Cheetahs v Lions

[An Tarbh]

So the Lions got things back on track with a convincing win against the Golden Lions but as McGeechan has said everyone will get a game in the opening 3 matches so expect more changes again.

Fitzgerald, Halfpenny & O'Callaghan have yet to get a start so they'll be in barring injury on Saturday. Not sure when D'Arcy arrives and if he'd be considered for Saturday. If Earls and Flutey are fit they may get a run out as well.

Should be a step up in opposition as well and I doubt we'll see as strong a Lions side as we got on Wednesday so it could be a proper match come Saturday.

 

[stevemagoo]

definitely think Earls should get another crack of the whip - people are already finishing off his career!! at 21!!
I know lions tours have been the end of some players...Eric Miller comes to mind, but i think that Earls should bounce back. As Rob Howley said Everyone has a howler at some stage in their career.
Thought D'Arcy arrived this morning so reckon he'll be up for the Weds game. Do you reckon the reserve players at home got any altitude training at all? As a "Just in case"?

 

[dullonien]

Where will Fitzgerald play if fit? From what I can see, we're lacking in cover at 13, all the other centres apart from BOD are better suited to 12 (D'Arcy, Roberts, Flutey). Will we therefore see Fitzgerald run out at 13, leaving Halfpenny and possibly Shane as wingers for this match? I'm sure they'll give Shane Williams another start before the tests to see if he can regain a bit of form. This is what I think the team will be, if Fitzgerald and Flutey are fit:

01 Andrew Sheridan
02 Ross Ford
03 Euan Murray
04 O'Callaghan
05 Shaw/O'Connell?
06 Stephen Ferris
07 Martyn Williams
08 Andy Powell

09 Ellis
10 James Hook
11 Shane Williams/Fitzgerald
12 Ricky Flutey
13 Fitzgerald/Earls
14 Halfpenny
15 Lee Burne

 

[An Tarbh]

O'Connell will start, they won't make him play any of the Wednesday games on this tour. Hook and Fitzgerald might be a combination they go for in the centre if Earls and Flutey miss out, with O'Gara starting at fly half. God help him though alongside Ellis.

 

[Bullitt]

O'Gara and Ellis? Now there's the blind leading the blind...

 

[Cymro]

Hook is worse mind

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cymro @ Jun 4 2009, 02:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Hook is worse mind[/b]

I like him. Maybe this tour is when he'll become good again! He runs like Roger Federer. Hence making him daecent.

 

[Sir Speedy]

I don't see the point in starting Earls again. He won't be starting over BOD, and after Roberts' performance last night, him.
Starting against the Emerging 'Boks would probably be for the best.

Fitzgerald would be a good option at 11, since Monye and Williams have been delightfully average.

If Ellis starts on Saturday, Hook should. I can only imagine the nightmare that would be O'Gara receiving hospital passes during every phase...

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 4 2009, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I don't see the point in starting Earls again. He won't be starting over BOD, and after Roberts' performance last night, him.
Starting against the Emerging 'Boks would probably be for the best.[/b]

Because we can't have Bod starting every match and there ain't many other outside centres to play.

What's up with Flutey? What's he injured with?

 

[sean43]

This side should have to much for the Cheetas, althought I dont think it will be anywhere near as emphatic as yesterday.

Be good to see Earls get another crack - one game and he should never play for the Lions again!

Hopefully Halfpenny has a good game, he could be an outsider to start with Bowe against the Boks.

 

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 4 2009, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I don't see the point in starting Earls again. He won't be starting over BOD, and after Roberts' performance last night, him.
Starting against the Emerging 'Boks would probably be for the best.

Fitzgerald would be a good option at 11, since Monye and Williams have been delightfully average.[/b]

Kinda agree there, but a lot depends on Flutey's fitness. If he is fit, I would imagine the management would like to see Flutey and BOD play together for a while. They have already seen D'Arcy and O'Driscoll so that would give them a good idea of how all the BOD + 12 combinations could work. If Flutey is not fit, I'd imagine you'll see a D'Arcy / Earls combination or something like that. Just to give them all another run out.

Another option is to throw Earls or Fitzgerald in at fullback. Could work if they are looking to let Shane run into form while also giving Halfpenny a run out.

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Jun 4 2009, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 4 2009, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't see the point in starting Earls again. He won't be starting over BOD, and after Roberts' performance last night, him.
Starting against the Emerging 'Boks would probably be for the best.

Fitzgerald would be a good option at 11, since Monye and Williams have been delightfully average.[/b]

Kinda agree there, but a lot depends on Flutey's fitness. If he is fit, I would imagine the management would like to see Flutey and BOD play together for a while. They have already seen D'Arcy and O'Driscoll so that would give them a good idea of how all the BOD + 12 combinations could work. If Flutey is not fit, I'd imagine you'll see a D'Arcy / Earls combination or something like that. Just to give them all another run out.

Another option is to throw Earls or Fitzgerald in at fullback. Could work if they are looking to let Shane run into form while also giving Halfpenny a run out.



[/b][/quote]

I'd love to see Fitzgerald at Fullback. George Hook would love it too.

It's where he wants to play and I think if he got the chance he'd have an absolute stormer there.

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Jun 4 2009, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 4 2009, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't see the point in starting Earls again. He won't be starting over BOD, and after Roberts' performance last night, him.
Starting against the Emerging 'Boks would probably be for the best.

Fitzgerald would be a good option at 11, since Monye and Williams have been delightfully average.[/b]

Kinda agree there, but a lot depends on Flutey's fitness. If he is fit, I would imagine the management would like to see Flutey and BOD play together for a while. They have already seen D'Arcy and O'Driscoll so that would give them a good idea of how all the BOD + 12 combinations could work. If Flutey is not fit, I'd imagine you'll see a D'Arcy / Earls combination or something like that. Just to give them all another run out.

Another option is to throw Earls or Fitzgerald in at fullback. Could work if they are looking to let Shane run into form while also giving Halfpenny a run out.
[/b][/quote]

Think they would try Halfpenny at full back if anything

 

[monkeypigeon]

It's been confirmed on the lions website that Flutey won't be fit for tomorrow. So that means what in the centre?

They were quite ambigious about the possiblitly of D'Arcy paying. It was a big fat MAYBE. Roberts playing 3 matches in 8 days is a tad unlikely.

So another chance for Earls? D'Arcy to start inside him? Hook or Fitzgerald at inside centre?

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Jun 4 2009, 04:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I don't see the point in starting Earls again. He won't be starting over BOD, and after Roberts' performance last night, him.
Starting against the Emerging 'Boks would probably be for the best.[/b]

nobody's gonna start over BOD unless he's injured and given we're not full of options at 13 he's worth another run.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ Jun 4 2009, 07:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

It's been confirmed on the lions website that Flutey won't be fit for tomorrow. So that means what in the centre?

They were quite ambigious about the possiblitly of D'Arcy paying. It was a big fat MAYBE. Roberts playing 3 matches in 8 days is a tad unlikely.

So another chance for Earls? D'Arcy to start inside him? Hook or Fitzgerald at inside centre?[/b]

good news for Williams given it should mean Fitzgerald starting at inside centre.

 

[shazbooger]

Or outside with D'Arcy inside him.

I think were all just trying to suggest that Fitz will get a start but I havent a clue if he's over his chest infection. Will probably see Darcy, Earls and Williams all get a start.

 

[shtove]

What about Darse at 13? Always thought he was best there, and did a good job of morphing in to a battering ram at 12.

 

[noikz]

Just been announced:

British & Irish Lions (vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys / Wales)
14. Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues / Wales)
13. Keith Earls (Munster / Ireland)
12. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster / Ireland)
11. Shane Williams (Ospreys / Wales)
10. James Hook (Ospreys / Wales)
9. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers / England)

8. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues / Wales)
7. Joe Worsley (London Wasps / England)
6. Stephen Ferris (Ulster / Ireland)
5. Paul O’Connell (Munster / Ireland â€" Captain)
4. Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster / Ireland)
3. Euan Murray (Northampton Saints / Scotland)
2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh / Scotland)
1. Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks / England)

Replacements

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets / Wales)
17. Adam Jones (Ospreys / Wales)
18. Simon Shaw (London Wasps / England)
19. Nathan Hines (Perpignan / Scotland)
20. Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster / Ireland)
21. Ronan O’Gara (Munster / Ireland)
22. Mike Blair (Edinburgh / Scotland)

I was hoping they'd stick D'Arcy straight in and perhaps bring Earls off the bench later on, if/when the Lions are in front.

 

[An Tarbh]

D'Arcy straight into the 22 then, didn't think we'd see Worsley get the start ahead of Williams, that's the only surprise for me.

Still though chance for Worsley and Earls to make amends for poor performances last Saturday.