2013 British and Irish Lions

[Peat]

Stevens lol.

Vunipola however...

Btw, I think betting started today on POC as 100-1 to be Lions captain, and ended at 10-1. Think he looks fairly certain to tour in most people's opinions now.

 

[munstermuffin]

Stevens lol.

Vunipola however...

Btw, I think betting started today on POC as 100-1 to be Lions captain, and ended at 10-1. Think he looks fairly certain to tour in most people's opinions now.

To be fair he was brilliant yesterday.
And I think he showed as clear as daylight the difference between someone who is captain material and someone who isn't. Doug is a superb player but poor captain. Heaslip at moment is poor captain. BOD and POC are captains as its balance of keeping on refs case without going overboard. But I spoke with Len Dineen after game (well known radio journalist here) and he reckons Paulie has huge case as captain because:
- On form he is by far best lock and guaranteed starter
- Gatland was impressed hugely in 2009
- He has that respect and Welsh lads in particular stated they loved his style
- He played big role as captain in getting all guys mixing last time.

But I think realistically:
BOD and POC are 2 standout candidates. Robshaw maybe but not guaranteed spot. Warburton I think showed in 6Nations why he shouldn't be captain. Has never excelled in my opinion at it and played his best rugby lately when it was taken from him. And after that I don't see any other candidate

 

[Feicarsinn]

To be fair he was brilliant yesterday.
And I think he showed as clear as daylight the difference between someone who is captain material and someone who isn't. Doug is a superb player but poor captain. Heaslip at moment is poor captain. BOD and POC are captains as its balance of keeping on refs case without going overboard. But I spoke with Len Dineen after game (well known radio journalist here) and he reckons Paulie has huge case as captain because:
- On form he is by far best lock and guaranteed starter
- Gatland was impressed hugely in 2009
- He has that respect and Welsh lads in particular stated they loved his style
- He played big role as captain in getting all guys mixing last time.

But I think realistically:
BOD and POC are 2 standout candidates. Robshaw maybe but not guaranteed spot. Warburton I think showed in 6Nations why he shouldn't be captain. Has never excelled in my opinion at it and played his best rugby lately when it was taken from him. And after that I don't see any other candidate

Lol. Having played one game at ML level as opposed to the entire 6 nations and he's the form lock in the NH. Wow.

 

[big ginger 8]

Lol. Having played one game at ML level as opposed to the entire 6 nations and he's the form lock in the NH. Wow.

In fairness I think mm is saying when he's on form not that he is now.

 

[j'nuh]

- On form he is by far best lock and guaranteed starter

POC is a modern legend and everything, one of my favourite players and imo quite underrated. (I die a little when people say that BOD carries Ireland - POC really isn't that far off BOD.) But I'm not sure anyone is certain what kind of form he can reach now. Recurring injuries have essentially kept him out for the last year, except for a couple of games here and there. He's also 33, and his best is probably behind him. Even if he doesn't reach his best though, I think he'll be a great asset and leadership potential if he can play himself into some good form.

BOD and POC are 2 standout candidates. Robshaw maybe but not guaranteed spot. Warburton I think showed in 6Nations why he shouldn't be captain. Has never excelled in my opinion at it and played his best rugby lately when it was taken from him. And after that I don't see any other candidate

+ AWJ. After being captain of Ospreys for the last 2-3 seasons, how loud he is and playing himself into instantly good form, he has to be a big option.

Pretty much all bookies have 4 clear favourites - Warburton, AWJ, BOD and Robshaw and 3 outside chances - Jenkins, POC and Best. Warburton is the favourite in every place I've looked. But I agree with you: if picked, I'd rather he played without the captaincy to think about.

 

[RugbyKing]

I like to say I am new here. So hello to everyone.
And new to watching rugby, I start watching it before 6nation, so apologies if my knowledge is not good. But I know positions and some of the rules now.

Just want to say, what my lion team will be. I thought about things very hard, and looked at video on youtube of all best players in world rugby. So here is my team:

1. Genthin Jenkins - saw a good try against ronan gara (2005 when Wales won). Gara kicked ball away but waited too long, jenkins put arms above his head and hit the ball back down. He then he kicked the ball and fell on the ball, and 5 points was scored. I think he can do this again, against the wallaby.
2. Phil Vickery (captain) - Another one who is at the front. Won the world cup with his team mates in 2003. I see his wiki and he is 19+ stone!!! Wow. And my captain.
3> adam jones - everyone says adam jones. Not sure still why he is the best, but I don't know enough. So adam jones is the one.
4. Alan wyn jones - got past Combs in the wales team. Combs is a great player, one of the best players of modern rugby my friend said. Alan did well to get past him.
5. Hamilton - Saw this guy in some teams people have chose. He will be my first Scotland player. Not sure what he does yet. Very nice beard
6. Ryan jones - I notice ever since starting to watch rugby everyone who has played for wales may be jones. Funny. Ryan ran very nicely and perfectly in 6n.
7. Sam Warburton - Seen what happend in the world cup in 2011 on youtube. But I think this will not stay in Sams mind hopefully. Hopefully he can be picked and play and not throw someone in the air onto his back again. I can see why he landed and dangerous. Lots of newspapers saying his name though.
8. Not sure what this player does and not sure who goes here. Saw the Parisse doing nice things for Italy, but not sure if lions coach will allow him into their team.
9. Connor Murrey - What a guy! Tall, veeery tall! Shame he is injured now but might be back again soon.
10. Greg Laidlaw - I think this is not the position for him, but he kicked the ball over (or through) the two posts for some points for Scotland. He could do this again for lions.
11. Mark Cuteo - just this reason purely is why he is picked...



He scores many trys everywhere on the field. This one is in world cup again for england. Shame he hasn't got it though. And it is a shame lions dont play against south africa, because the man talking said cuteo always scored trys against south africa.

12. Jamie Roberts - He is another very big man. He knows all the rugby in the midfield. He hits people out of the way when he wants to. This might work against the australians
13. Brian Driscoll - All time best player!! Everyone says it anyway. He put his foot down very hard on a mans tummy before, but is he back now? If he is I think the wallaby should be scared haha.
14. Ashton ashton ashton!! - Another magnificent choice! Hope he jumps in the air again like he did to score that try over and over again this summer. Lovely guy, very please for him now he is in England.
15. Goode - Saw him waering 15 vs. wales. He has a nice game. His name is showing what he is for rugby - good!

Bench (i think it's 8 guys in the bench? Here is mine) - healey, halfpenny, shane williams, owen farell, sexton, robshaw, loyd williams, Barrott

Hope everyone likes this team. Dont want to upset people though by not having players in my team though! haha

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads I didn't say Paulie was on top form I said IF in top form. As regards captaincy AWJ in my opinion isn't a proven captain and I'd like to let him concentrate on playing. As for Best I think he has enough on his plate and as stated I've seen Warburton play his best rugby and practically play himself back in to Lions spot without captaincy after playing himself out of it with captaincy. And for what it's worth Paulie has played 3 very tough decent quality games (2 games the full 80) and has looked excellent. So he is coming along nicely. And Feic the fact I rate POC so highly and would call for Hines too is that 6 Nations was poor for locks and you can say Parling etc looked good but overall standard was poor

 

[Feicarsinn]

I like to say I am new here. So hello to everyone.
And new to watching rugby, I start watching it before 6nation, so apologies if my knowledge is not good. But I know positions and some of the rules now.

Just want to say, what my lion team will be. I thought about things very hard, and looked at video on youtube of all best players in world rugby. So here is my team:

1. Genthin Jenkins - saw a good try against ronan gara (2005 when Wales won). Gara kicked ball away but waited too long, jenkins put arms above his head and hit the ball back down. He then he kicked the ball and fell on the ball, and 5 points was scored. I think he can do this again, against the wallaby.
2. Phil Vickery (captain) - Another one who is at the front. Won the world cup with his team mates in 2003. I see his wiki and he is 19+ stone!!! Wow. And my captain.
3> adam jones - everyone says adam jones. Not sure still why he is the best, but I don't know enough. So adam jones is the one.
4. Alan wyn jones - got past Combs in the wales team. Combs is a great player, one of the best players of modern rugby my friend said. Alan did well to get past him.
5. Hamilton - Saw this guy in some teams people have chose. He will be my first Scotland player. Not sure what he does yet. Very nice beard
6. Ryan jones - I notice ever since starting to watch rugby everyone who has played for wales may be jones. Funny. Ryan ran very nicely and perfectly in 6n.
7. Sam Warburton - Seen what happend in the world cup in 2011 on youtube. But I think this will not stay in Sams mind hopefully. Hopefully he can be picked and play and not throw someone in the air onto his back again. I can see why he landed and dangerous. Lots of newspapers saying his name though.
8. Not sure what this player does and not sure who goes here. Saw the Parisse doing nice things for Italy, but not sure if lions coach will allow him into their team.
9. Connor Murrey - What a guy! Tall, veeery tall! Shame he is injured now but might be back again soon.
10. Greg Laidlaw - I think this is not the position for him, but he kicked the ball over (or through) the two posts for some points for Scotland. He could do this again for lions.
11. Mark Cuteo - just this reason purely is why he is picked...



He scores many trys everywhere on the field. This one is in world cup again for england. Shame he hasn't got it though. And it is a shame lions dont play against south africa, because the man talking said cuteo always scored trys against south africa.

12. Jamie Roberts - He is another very big man. He knows all the rugby in the midfield. He hits people out of the way when he wants to. This might work against the australians
13. Brian Driscoll - All time best player!! Everyone says it anyway. He put his foot down very hard on a mans tummy before, but is he back now? If he is I think the wallaby should be scared haha.
14. Ashton ashton ashton!! - Another magnificent choice! Hope he jumps in the air again like he did to score that try over and over again this summer. Lovely guy, very please for him now he is in England.
15. Goode - Saw him waering 15 vs. wales. He has a nice game. His name is showing what he is for rugby - good!

Bench (i think it's 8 guys in the bench? Here is mine) - healey, halfpenny, shane williams, owen farell, sexton, robshaw, loyd williams, Barrott

Hope everyone likes this team. Dont want to upset people though by not having players in my team though! haha

Did you really need another account mate?

 

[ZeFrenchy]

A few thoughts as an outsider:
- When being a contender for a Lions spot, being English is obviously a handicap.
- Appart from backrow and fullback, the Lions are far from world class. Thay have good players all over (they are, after all, a combined team of four tier 1 nations), but other from those four positions, choices are hard not because of too many excellent options, but mostly because of it being hard finding a third or fourth option that can mix it up with the big boys.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but respect for players like Biggar, Vunipola, Ford or Mike Ross, but it is not the same having to leave out one of Ferris, Robshaw and Lydiate, to one of Launchbury, Ian Evans and Hamilton...

 

[McTallshort]

A few thoughts as an outsider:
- When being a contender for a Lions spot, being English is obviously a handicap.
- Appart from backrow and fullback, the Lions are far from world class. Thay have good players all over (they are, after all, a combined team of four tier 1 nations), but other from those four positions, choices are hard not because of too many excellent options, but mostly because of it being hard finding a third or fourth option that can mix it up with the big boys.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but respect for players like Biggar, Vunipola, Ford or Mike Ross, but it is not the same having to leave out one of Ferris, Robshaw and Lydiate, to one of Launchbury, Ian Evans and Hamilton...

Controversial! Possibly true but controversial all the same.

 

[lynam1104]

Meh it depends on where the poster who posts the team is from obviously there will be baias and against english in particular as they are a grudge team for all the other 3 nations.

 

[ratsapprentice]

(they are, after all, a combined team of four tier 1 nations)

That depends on how you look at it. You could argue that with the exception of the Rep of Ireland it is actually one country.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ well no, each side with its own advantages/flaws, game plan, philosophy, mentality/psychology...genes even. It really is 4 sides in 1.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yeah, but he was making reference to playing numbers I think, I was simply pointing out that our countries routinely compete as one in GB teams.
That's essentially what this is. Similar to the way that Basque players play for France.
The difference being that each of the UK's constituent countries has the infrastructure, playing numbers and precedent to play as individual countries.

 

[Jbobo]

Edit: what's with people selecting Cuthbert? He's absolute ****. I'd rather have Ashton.

I'm starting to worry about you. When did you start smoking crack? Edit: just jesting, but I'd definitely 'forget' to tell Ashton when the plane leaves for Aus if I was Gatland though.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The Lions and BaaBaa's twitter accounts are having a dick swinging contest at the moment, quite funny.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm starting to worry about you. When did you start smoking crack? Edit: just jesting, but I'd definitely 'forget' to tell Ashton when the plane leaves for Aus if I was Gatland though.

I'd take neither, though if I had to pick between the two I'd go with Cuthbert.
I hate Cuthbert, I think he's incredibly limited and is overhyped to ridiculous amounts but he's on good form and is a great finisher. If Ashton was on form I'd take him in a hearbeat, as I think he's a much better winger, he's just not playing like one/hasn't for like 18months.

 

[TommyV]

I'd take neither, though if I had to pick between the two I'd go with Cuthbert.
I hate Cuthbert, I think he's incredibly limited and is overhyped to ridiculous amounts but he's on good form and is a great finisher. If Ashton was on form I'd take him in a hearbeat, as I think he's a much better winger, he's just not playing like one/hasn't for like 18months.

At least Cuthbert can actually beat a man. When has Ashton ever actually created anything on his own? He's a good support runner, that's about it and with enough pace to go the distance. Not particularly strong for his size, doesn't actually beat people or make breaks that often, indecisive under a high-ball and chasing kicks and weak defensively.

Cuthbert may have a few of those issues too, but I would argue he isn't any worse defensive or under the high-ball than Ashton and he's a damn sight more dangerous and able to create with ball in hand, as well as being a very good support runner in his own right.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

When on form? Quite a lot.
Don't forget he's been getting steadily worse for...like 2 years? Ashton could beat defenders back in the day, just these days....nah.

Like I said, Cuthbert is the much better winger now, but if you brought the Ashton from 2 years ago to today, then I'd go with him every time.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think Ashton was a bit of a one season wonder to be honest Olyy, I don't rate either player too highly with Cuthbert's size helping him be slightly better as well as being in a better backline with Wales also helps.

When Ashton first burst on to the scene he was something new in union, he followed the ball and broke the line very effectively but teams have learned to defend him and he hasn't been able to adapt and lost a lot of confidence. Cuthbert is limited but he's full of confidence at the moment and no team has learned effectively to stop big players running on to the ball at pace usually at weak shoulders.

The Lions have better wing options than these two anyway with Tommy Bowe, George North, Simon Zebo, Leigh Halfpenny (With Kearney at FB ) and arguably Tim Visser, Sean Maitland (Both of whom I don't want to play considering they couldn't understand the importance of the Lions not growing up in Britain or Ireland) and Craig Gilroy also Christain Wade and Tom Varndell are two examples of non internationals who could get the spot.