2013 British and Irish Lions

[TRF_Olyy]

Wonder if Laidlaw will tour as one of the token Scots.
Could think of worse, to be fair - could do the job midweek.

 

[Draggs]

Wonder if Laidlaw will tour as one of the token Scots.
Could think of worse, to be fair - could do the job midweek.

Token Jock cap is bound to be Richie Gray. Off the bench in the third test, naturally.

 

[admartian]

Token Jock cap is bound to be Richie Gray. Off the bench in the third test, naturally.

Richie Gray was brilliant in the last test. Visser has tog et a look in as a finisher too.

 

[Muddy Rhino]

The Lions are spoiled for choice in the back row and back three, but in dire need for hookers and halfbacks.

Back row is the most difficult because potentially so many good players, the difficult thing is getting the right balance. I went for Warburton (jackler), Heaslip (ball-carrier) and Lydiate (tackler).



But you could easily replace those 3 with any of the following... O'Brien, Ferris, Ryan Jones, Robshaw, Armitage, Tipuric, Denton, Faletau. The only thing ruling out half these guys at the moment is injury!

 

[Saintjay]

Thank god Gatland has awhile to pick this team. Opens the debate for captain if Warburton is looking so poor. Can't see Gatland giving Robshaw the job.

 

[Muddy Rhino]

After that weekend of rugby I'm not sure one single player has enhanced their chances of a Lions tour!

 

[HenryChinaski]

After that weekend of rugby I'm not sure one single player has enhanced their chances of a Lions tour!

Call off the tour! Someone think of a good excuse...

 

[Draggs]

On the plus side, we won't lose many players to this thing and get them crocked.

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

After that weekend of rugby I'm not sure one single player has enhanced their chances of a Lions tour!

Johnny Sexton remains the fly half even close to world class on this weekends viewing:deal5ai:

 

[TRF_Olyy]

On the plus side, we won't lose many players to this thing and get them crocked.

On the downside: Those players will be availably for Wales

 

[pete82]

My attempt at picking a lions XV....


15. Leigh Halfpenny (Blues and Wales)
14. Chris Ashton (Saracens and England)
13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets and Wales)
12. Scott Williams (Scarlets and Wales)
11. Tim Visser (Edinburgh and Scotland)
10. Johnny Wilkinson (Toulon)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins and England)

1. Cian Healy (Leinster and Ireland)
2. Richardt Strauss (Leinster and Ireland)
3. Adam Jones (Ospreys and Wales)
4. Rich Gray (Sale and Scotland)
5. Alun Wyn Jones -Capt (Ospreys and Wales)
6. Danny Lydiate (Dragons and Wales)
7. Steffon Armitage (Toulon)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster and Ireland)

16. Rory Best (Ulster and Ireland)
17. Andrew Sheridan (Toulon)
18. Euan Murray (Agen and Scotland)
19. Ryan Jones (Ospreys and Wales)
20. Sam Warburton (Blues and Wales)
21. Conor Murray (Munster and Ireland)
22. Jonathan Sexton ( Leinster and Ireland)
23. Manu Tualagi (Leicester and England)

Don't shoot me down in flames lads :blush:

 

[Teh Mite]

The British, Dutch and Samoan Lions...

 

[psychic duck]

Steffon Armitage is an interesting call.

Certainly is on top form for Toulon, and he is arguably one of the best opensides in England even though he isn't playing for them.

With Warburton's slight slump in form and concussion problems, O'Brien and Robshaw 6.5's rather than 7's, there could be a space for him perhaps.

I bet most here would be having fewer Welshman in the squad now. Whilst some players who aren't playing are enhancing their reputations about how they've been missed such as Adam Jones.

One thing though, I really don't want to see Conor Murray in the squad. He was fast tracked into Ireland's first choice 9 before he had earned it imo and he's just a poor man's Mike Phillips tbh.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

The British, Dutch and Samoan Lions...

And South African and Israelian (ok, that's pushing it).

 

[Feicarsinn]

1) Healy
2) Strauss
3) Ross
4) Cullen
5) Toner
6) McLaughlin
7) O'Brien
8) Heaslip
9) Reddan
10) Sexton
11) Fitzgerald
12) D'arcy
13) O'Driscoll
14) McFadden
15) Rob Kearney

 

[Draggs]

Opensides:
Warburton, Armitage, AN Other (I'll leave it between the English and Irish to fight)
I think Tipuric is worthy of a spot, but they won't send both him and Sam. I like Tom Wood, personally, but it seems others consider him a blindside.

Blindsides:
Lydiate, Ferris/O'Brien, Jones, some Scot, Robshaw (he has to go, the Sky team would kill themselves otherwise).

Eight:
Faletau, Morgan, Denton if he puts his head on straight, that Irish wing with the white boots.

@Feic, you have to shoehorn Ferris in somehow. Do a Deccie and **** up your back row!

 

[Teh Mite]

1) Healy
2) Strauss
3) Ross
4) Cullen
5) Toner
6) McLaughlin
7) O'Brien
8) Heaslip
9) Reddan
10) Sexton
11) Fitzgerald
12) D'arcy
13) O'Driscoll
14) McFadden
15) Rob Kearney

Wot? No Stringer, Flannery or Hickie?

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

One thing though, I really don't want to see Conor Murray in the squad. He was fast tracked into Ireland's first choice 9 before he had earned it imo and he's just a poor man's Mike Phillips tbh.

Neither do I - Danny Care has been on form so he's worth a shout.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Wot? No Stringer, Flannery or Hickie?

You have forced me to change my signature. He truly was the man, very underrated until Andrew Trimble became our best 11 and thankfully Gilroy is in the Hickie mould.

 

[Saintjay]

I do think most of the squad will be Welsh as Gatland will not want to have a squad, that as the Artic Monkeys said have a face on.