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2013 British and Irish Lions

Surely Barritt will only get a shot now if 3/4 of Twelvetrees, Tuilagi, Davies, O'Driscoll gets injured and that Roberts stays injured. Not going to worry about this!
 
Great news for Wade - doubt he will get a test though
 
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Yup, Barritt seems to be confirmed.

I'm very pleased for him and Olyy I quite like Barritt. His defensive work and organisation is second to none and seeing how much attacking spark seems to have been injected into some of the centers on the tour it would be a fair bet that should he make more than a cameo some of that All Black game form might reappear.

That being said from an overall tour perspective another ten would have been better. Having Hogg and 36 as the only fly half cover still worries me.
 
I agree - I like Barritt and agree that he'll probably go well, just like how Tuilagi looks a different player to in an England shirt.
Still wouldn't have been top of my list though :p
 
Wade I'm happy and excited to see in the squad. Barritt not so much. Id rather see Matt Scott or Sean Lamont have the call up (SA a hell of a lot easier to travel to Oz than Argentina as well). This just smacks of Andy Farrell getting too big for his boots
 
Too big for his boots?
You really think he's bullied both Gatland and Howley into picking Barritt?
 
TRF_Olyy said:
Too big for his boots?
You really think he's bullied both Gatland and Howley into picking Barritt?
Click to expand...

Bullied no but I think he's done a very good selling job that is perhaps beyond his station. Obviously he's a good seller seeing as everyone else thinks he's an odd choice.
 
Barritt is totally a Gatland type player. Physical, dependable, hard-working and all that. I'm slightly surprised it took him this long to end up out there... surprised and pleased. Don't think think it should go unnoticed that Twelvetrees is a big lad as well.
 
TRF_SelimNiai said:
Bullied no but I think he's done a very good selling job that is perhaps beyond his station. Obviously he's a good seller seeing as everyone else thinks he's an odd choice.
Click to expand...

I can see why you're not a massive fan of him but look objectively at his skillset and the options that Gats has. Some will have you believe that he's only a good defender - that's just not the case. As Olyy says, outside of the England shirt he runs some interesting lines and is good value for crash ball. Lets be objective...Lamont and Scott are not better players than Baritt, even if you're not a fan.

The more general point about Farrell.... maybe... I genuinely think Corbisiero is a class player and for his scrummaging I do think he deserved to go as the next choice. Wade is a bit less clear cut... someone like Visser arguably could see themselves as unlucky not to be next, but I think we should bear in mnd that Gatland won't expect Wade to play in the tests, so effectively he'll be picking someone who can just benefit from being there. In that case, Wade's a good call.

Overall, I know a few England players have been called up recently, but I reckon you have to bear in mind there's qute a few English who were on the cusp of selection but just missed out anyway, so its hardly suprising....we had at the beginning 5 lions less than Wales, despite winninng more games in the last few years.
 
TRF_Draggs said:
No, you are right, if he is any good at his job he will take the initiative.
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Did I mention he looks dashing in red?

2Q==
 
To be fair D'arcy has had a better season than both Baritt and 36. McFadden must be annoyed as well his brilliant season with Leinster and good six nations have gone unnoticed by both Ireland and the Lions, he is unlucky to be playing primarily on the wing though. I'd have liked to see Hook or Madigan ahead of Baritt. Baritt is a bit too limited for me.
 
cmac95 said:
To be fair D'arcy has had a better season than both Baritt and 36. McFadden must be annoyed as well his brilliant season with Leinster and good six nations have gone unnoticed by both Ireland and the Lions, he is unlucky to be playing primarily on the wing though. I'd have liked to see Hook or Madigan ahead of Baritt. Baritt is a bit too limited for me.
Click to expand...

D'arcy had a fantastic season when fit. If there was no BO'D D'arcy would be considered up there with Gibson in Irish centres.

You're letting your love of McFadden get in the way a bit there. Was never really in the reckoning.
 
HenryChinaski said:
I can see why you're not a massive fan of him but look objectively at his skillset and the options that Gats has. Some will have you believe that he's only a good defender - that's just not the case. As Olyy says, outside of the England shirt he runs some interesting lines and is good value for crash ball. Lets be objective...Lamont and Scott are not better players than Baritt, even if you're not a fan.
Click to expand...

"Outside an England shirt" so on the club stage, the non international stage. So he's going to play for the Lions who are not a club side. Right. I think I rest my case
 

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