2013 British and Irish Lions

[willrobinson]

I think ryan jones will be picked purely because he can play 3 positions but also is a fantastic role model and leader.

As for wingers i think visser will be missed out purely because there will be at least 2 big runners already in a game (north, robert's, tuilagi and cuthbert as he is proven at international unlike visser).

Wingers taken last tour 5 were taken so if 5 are taken this time this is who i would take at the moment.

north
cuthbert
bowe
ashton
Hogg (had a fantastic breakthrough with scotland last year if he keeps it up he might be in with a shout)

and visser first choice if injury
(cant think of any other's worth mentioning yet but correct me if u think i miss someone)

 

[Hill-Back-Dallaglio]

Team should be:

1) Healey
2) Hartley
3) Cole
4) Evans
5) Grey
6) Lydiate
7) Warburton
8) Robshaw
9) Care
10) Sexton
11) North
12) Roberts
13) Tualagi
14) Ashton
15) Byrne

 

[Draggs]

Team should be:

1) Healey
2) Hartley
3) Cole
4) Evans
5) Grey
6) Lydiate
7) Warburton
8) Robshaw
9) Care
10) Sexton
11) North
12) Roberts
13) Tualagi
14) Ashton
15) Byrne

Lee Byrne? That player who was dropped for a quarter final RWC match for an outside back that hasn't started at fullback for probably two seasons, if ever at a professional level?
Andy Powell, Donncha Ocallaghan, Dan Parks, and Steve Borthwick must be in as well.

 

[willrobinson]

Team should be:

1) Healey
2) Hartley
3) Cole
4) Evans
5) Grey
6) Lydiate
7) Warburton
8) Robshaw
9) Care
10) Sexton
11) North
12) Roberts
13) Tualagi
14) Ashton
15) Byrne

Byrne was only number one cause there was never anyone else to play fullback with halfpenny at 14 mainly then. and he kicked away far to much possession with up and unders that never made it back to his hands.

 

[willrobinson]

Lee Byrne? That player who was dropped for a quarter final RWC match for an outside back that hasn't started at fullback for probably two seasons, if ever at a professional level?
Andy Powell, Donncha Ocallaghan, Dan Parks, and Steve Borthwick must be in as well.

Genuinely thought you were being serious for a minute and about to go into a massive rant haha

 

[cyRil]

Healy, like. ****ing hell.

 

[cyRil]

Byrne was only number one cause there was never anyone else to play fullback with halfpenny at 14 mainly then.

Correction: Byrne was only number one because he was the best full back in the Northern Hemisphere.

 

[j'nuh]

On wingers, I hope James Simpson-Daniel gets a shot. For all the hype about Gloucester's outside backs, I think he's the best we've got. Strong in defense and creates magic in attack. He also deserves a shot at something big before he bows out of rugby. Can't think of a player more undervalued by England selectors. Hope the Lions selectors do a better job and pick him! North as the other winger too. Ashton is living on past glory at this point...

 

[nickdnz]

On wingers, I hope James Simpson-Daniel gets a shot. For all the hype about Gloucester's outside backs, I think he's the best we've got. Strong in defense and creates magic in attack. He also deserves a shot at something big before he bows out of rugby. Can't think of a player more undervalued by England selectors. Hope the Lions selectors do a better job and pick him! North as the other winger too. Ashton is living on past glory at this point...

Totally agree. Haven't seen much of him lately but he was magic, never understood why England hasn't selected him much more. I feel the same to an extent with Topsy Ojo.

 

[Peat]

Totally agree. Haven't seen much of him lately but he was magic, never understood why England hasn't selected him much more. I feel the same to an extent with Topsy Ojo.

The biggest mystery of our time in English rugby, injury prone or no, and probably the origin of the theory that playing for Gloucester is the worst possible thing for your England career.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Simpson-Daniel only needs to hear somebody whisper the word "England" for all of his bones to start breaking themselves.

Fantastic winger, though.

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

 

[j'nuh]

Hopefully "Lions" won't do the same to him!

He was fit for the WC mind. It was just, you know, Banahan takes some beating. English Lomu and all. <_<

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Oh yes Banahan, he did say he wanted to represent the lions. All he needed to do was work on his, attack, fitness, passing, spacial awarness, positioning, Tackling, footwork, agility and then he'd be good to go.

After a couple rounds of HK we can really discuss who is playing better than whom!

 

[Peat]

On the subject of locks, as raised a couple of pages back, I get the feeling a lot of people (particularly non-English) don't particularly rate Lawes. And while I can't utterly blame them - he's been short of international gametime recently and there's still flaws to his game - I think they're wrong. He's got a lot stronger and cannier since his debut; there's no chance he'll be a scrum or line out liability. He hasn't really had a chance to show off his strong points, butwhat he does, he does as well if not better than any other lock we can pick - he's a fantastic athlete and an absolute tackle machine. And given the importance of stopping the expansive Aussie game, those are incredibly important attributes. Charteris was racking up huge tackle counts a year ago but seems to have disappeared and isn't as athletic, I can't think of a Scottish player like him, while Donnacha Ryan and Dan Tuohy are both establishing themselves at international level. At the moment, he's far from a certain choice, but if Lawes can keep himself fit and hit form I think there's a very strong chance he'll make himself a definite.

As for the rest of the English locks - I like Parling, but he's a little lightweight for international level and that will count against him. I like Palmer, but he's just a little middle of the road in all he does and won't make the tour barring exceptional form. In many ways I think the best call is Joe Launchbury as a bolter - but I might be getting overly excited, particularly as English locking stocks aren't fantastic right now.

Personally, right now, I don't think any lock should be locked in. Not even Ritchie Gray, who imo is still a little workshy in the tight. Paul O'Connell's fantastic at his peak and inspirational, but his carrying's crap, and I'm expecting Donnacha Ryan to be seen as the more important player of the two at the end of the year. AWJ's a talent, but not imo so much that he's a must have. I feel we've got a lot of high international class locks and none that are world class, which should make this interesting...

edit: Except for Tuohy and Henderson that is.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Correction: Byrne was only number one because he was the best full back in the Northern Hemisphere.

Also H-B-D's team isn't that bad once Hartley, Lydiate, Robshaw, Care, Tuilagi, Ashton and Byrne are taken out.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Healy, like. ****ing hell.

Oh hello, what's this then?

http://www.lionsrugby.com/news/11379.php

 

[Teh Mite]

That's because Sheridan is in France............................................
...




Here fishy fish fish

 

[big ginger 8]

Oh hello, what's this then?

http://www.lionsrugby.com/news/11379.php

A lot of Welsh people's head's just exploded. Amazingly Paul Wallace thinks Sheridan should start.

 

[Draggs]

The full interview makes his comments about Gethin seem much more in jest.
Sorry Cian, maybe next time, love.

 

[Feicarsinn]

**** that, Healy has been better for the year. Old man Jenkins' time is over. The future is now.