2013 British and Irish Lions

[Draggs]

The shittest team in the Rabo (not including Zebre since they're a new team) have more players on the Lions than the team who is in first place. Love it.

We all knew there would be a large Leinster contingent, so it isn't that shocking

 

[big ginger 8]

Still think Australia will be licking their licks at the thought of the lineout. It seems that lineout throwing is an aspect that has really dropped in terms of hooker qualities and strength around the park and at the breakdown has become a greater concer for some.

The selection of Maitland is simply unfounded, while the selection of both Croft and Lydiate is narrow minded. Murray is very lucky that he fits Gatlands style of "power".

Lucky that the Australian lineout is pretty poor.

1. Sitiveni Sivivatu
2. Julien Bonnaire
3. Wesley Fofana
4. Jonny Wilkinson
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.



225. Jamie Heaslip

Really? Necessary?



Pictures of the players in their new jerseys some look pretty beat up!

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/meet-.../?utm_source=facebook_short#slide-slideshow37

 

[ratsapprentice]

People concerned about Vunipola's fitness shouldn't be, he's been absolutely monstrous when Sarries have played at home on their artificial pitch... he should flourish on the hard grounds.
Even if he does start slowing a bit around the 70 minute mark, his impact against the midweek teams could be significant. You don't get 5 (he may have more) man of the match awards in a season as a prop for nothing!

Matt Stevens - First off, I probably wouldn't have picked him... but: He can actually be a very good player. He originally got picked for England on the back of some phenomenal form for Bath, and to be fair he continued to play well until his ban.
After he came back he looked all over the shop and was obviously not capable of covering LH and TH (no-one is!), since his retirement from England duty he has only been playing as a TH and looks to be getting closer to the form he showed before being capped.
I'm not saying he is going to have a stormer, just wanted to reassure people that he is actually capable of playing pretty well!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Stevens actually looked really good when he came back, for Sarries and Saxons, it was when he started playing for England again that he went to pots and he's been getting worse ever since.


Another thing about Gray's selection: He won't have played since Feb due to being out injured. He's not even been training fully due to it!

 

[Tony Manx]

People concerned about Vunipola's fitness shouldn't be, he's been absolutely monstrous when Sarries have played at home on their artificial pitch... he should flourish on the hard grounds.
Even if he does start slowing a bit around the 70 minute mark, his impact against the midweek teams could be significant. You don't get 5 (he may have more) man of the match awards in a season as a prop for nothing!

Matt Stevens - First off, I probably wouldn't have picked him... but: He can actually be a very good player. He originally got picked for England on the back of some phenomenal form for Bath, and to be fair he continued to play well until his ban.
After he came back he looked all over the shop and was obviously not capable of covering LH and TH (no-one is!), since his retirement from England duty he has only been playing as a TH and looks to be getting closer to the form he showed before being capped.
I'm not saying he is going to have a stormer, just wanted to reassure people that he is actually capable of playing pretty well!

Vunipola is pretty damn good around the park but there are significant doubts about his scrummaging but as the Aussies never have a front row,......he might get away with it?

Stevens is average at a prop, very good at the breakdown but has a reputation as a penalty machine but would love to know the stats on that one.....

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

A Midwest backline of

Murray
Farrell
Tuilagi Davies
Mainland Kearney Cuthbert

Would be really exciting.

 

[Feicarsinn]

There are a lot of players in that squad who have had limited game time this year - O'Connell, Bowe, Grey, Lydiate, etc. However, all things considered this isn't too bad a thing. One of the main challenges faced in the last tour was attrition. Players were dropping left, right and centre by the end. When you have a group of guys who haven't played all that much rugby this season however, this factor may be somewhat reduced. just a thought.

 

[Ospreylian]

It might seem a way off now but boy is it coming. Lions vs Australia could be one of the best tours in a long long time. Australia's young guns wont be quite as young but will be tighter and more talented. The Lions on the other hand have a chance in my mind of having a very competetive tour. Im not going to ask for a squad but instead a starting XV for 2 years time.

1) Cian Healy
2) Dylan Hartley
3) Adam Jones
4) Courtney Lawes
5) Richie Gray
6) Sean O'Brien
7) Sam Warbuton
8) Jamie Heaslip (just)
9) Mike Phillips
10) Jonathon Sexton
11) George North
12) Jamie Roberts
13) Manu Tuilagi
14) Chris Ashton
15) Leigh Halfpenny

In fairness players might burst onto the scene in 2 years but i reckon this is the side that may take the field in 2 years time.

Just looked back at the first ever post on this thread, from 2011. Only 2 players from samhall's starting team technically wouldn't be able to start the first test in Australia after today's announcement. Jolly good predicting samhall! Fair play.

 

[Draggs]

I really want to see Roberts and Tuilagi smash the living **** out of some Farce centres midweek.
Wonder if we will see Delve v Toby during the Rabble match.

 

[j-dawg]

Heaslip - wouldn't be in my squad, his form has been poor. Ben Morgan can consider himself unlucky.

Best - the biggest omission to me, he's the most dynamic hooker in the Northern Hemisphere. How Dylan Hartley was chosen over him I have no idea.

Stevens - I don't know what they saw on Sunday that made them think 'hmm yes, I like the cut of his jib'. All I saw was Sheridan pushing poppin' Fresh all over the park. Penalty machine.

Jenkins - I don't get the hype around this guy. He plays well for Wales, when he's got Jones anchoring the scrum, but elsewhere he gets pushed around at the set piece. He's been reduced to a 10-minute-a-game player at Toulon. Cian Healy does as much in the loose (with a more brutal, power approach) but holds his own in the scrum. Healy > Jenkins.

Croft - He's a proven player, but I feel he hasn't done enough to warrant a call up. Too much time spent out on the wings and not enough graft, or maybe I've missed something.

Robshaw - A lionheart although I understand the back row competition was fierce. Tough to find a spot for and recent form for Harlequins didn't help his cause.

Vunipola - Can't put my finger on it, I just don't feel he's there yet.

Special mention for Simon Shaw, I'd have him on my lions plane any day, any year.

 

[munstermuffin]

It is relevant though. You said he was poor this season I was putting it forward as evidence that he hasn't been poor this season.

Also this is the final shortlist:

1. Julien Bonnaire
2. Jamie Heaslip
3. Wesley Fofana
4. Sitiveni Sivivatu
5. Jonny Wilkinson

Yes but my point was they don't mean anything like if you asked a 1000 people here what there 5 would be would they agree. Equally would you say Heaslip has been Leinsters best player so? BG8 it only my opinion I think Heaslip has been poor this year and some Leinster fans I know agree. If you thinks he's been great then fair it your opinion and he's on plane so best of luck to him and I hope he performs

 

[munstermuffin]

A Midwest backline of

Murray
Farrell
Tuilagi Davies
Mainland Kearney Cuthbert

Would be really exciting.

Where's Midwest

Agree though nice options add in Hogg too

Feic I agree alot will be fresher than usual but a big thing too will be how the lads gel

 

[psychic duck]

Lucky that the Australian lineout is pretty poor.

Not sure where you got that from. Really dominated Wales in that area in the last match last year.

 

[big ginger 8]

Not sure where you got that from. Really dominated Wales in that area in the last match last year.

No more Nathan Sharpe.

If TPN starts he's also a poor thrower. It's likely there pack will not have the best jumpers.

 

[munstermuffin]

Wildcard in Aus scenario could be George Smith

 

[TRF_Olyy]

There are a lot of players in that squad who have had limited game time this year - O'Connell, Bowe, Grey, Lydiate, etc. However, all things considered this isn't too bad a thing. One of the main challenges faced in the last tour was attrition. Players were dropping left, right and centre by the end. When you have a group of guys who haven't played all that much rugby this season however, this factor may be somewhat reduced. just a thought.

That's true enough, but then on the other side of the coin there's the possibility of re-occurrence.
Gray has been out with a bad hamstring injury, and he's going to be going straight into test rugby (even mid-week/baabaas games are going to be high intensity) - I'd be very surprised if he makes it to the end of the tour.

 

[SelimNiai]

Wildcard in Aus scenario could be George Smith

Smith played in that 2001 series didnt he?

 

[munstermuffin]

Add in Olyy I'd be cautious on Paulie lasting

 

[Joseph14]

Heaslip - wouldn't be in my squad, his form has been poor. Ben Morgan can consider himself unlucky.

Best - the biggest omission to me, he's the most dynamic hooker in the Northern Hemisphere. How Dylan Hartley was chosen over him I have no idea.

Stevens - I don't know what they saw on Sunday that made them think 'hmm yes, I like the cut of his jib'. All I saw was Sheridan pushing poppin' Fresh all over the park. Penalty machine.

Jenkins - I don't get the hype around this guy. He plays well for Wales, when he's got Jones anchoring the scrum, but elsewhere he gets pushed around at the set piece. He's been reduced to a 10-minute-a-game player at Toulon. Cian Healy does as much in the loose (with a more brutal, power approach) but holds his own in the scrum. Healy > Jenkins.

Croft - He's a proven player, but I feel he hasn't done enough to warrant a call up. Too much time spent out on the wings and not enough graft, or maybe I've missed something.

Robshaw - A lionheart although I understand the back row competition was fierce. Tough to find a spot for and recent form for Harlequins didn't help his cause.

Vunipola - Can't put my finger on it, I just don't feel he's there yet.

Special mention for Simon Shaw, I'd have him on my lions plane any day, any year.

You sir, speak sense. The Jenkins point being spot on. For me he would be lucky to be seen as 3rd choice!

 

[ratsapprentice]

I can guarantee that there will be at least 2-3 players brought over by the time of the first test.