2013 British and Irish Lions

[big ginger 8]

I'd love to hear your agruement teh mite over why Best isn't the beat hooker in Britain and Ireland and who actually is in your opinion.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I like Best, I think he's good in the tight and in the loose (though I'm not convinced by his lineouts, despite the stat above).
I can't think of anyone I'd name above him, however I find that a bit worrying. He's a good player and all, but he wouldn't get a look in down south.

Hooker and Scrumhalf are two real weak areas for Britain/Ireland at the moment.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

I like Best, I think he's good in the tight and in the loose (though I'm not convinced by his lineouts, despite the stat above).
I can't think of anyone I'd name above him, however I find that a bit worrying. He's a good player and all, but he wouldn't get a look in down south.

Hooker and Scrumhalf are two real weak areas for Britain/Ireland at the moment.

Serious? I thought his line out accuracy was the reason people regarded him as a great hooker! There was a half time clip on one of the ulster matches on him how he practices his line outs it's pretty cool haha.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Maybe I'm just basing it off of a few matches that are sticking in my head.

I never (and still don't) think he's a bad lineout thrower, just not world class.
I remember joking with Peat (I think?), can't remember if it was before an Ireland or Ulster match, about how he can't hack pressure etc. when he throws, and then he had a lineout in the opposition 22 and basically threw the ball at his own goalposts :lol:

 

[big ginger 8]

I like Best, I think he's good in the tight and in the loose (though I'm not convinced by his lineouts, despite the stat above).
I can't think of anyone I'd name above him, however I find that a bit worrying. He's a good player and all, but he wouldn't get a look in down south.

Hooker and Scrumhalf are two real weak areas for Britain/Ireland at the moment.

I'd have him over TPN and Guinzau also possibly over A. Strauss. Agree with your last statement. I'm against it but I wonder is R. Strauss could tour?

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

"I've always thought he was pretty gash at the lineout"
"I never (and still don't) think he's a bad lineout thrower"

Ah okay Haha

 

[psychic duck]

With competition from Matthew Rees and Ross Ford (two catastrophic lineout throwers), I'm sure Rory Best is guaranteed a place on the plane.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

"I've always thought he was pretty gash at the lineout"
"I never (and still don't) think he's a bad lineout thrower"

Ah okay Haha

Psshhhhh



To be fair, and I'm not a Hartley fan, he's playing pretty well for Saints (or was till his face exploded a couple of weeks ago).

Hopefully he can play well when back from injury for Saints and then England, because if Tom Youngs is anywhere near then I think I'll cry.
He truely IS gash at the lineout is a thug and a *insert any generic insult here*.

 

[Peat]

A couple of seasons ago you could legitimately sledge Best's lineout. While on the main it was good, but it was always a trifle slow, and sooner or later you knew he was going to wobble. And when Best wobbled, he wobbled bad. We're like talking seven or so games fine, 2 or 3 wobbling.

Shortly before the World Cup - like, maybe half a season before, Best just shifted up a gear. There are very occasional wobbles to his throwing, particularly to the tail, but they're not sustained. He's quicker too. Yes, if you want to nitpick, there's nothing like throwing to Muller and POC to make you look good, but he's fine with the lesser lights. His loose game went up a notch too, he's far more useful on the deck, a much better carrier and offloads a fair few too. I struggle to think of hookers I'd rather see at Ulster ahead of him. Servat pre-retirement, probably BdP.

If Best keeps playing like he has, I think he's one of the most nailed on starters there is... which in fairness says as much about the alternatives as it does Best. I think Hartley's the only guy near him, because Hartley's the only other guy who reliably performs the basics at international levels. Incidentally, I still hear people say he's a dodgy thrower too. I think as a general rule, it's possible that the public need to ease up on this score.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

After the last few weeks showings, I think Hibbard might go as the third hooker. On form, he should certainly be starting for Wales, and as such would really put himself in the frame for tour selection.

 

[dullonien]

After the last few weeks showings, I think Hibbard might go as the third hooker. On form, he should certainly be starting for Wales, and as such would really put himself in the frame for tour selection.

Quite possibly. He's the best scrummaging hooker in Britain and Ireland. On top of that he's probably the most powerful ball carrying hooker, and is a ferocious tackler. His weaknesses are his lineout throwing which can range from passable to very poor, and he can be prone to giving away some needless penalties, as highlighted by the two he gave away to cost us the first test down under. However this isn't the norm for him, and for the Ospreys he doesn't give away more penalties than the average aggressive player.

A lot will depend on whether Howley and Gatland feel the same and pick him as first choice for Wales.

Hibbard will rightly be nowhere near the Lions. He's a great ball carrier and tackler, but his lineout throwing is inconsistent and he's prone to errors and in-discipline (nothing nasty, but just giving away silly penalties).

Ignore the inconsistencies! I simply cannot decide about Hibbard. He normally manages to do something to set himself back a good 6months, be it injury, loss of form or stupidness.

 

[psychic duck]

Quite possibly. He's the best scrummaging hooker in Britain and Ireland. On top of that he's probably the most powerful ball carrying hooker, and is a ferocious tackler. His weaknesses are his lineout throwing which can range from passable to very poor, and he can be prone to giving away some needless penalties, as highlighted by the two he gave away to cost us the first test down under. However this isn't the norm for him, and for the Ospreys he doesn't give away more penalties than the average aggressive player.

A lot will depend on whether Howley and Gatland feel the same and pick him as first choice for Wales.



Ignore the inconsistencies! I simply cannot decide about Hibbard. He normally manages to do something to set himself back a good 6months, be it injury, loss of form or stupidness.

Debatable, he may have improved now, but for the entirety of his career up until a couple of years ago I would have said that it definitely was the norm.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I always thought highly of Hibbard.
Didn't he recently have an injury that put him out for a while and then when he came back he was....a porker?
Sounds like he's getting back to his best, will have to keep an eye out for him when I can next catch a Hairsprays game.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Lions team according to Sky Sports so far:
1 Sturgess
2 Hibbard
3 Jones
4 Lawes
5 Jones
6 Johnson
7 Robshaw
8 Easter
9 Marshall
10 Cipriani
11 Zebo
12 Beck
13 Davies
14 Cuthbert
15 Halfpenny


Lol.....

 

[Draggs]

The ESPNScrum Lions teams are really a great way to start the week.
Hibbard won't go, but he is streets ahead of Rees and Owens.

 

[SelimNiai]

Lions team according to Sky Sports so far:
1 Sturgess
2 Hibbard
3 Jones
4 Lawes
5 Jones
6 Johnson
7 Robshaw
8 Easter
9 Marshall
10 Cipriani
11 Zebo
12 Beck
13 Davies
14 Cuthbert
15 Halfpenny


Lol.....

Well then, thats it. Cancel the rest of the season, the team for NEXT FECKING JUNE has been picked. May as well not bother

 

[willrobinson]

Lions team according to Sky Sports so far:
1 Sturgess
2 Hibbard
3 Jones
4 Lawes
5 Jones
6 Johnson
7 Robshaw
8 Easter
9 Marshall
10 Cipriani
11 Zebo
12 Beck
13 Davies
14 Cuthbert
15 Halfpenny


Lol.....

Possibly some of the worst choices i have ever seen
4. Lawes i really don't see how england fans love him. not the best lock in england
6. johnson was fantastic down under against south africa but he isnt THE best 6 in Britain and ireland
7. same he is to me a good player and a good leader but proberly the 3/4 best 7 in the running
8. easter just cant even nail a position for england let alone lions.
9.is this paul marshall the uncapped ulster man ? or someone else
10. Cipriani decent flyhalf but not a world class fly half by any means
11.zebo is a decent regional player but not world class or the best winger in Britain and Ireland
12.Beck fantastic player but not the best

 

[Draggs]

I think Sky do a point rating system for selection, so based solely on current performances.
If we want to pick 'on form' and by points, then last month Andy Fenby was a starting wing.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, I don't get why people get so ****** off when Sky/ESPN do these teams, they're just going on current form etc.

ESPN had a feature where they'd create a new XV each week using a complete new set of players, and people were absolutely raving mad about it, going on about how they're a disgrace to rugby for considering this player and that player etc.
It was a bit embarrassing to be honest.

 

[Draggs]

Yeah, I don't get why people get so ****** off when Sky/ESPN do these teams, they're just going on current form etc.

ESPN had a feature where they'd create a new XV each week using a complete new set of players, and people were absolutely raving mad about it, going on about how they're a disgrace to rugby for considering this player and that player etc.
It was a bit embarrassing to be honest.

I just find them funny. I mean, Jonathan Thomas, that would be incredible.