LIONS PICK THEMSELVES

[Jakedood]

Just rewatcheing the 2nd Test Lions v SA from 09. Im 7 minutes in, and Schalk Burger had a horrific eye gouge on Luke Fitzgerald, BOD squared up to Victor Matfield and could be seen shouting "lets go, cmon" as they were separated, Rob Kearney scores a sexy try and is beating men regularly. There's a brutality to rugby at this period that I think is just beautiful in the clearouts and tackles, high tempo and defenses not always being perfect that i just love
Also 9/22 are Welsh... and you cant argue many of them

OMW Kearney! This guy... hat a sexy sexy animal

 

[big ginger 8]

Just rewatcheing the 2nd Test Lions v SA from 09. Im 7 minutes in, and Schalk Burger had a horrific eye gouge on Luke Fitzgerald, BOD squared up to Victor Matfield and could be seen shouting "lets go, cmon" as they were separated, Rob Kearney scores a sexy try and is beating men regularly. There's a brutality to rugby at this period that I think is just beautiful in the clearouts and tackles, high tempo and defenses not always being perfect that i just love
Also 9/22 are Welsh... and you cant argue many of them

Obviously that match is an absolute classic but it definitely was of a noticeably higher intensity and did bring about changes to the laws as it wasn't sustainable.

Just look at how many players have to leave the pitch due to injury, and a lot of then are quite serious and avoidable.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

OMW Kearney! This guy... hat a sexy sexy animal

Get out of my head

 

[Jakedood]

Get out of my head

I actually fancy him so much in this game. Like at 8:20 he takes the most ridiculous high ball, and has already beaten about 6 defenders

Obviously that match is an absolute classic but it definitely was of a noticeably higher intensity and did bring about changes to the laws as it wasn't sustainable.

Just look at how many players have to leave the pitch due to injury, and a lot of then are quite serious and avoidable.

This is true, im only 10 mins in so far, but I'd also say there was as always, a more "confrontational" approach from Saffas that you dont get as much of from other countries. The eye gouge was horrific to look at

 

[Jakedood]

I actually fancy him so much in this game. Like at 8:20 he takes the most ridiculous high ball, and has already beaten about 6 defenders

For those that wont watch, he has jumped for the ball, collided with his own player who's on the ground, and has tipped forward, He's horizontal with the ground and somehow caught the ball still. Insane

This is true, im only 10 mins in so far, but I'd also say there was as always, a more "confrontational" approach from Saffas that you dont get as much of from other countries. The eye gouge was horrific to look at

 

[AlRums]

For those that wont watch, he has jumped for the ball, collided with his own player who's on the ground, and has tipped forward, He's horizontal with the ground and somehow caught the ball still. Insane

Post a link

 

[Jakedood]

Post a link

Skip to 20:00

 

[Jakedood]

So a fun question

The Lions satrting XV that day had

Rob Kearney
Tommy Bowe
BOD
Jamie Roberts
Luke Fitzgerald
Stephen Jones
Mike Phillips
Jamie Heaslip
David Wallace
Tom Croft
Paul O'Connell
Simon Shaw
Adam Jones
Matthew Rees
Gethin Jenkins

Bench

Ross Ford
Andrew Sheridan
AW Jones
Martyn Williams
Harry Ellis
Ronan the Destroyer
Shane Williams


Out of that team, if you could pick 3 players to take on tour this year, who would it be?

 

[AlRums]

Skip to 20:00

Thanks, might have been an insane catch but was poor team communication at that moment, no-one seemed to call for the ball

 

[Jakedood]

Thanks, might have been an insane catch but was poor team communication at that moment, no-one seemed to call for the ball

True, but even so, outrageous skill
I'd genuinely forgotten just how good he was as a running full back,, this whole game from him is an absolute masterclass

 

[Welsh Exile]

So a fun question

The Lions satrting XV that day had

Rob Kearney
Tommy Bowe
BOD
Jamie Roberts
Luke Fitzgerald
Stephen Jones
Mike Phillips
Jamie Heaslip
David Wallace
Tom Croft
Paul O'Connell
Simon Shaw
Adam Jones
Matthew Rees
Gethin Jenkins

Out of that starting team, if you could pick 3 players to take on tour this year, who would it be?

We're weak at 9 so would take Phillips for his **** house ability alone. Paul O'Connell would be my 2nd and I have to go for Bomb just because it's Adam Jones and I love him.

 

[big ginger 8]

So a fun question

The Lions satrting XV that day had

Rob Kearney
Tommy Bowe
BOD
Jamie Roberts
Luke Fitzgerald
Stephen Jones
Mike Phillips
Jamie Heaslip
David Wallace
Tom Croft
Paul O'Connell
Simon Shaw
Adam Jones
Matthew Rees
Gethin Jenkins

Out of that starting team, if you could pick 3 players to take on tour this year, who would it be?

Gethin Jenkins because we've no options at loosehead that are that good at the moment. Rees and Philips are probably the smarter picks based on where current weaknesses are but 09 BOD was unplayable and the other Irish players were close to their best selves apart from POC I'd say.

Probably have Jenkins, Heaslip and BOD as my three. Hard because that Lions tour is my favourite as it was around when I was really getting into the sport and I had the documentary on my iPod quite liked a lot of the players in the team apart from Phillips. Wallace and Shaw are two underrated players who were top class. Jesus I'm on some nostalgia trip now.

 

[Groundhog]

I would take David Wallace three times. In all seriousness I would probably take Gethin Jenkins, O'Connell and BO'D fully accepting how biased I am here. So many great players on that team

 

[Jakedood]

I mean you could pick almost anyone from that team, it was cracking

I think personally id be BOD as theres a weakness at 13, Mike Phillips who although he was an ass, was bloody good, especially v Saffas style, and maybe Andrew Sheridan (I loved him as loosehead, so destructive)
But jeepers so many good players,
Highly recommend seeing the game again, brutal contest to watch, and so many ebbs and flows

 

[AlRums]

Are we assuming the game hasn't changed enough in 12 years that these players would still be quick enough now?

 

[Jakedood]

Are we assuming the game hasn't changed enough in 12 years that these players would still be quick enough now?

Yeah definitely

 

[big ginger 8]

Are we assuming the game hasn't changed enough in 12 years that these players would still be quick enough now?

Not like they all retired the day after. Three of them are still playing.

 

[TheSaffycen]

1.Marler 2.Owens 3.Furlong 4.Ryan 5.Itoje 6.Beirne 7.Watson 8.Faletau
9.Davies(?) 10.Biggar 11.VDM 12.Henshaw 13.North(?) 14.Watson 15.Hogg
16.LCD 17.Healy 18.Porter 19.Henderson 20.Curry 21.Murray(?) 22.Sheedy 23.Williams

Honestly probably forgot someone but that would be my choice

 

[Leinster Fan]

Bit late to the 09 question but I'd agree with most above.

BOD is too good not to have.

Gethin and Philips probably the others. Both play in positions of weakness for the Lions this time and Gethin was pretty awesome anyway. You can make an argument for Heaslip and O'Connell too as either would walk into this year's team. I'd have said the same about Roberts before this Six Nations (assuming no Tualagi) but with Henshaw's form and already having BOD there's no real need.

Are we assuming the game hasn't changed enough in 12 years that these players would still be quick enough now?

Given that most of them played with people who are still playing now and looked fine I'd say they'd do alright.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

All teams would be better with BOD in, but our needs are greater in other positions so it's Jenkins, POC and Philips.