• Help Support The Rugby Forum :

2013 British and Irish Lions

nato said:
Lads Shane williams is playing on tuesday against the brumbies? what is up with that?
Click to expand...

This has made my day. I don't care that he's only playing in Japan's second division, another chance to see Shane is just awesome.

:D

Shane to score 10 tries and play in the tests ;)
 
TRF_Olyy said:
He'd start at 6 for me, but this is what I think Gatland will have as his test side based on the Brumbies 23.
I wouldn't have Warburton stating, no sir-ee
Click to expand...

Yeah I know but I think some of the players starting are still likely enought to bench. I'd say Youngs will and possibly Gray. Just think Gatland may realise if he's not starting him that SO'B is the perfect backrow sub.
 
You know in those books. And the character you loved says his final goodbye. And he's gone, and you're sad. And then he appears for one small cameo, where he doesn't do much but just his presence makes you happy.

Welcome back Shane. *tear*

Seriously though, imagine how awesome this tour would be if Wade and Shane were both the average of their ages.

Also, Tipuric and O'Brien essentially ruled out from starting the first test... :(

EDIT: Interesting that Tom Youngs has seemingly forced his way into the 2 shirt. Not sure who has been a bigger revelation this season - him or Vunipola?
 
Last edited:
And the odds on little'un scoring the final try, in his 'final ever professional game' (again) are?
 
So Shane gets one more go, not sure it makes any sense but at the same time i'm not disappointed.
 
Ha, I'm genuinely delighted to see him back in a red shirt again, so does this put him up there with BOD for 4 Lions tours in the Pro era?
 
This is a f**king mess, look at that team.....

EDIT: 8/23 weren't originally called up.

Probably bias but I'd rather have Gilroy than a 36 year old Williams.
 
Last edited:
UlsterRugby2012 said:
This is a f**king mess, look at that team.....

EDIT: 8/23 weren't originally called up.

Probably bias but I'd rather have Gilroy than a 36 year old Williams.
Click to expand...

No you're right but Gilroy is injured hence why he's not playing right now.
 
I believe the thinking behind it is that they only want someone for this one game. Shane will be training from tomorrow, playing the match on Tuesday, then leaving the squad on Wed. It's such a short time-frame, and I believe Shane is in Aus already.

From this, it looks as though North is now a serious doubt for the test, so Zebo, Cuthbert and Maitland are getting protected? Still a little odd that none of those three aren starting. There's also a lack of centres to cover on the wing, and with Hogg covering 10, they can't shift a fullback there either.

North and Bowe are likely to be fit for the second test most likely, as well as Roberts and Tuilagi, so they didn't need a full call-up to the squad, so Shane covers a single match.

I know it's all a little odd, but I don't care. It's just added a little more excitement. Everyone will just want to see if Shane still has it. Shane must be confident of his fitness and abilities, otherwise I doubt he'd have agreed. He wouldn't want to come in an play a shocker.
 
Last edited:
dullonien said:
From this, it looks as though North is now a serious doubt for the test, so Zebo, Cuthbert and Maitland are getting protected? Still a little odd that none of those three aren starting. There's also a lack of centres to cover on the wing, and with Hogg covering 10, they can't shift a fullback there either.
Click to expand...
I think it makes a lot of sense. As the guys who have been training with the Lions for a while, Maitland and Cuthbert need to be rested for the first test. But if one of them were to pull out, Zebo would have to go in. If he'd have played the Brumbies match, then he'd have played 160 minutes in the week before a test, so he needed to be rested too, just in case. Lions just needed a quick fix to a problem position. Shane was close by and wouldn't

FWIW, I think it's pretty clear that the Lions squad was slightly too small now. They took two flyhalves citing that they wanted to give them each a lot of time. But in the end, they've been able to give Hogg two starts at fly-half in order to provide cover. So why not just take the extra fly-half and give him those two starts!? There was room in the squad for another winger too, and a third 8 should have gone. Injuries always happen, and it would have been better to have had people training from the start of the tour (even if it was in a wider training squad), than trying to hurry the process now!
 
Last edited:
j'nuh said:
FWIW, I think it's pretty clear that the Lions squad was slightly too small now. They took two flyhalves citing that they wanted to give them each a lot of time. But in the end, they've been able to give Hogg two starts at fly-half in order to provide cover. So why not just take the extra fly-half and give him those two starts!? There was room in the squad for another winger too, and a third 8 should have gone. Injuries always happen, and it would have been better to have had people training from the start of the tour (even if it was in a wider training squad), than trying to hurry the process now!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree there. Taking an extra fly half would have meant that Hogg or Kearney could have doubled up on the wing, because Hogg wouldn't have to double as a 10. Maybe they wouldn't have even needed that extra wing then.

Gatland has always been a fan of small squads, and it does make sense on a Lions tour, because everyone were in with a genuine chance of starting. He obviously wanted to create some real competition within the camp as players try to out do each other in training etc. I don't think adding a 3rd 10 would have hampered that mind, if anything it would have increased the competition for the 10 spot, especially for the place on the bench. Considering the sheer quality of all the players as well, there would have always been genuine competition in just about all positions.
 
Last edited:
Ye do realise its a cheap option. He collects no fee and leaves the squad again Wednesday. Add in he's in Oz for media work already. But I presume Zebo has serious chance as he's not starting
 
No more talk on these boards of Woodward picking his mates for one last Lions jolly please!:)
 
Any chance we can get ROG over for 1 last blast? He was a form 10 at end of season? :p

Duck I know you will be itching to reply :D

But seriously don't have much issue with Williams as he is cheap option and it a 1 off. But I'd ask with Maitland and Cuthbert rested and presumably starting next weekend why not start Zebo over Shane if Zebo isn't in test 23?
 
munstermuffin said:
seriously don't have much issue with Williams as he is cheap option and it a 1 off. But I'd ask with Maitland and Cuthbert rested and presumably starting next weekend why not start Zebo over Shane if Zebo isn't in test 23?
Click to expand...

I'm assuming that Maitland and Cuthbert will start on Saturday with Zebo on the bench barring a recovery from North and that the three are therefore being protected by not starting the fixture.
 

Similar threads

Don't Skip Leg Day
New lions shirt
Replies
8
Views
520
TRF_Olyy
TRF_Olyy
AlRums
Australia chief dismisses fears over Lions series
Replies
0
Views
731
AlRums
AlRums
Leonormous Boozer
Andy Farrell Lions Head Coach 2025
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
Leonormous Boozer
Leonormous Boozer
M
  • Locked
British and Irish Lions Test decider
2 3
Replies
45
Views
7K
TRF_Olyy
TRF_Olyy
R
2025 Lions - Who is on the Tour for you?
2
Replies
22
Views
5K
TommiG88
T

Latest posts

Top