2013 British and Irish Lions

[Thingimubob]

Didn't realise that there's only 3 games of the regular season left in the Pro12, wonder if that's gonna be enough for Lydiate to prove his fitness? Probably not at the moment, wonder if he'd consider dropping down to Prinicipality Premiership to get more match fitness - quality is no where near pro level, but game time is game time!

 

[ratsapprentice]

14. Chris Ashton (Saracens)
The England winger has endured a huge amount of criticism over the past month but, as he proved against Wasps, remains a prolific tryscorer. Can the Lions really do without him?

Yes, yes they can.

A "prolific try-scorer" with 4 tries in 10 games for saracens.

 

[RugbyKing]

Yes, yes they can.

A "prolific try-scorer" with 4 tries in 10 games for saracens.

But what you say, cuthbert for Wales has had 4 trys in the 6n, yes? So when everyone say "cuthbert is the greatest winger! Have him for the lions man!", I simply have my jaw dropped. Why? Why is everyone saying cuthbert? Ashton is the man! He has same trys as cuthbert, but he has more of the brains than cuthbert also.

I ask you all one main thing, has cuthbert ever been the guy to jump high into air when he before scores a try? Ashton did this every time, can not wait to see that man do it every time for lions!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

But what you say, cuthbert for Wales has had 4 trys in the 6n, yes? So when everyone say "cuthbert is the greatest winger! Have him for the lions man!", I simply have my jaw dropped. Why? Why is everyone saying cuthbert? Ashton is the man! He has same trys as cuthbert, but he has more of the brains than cuthbert also.

I ask you all one main thing, has cuthbert ever been the guy to jump high into air when he before scores a try? Ashton did this every time, can not wait to see that man do it every time for lions!

Those tries are for club as well as country I believe and it is twice the amount of games it took Cuthbert to score four tries. Anyway put Tommy Bowe into YouTube and you'll have a new favorite winger.

 

[ratsapprentice]

RugbyKing: obvious troll is obvious... and poor.

4 in 10 for Sarries
2 in the last 16 for England

I can't recall him creating any of those tries or doing anything spectacular in them, just finishing them off.
Then you take his awful defence and kicking and the number of yellow cards he gets.
It's also annoying that some people are defending him on the basis that his detractors have a personal vendetta against him, when really it's because there are several people more deserving of his England place than he is.
This latest endorsement of Ashton came after a match where he was playing against Wade and Varndell, two far better examples of "prolific try scorers" if that's the criteria you want to select players on.

 

[Maverick1987]

RugbyKing: obvious troll is obvious... and poor.

4 in 10 for Sarries
2 in the last 16 for England

I can't recall him creating any of those tries or doing anything spectacular in them, just finishing them off.
Then you take his awful defence and kicking and the number of yellow cards he gets.
It's also annoying that some people are defending him on the basis that his detractors have a personal vendetta against him, when really it's because there are several people more deserving of his England place than he is.
This latest endorsement of Ashton came after a match where he was playing against Wade and Varndell, two far better examples of "prolific try scorers" if that's the criteria you want to select players on.

i know someone who is "in" with people from the welsh rugby union and they are under the impression gatland wants to take Christian wade on the lions tour and he is almost a dead cert to get picked . But obviously there is a fair bit of rugby yet to play . Playoffs , Heineken cup etc .

 

[psychic duck]

i know someone who is "in" with people from the welsh rugby union and they are under the impression gatland wants to take Christian wade on the lions tour and he is almost a dead cert to get picked . But obviously there is a fair bit of rugby yet to play . Playoffs , Heineken cup etc .

That is superb news if true. I like Wade and I think he can be the English Shane Williams. However unfortunately he isn't suited to the type of wing Lancaster likes and also doesn't fit into Cementball tactics so I can't see it happening.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wade isn't 15 years old nor 15 ft tall so he doesn't fit either of Gatland's criteria for wings

 

[Draggs]

He isn't a fullback so he doesn't have a chance with Lancaster either.

Gatland must have had quite a gasm when North emerged. 7'6", 20st, and just out of primary school.
He is rumoured to be merging Charteris', Kohn's, and North's genes for a new super team.

 

[psychic duck]

He isn't a fullback so he doesn't have a chance with Lancaster either.

Gatland must have had quite a gasm when North emerged. 7'6", 20st, and just out of primary school.
He is rumoured to be merging Charteris', Kohn's, and North's genes for a new super team.

Matt Banahan would probably be a first choice centre if he was Welsh. Would fit in with Cementball tactics and can imagine Gatland selecting him at 13 outside Roberts.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

i know someone who is "in" with people from the welsh rugby union and they are under the impression gatland wants to take Christian wade on the lions tour and he is almost a dead cert to get picked . But obviously there is a fair bit of rugby yet to play . Playoffs , Heineken cup etc .

I'd love that, Wade is a legend. On the other hand I'd probably take Bowe, North, Zebo, Gilroy, Cuthbert and the two "Scots" ahead of him.

 

[psychic duck]

http://www.espnscrum.com/lions-tour-2013/rugby/story/181005.html

The Sunday Times are claiming to have knowledge of the Lions squad and claims that Cole, Croft, Youngs, Youngs, Tuilagi and Farrell are "definites" to tour. Parling, Wade, Ashton and Robshaw are "in the frame", but Robshaw could be taken for leadership but is "deemed too slow" to be a certainty.

 

[big ginger 8]

http://www.espnscrum.com/lions-tour-2013/rugby/story/181005.html

The Sunday Times are claiming to have knowledge of the Lions squad and claims that Cole, Croft, Youngs, Youngs, Tuilagi and Farrell are "definites" to tour. Parling, Wade, Ashton and Robshaw are "in the frame", but Robshaw could be taken for leadership but is "deemed too slow" to be a certainty.

And claims Heaslip, BO'D and PO'C are all sitll in the frame for captaincy. We'll see I guess.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

http://www.espnscrum.com/lions-tour-2013/rugby/story/181005.html

The Sunday Times are claiming to have knowledge of the Lions squad and claims that Cole, Croft, Youngs, Youngs, Tuilagi and Farrell are "definites" to tour. Parling, Wade, Ashton and Robshaw are "in the frame", but Robshaw could be taken for leadership but is "deemed too slow" to be a certainty.

Meehh I'm pretty sure thats just guesswork.

There is no way in hell that Croft will tour if Robshaw doesn't. Croft has not done anything to be above and Wood Robshaw. Of course Cole, Tuilagi and Farrell will tour. Ben Youngs will too, because there are no decent British and Irish scrum halves. We know that. I'd also be very surprised if Parling doesn't tour.

 

[dullonien]

Meehh I'm pretty sure thats just guesswork.

There is no way in hell that Croft will tour if Robshaw doesn't. Croft has not done anything to be above and Wood Robshaw. Of course Cole, Tuilagi and Farrell will tour. Ben Youngs will too, because there are no decent British and Irish scrum halves. We know that. I'd also be very surprised if Parling doesn't tour.

I agree with that. We won't be lacking for pace in the backrow without Croft. Tipuric has proven that he's rapid, basically runs like a back (anyone see the sidesteps in midfield for the Ospreys against Glasgow? He was more creative than the entire O's backline put together). Warburton and Faletau are no slouches either.

Croft's big plus point is his lineout jumping. The Welsh trio in the backrow can jump, but aren't specialists like Croft. Haven't noticed SOB doing much jumping for Leinster or Ireland. Would we be lacking a genuine jumper in the backrow without someone like Croft?

 

[Big Ewis]

Meehh I'm pretty sure thats just guesswork.

There is no way in hell that Croft will tour if Robshaw doesn't. Croft has not done anything to be above and Wood Robshaw. Of course Cole, Tuilagi and Farrell will tour. Ben Youngs will too, because there are no decent British and Irish scrum halves. We know that. I'd also be very surprised if Parling doesn't tour.

right...didn't think of that, but it's true. Well I mean since it's the Lions (i.e. so much handpicked talent and ability everywhere else), they can easily settle for a guy to just pass out of the rucks simply, they don't need a magician at no.9. And Phillips is necessarily a plus with his height and weight (100kg + for a SH, you kdng me ?!!), and still has relatively young legs, I don't feel like the Lions' game is going to be a particularly fast one anyways.

 

[Aedaphon]

right...didn't think of that, but it's true. Well I mean since it's the Lions (i.e. so much handpicked talent and ability everywhere else), they can easily settle for a guy to just pass out of the rucks simply, they don't need a magician at no.9. And Phillips is necessarily a plus with his height and weight (100kg + for a SH, you kdng me ?!!), and still has relatively young legs, I don't feel like the Lions' game is going to be a particularly fast one anyways.

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/video_audio/181026.html?genre=2;page=2;skip_objects=180626%2C180625

^ I'd call that pretty f-ing magical. (Can't embed it unfortunately)

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Does anybody know what time on Tuesday the squad is being named?

 

[Big Ewis]

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/video_audio/181026.html?genre=2;page=2;skip_objects=180626%2C180625

^ I'd call that pretty f-ing magical. (Can't embed it unfortunately)

THAT's "pretty f-ing magical" ?! that's a "try of the year" ?!! :lol: no wonder I don't watch Premiership ! (nahhhhh, KIDDING KIDDING !!!).

And if a guy's wit alone, picking up the ball and running a straight-line with about avg. pace for a SH, with the entire opposite team asleep, in for the score makes for consideration for the Lions squad then ahhh...ok ? I mean.....OK.

 

[lucky number 7]

THAT's "pretty f-ing magical" ?! that's a "try of the year" ?!! :lol: no wonder I don't watch Premiership ! (nahhhhh, KIDDING KIDDING !!!).

And if a guy's wit alone, picking up the ball and running a straight-line with about avg. pace for a SH, with the entire opposite team asleep, in for the score makes for consideration for the Lions squad then ahhh...ok ? I mean.....OK.

Yeah. It was a pretty sick try great awareness and gas to finish it.

And yes this has IMO serves to show he's definitely in with a shout of a lions jersey and that is not a derogatory thing towards premiership or NH rugby , there is more to the game and a try than mere physical things like how far , how fast and how many men he beat. He's had the awareness to make something from absolutely nothing a step ahead of both the opponents and his own team. So yeah.. He's definitely deserving of a shout and yes it was a ****ing fantastic try.