all know Dull really wants Gavin Evans for the Lions.

:%#%#:

 

[Aedaphon]

What does everyone else think about Wood's chances? He's put in a lot of hard graft this competition, after a couple of years popping in and out of the England 22, and I honestly think he'd make a fantastic lion (provides excellent back-row cover and could even push for a start if he keeps up this form)

 

[Joseph14]

He has as much chance as anybody right now.

 

[TPenn]

Gatland likes to play a very carrying based game, but even he still has a distributor/pace man at 13 (Jonathan Davies). If anything a Roberts/BoD combination could come about, but off Six Nations form Roberts hasn't been anything too special.

Interested to see if Tuilagi could actually handle playing at 12. Both Tuilagi and BoD have been in fantastic this competition and I'd take Tuilagi over Roberts any day if he can handle the defensive role of an inside centre (i.e. not rush out the line to annihilate Barnes/Quade/[insert Aussie here])

The words 'distributor' and 'Jonathan Davies' do not belong together.

If he could pass he would be the best centre in the NH, but he can't. Runs great lines, but the amount of tries/overlaps that's he botched in the last two years by either not giving the ball or passing straight into touch is absolutely disgraceful for an international centre.

 

[Teh Mite]

He has as much chance as anybody right now.

I wouldn't be surprised if Wood is completely overlooked. He quietly gets on with being the best player on the pitch on a weekly basis, but nobody ever notices all the work he does. The big name Heaslips, Haskells and and Warburtons is what Gatland will be picking IMO.

 

[Draggs]

I wouldn't be surprised if Wood is completely overlooked. He quietly gets on with being the best player on the pitch on a weekly basis, but nobody ever notices all the work he does. The big name Heaslips, Haskells and and Warburtons is what Gatland will be picking IMO.

Wood is an excellent player, hampered by injuries and shifting throughout the backrow. I'd pick him ahead of Croft, Robshaw, etc any day.

 

[munstermuffin]

I wouldn't be surprised if Wood is completely overlooked. He quietly gets on with being the best player on the pitch on a weekly basis, but nobody ever notices all the work he does. The big name Heaslips, Haskells and and Warburtons is what Gatland will be picking IMO.

If these 2 are picked it is only on name as in my opinion Morgan, Fatelau and Wood have been the 8's who deserve it and well these 2 lads aren't on form. Also at 7 I think Robshaw has really stepped in to class and well it allows the option of SOB at 8 too add in Tipuric and well it is an interesting dilema.

Out of curiosity how big a squad will be going I wonder.

 

[Teh Mite]

If these 2 are picked it is only on name as in my opinion Morgan, Fatelau and Wood have been the 8's who deserve it and well these 2 lads aren't on form. Also at 7 I think Robshaw has really stepped in to class and well it allows the option of SOB at 8 too add in Tipuric and well it is an interesting dilema.

Out of curiosity how big a squad will be going I wonder.

There's my point - Wood just isn't a big name that grabs column inches or sells t-shirts.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I am sure Rowntree will make sure he is mentioned.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I could see all three of Englands first choice backrow touring - Gatland rates Morgan (I think? Thinking back to when he hadn't settled on England/Wales), Robshaw is playing, and leading, very very well, and Wood is playing consistently well no matter where he's put.

Last time they took 9 backrows, so if the same this time then there could be room, alongside Barclay, SOB, Tipuric and whoever else (Warburton, Lydiate if fit, Heaslip possibly etc.)

 

[Taylo2]

Tom Wood would be one of the first names on my squad list based on the past couple of seasons.

 

[munstermuffin]

There's my point - Wood just isn't a big name that grabs column inches or sells t-shirts.

Well it comes down to simply is this a commercial tour or 1 to win. Wood is player I've always rated and look he isn't #1 in any of back row spots but in top 3/4 of all and the versatility could be key.

 

[Peat]

Last time they took 9 backrows, so if the same this time then there could be room, alongside Barclay, SOB, Tipuric and whoever else (Warburton, Lydiate if fit, Heaslip possibly etc.)

Point of order - last time they took seven, and have to replace two; nine in total, not nine in the party.

We also took that well known big name highlight reel specialist Alan Quinlan. Because that's what the Lions do.

Wood is by now at the very least on my bench.

 

[munstermuffin]

I could see all three of Englands first choice backrow touring - Gatland rates Morgan (I think? Thinking back to when he hadn't settled on England/Wales), Robshaw is playing, and leading, very very well, and Wood is playing consistently well no matter where he's put.

Last time they took 9 backrows, so if the same this time then there could be room, alongside Barclay, SOB, Tipuric and whoever else (Warburton, Lydiate if fit, Heaslip possibly etc.)

9 which will include 1 who is well able to cover 2nd row (Lawes, D. Ryan) add 12 starting back rows and Ferris, Haskell, Warburton, maybe Armitage and few more.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Point of order - last time they took seven, and have to replace two; nine in total, not nine in the party.

There are two types of people in this world - people who know what they're on about, and people who skim read team lists on wikipedia.
I'm the latter :lol:

 

[lynam1104]

If we go on 7 right now I'd take Robshaw, Wood, SOB, Tipuric, Faletau, Beattie. For the last spot i'm not sure ATM it really depends on form and fitness of Ferris and Lydiate.

 

[Thingimubob]

If we go on 7 right now I'd take Robshaw, Wood, SOB, Tipuric, Faletau, Beattie. For the last spot i'm not sure ATM it really depends on form and fitness of Ferris and Lydiate.

Very very unlikely Ferris is going to be fit, apparently got injured again in training the other day. Lydiate however is meant to be fit for the Wales vs England game, though not sure if that means he'll have gametime for the Dragons this week too. Not bad picks though! At least 3 of those can play 6 and 7 well, plus Faletau has deputised at 7 well in the past, plenty of different combination to try out there! My personal favourite would be 6. Robshaw 7.Tipuric then 8. Anyone who puts =his hands up, so either Wood, Beattie, Faletau or even SOB (He has played there before right?)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fup, I meant Brown, not Barclay, earlier.

I think Kelly Brown is playing very very well at the moment, and he'd be my pick of the Scottish forwards to tour. Can play all across the backrow as well, I think?