Lions: Return to Oz

[Teh Mite]

Is the tour next week? National cock swinging is in full overdrive...

 

[Getofmeland]

They will all be in Shock when Andy Robinson is named as the Lions Coach...

And we know he hates the Irish and Welsh... So it will be Scotland taking on Australia....

 

[lucky number 7]

6 ferris , 7 warbuton 8 o brien

 

[big ginger 8]

I can't put up any longer with the view that Cole shouldnt be in a 22. It drives me absolutely bonkers to see Ross and Healy there over him, as it goes against both form and general ability, frankly. My two cents is that the three top British props are Adam Gethin and Dan.

I can't be arsed doing this.

 

[dullonien]

I can't put up any longer with the view that Cole shouldnt be in a 22. It drives me absolutely bonkers to see Ross and Healy there over him, as it goes against both form and general ability, frankly. My two cents is that the three top British props are Adam Gethin and Dan.

I do agree with you. Dan Cole has developed his game further, he's a very well rounded tighthead, who's work at the ruck is great. However, I'm not sure if he's the right option on the bench. If Jenkins and Jones start (very likely), then having a specialist tighthead on the bench doesn't make any sense. Who would play looshead if Jenkins got injured? Neither Jones or Cole have experience of playing there.

This is why Paul James has an excellent chance of making the tour, and even making the 22. He's behind Jenkins, Jones, Healy, Corbs, Cole and possibly Ross as a specialist loohead/tighthead, but he's the best (or at least most experienced) prop who can play both sides to a high standard available (I personally don't like the idea of shifting Jenkins). He makes an excellent bench option, and don't be surprised is Gatland thinks the same.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Stick Paul Doran-Jones on the bench, he's the best scrummaging 1&3 (not the best 1 or 3, but of the players who play both to a high standard) in the British Isles, IMO.
Hopefully he'll take over from Wilson and/or Stevens on the summer tour for England and can prove his worth on the international stage.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Stick Paul Doran-Jones on the bench, he's the best scrummaging 1&3 (not the best 1 or 3, but of the players who play both to a high standard) in the British Isles, IMO.
Hopefully he'll take over from Wilson and/or Stevens on the summer tour for England and can prove his worth on the international stage.

I'd throw Paul James name into the ring also here.

 

[dullonien]

Stick Paul Doran-Jones on the bench, he's the best scrummaging 1&3 (not the best 1 or 3, but of the players who play both to a high standard) in the British Isles, IMO.
Hopefully he'll take over from Wilson and/or Stevens on the summer tour for England and can prove his worth on the international stage.

Maybe, but he's currently unproven at test level, whereas Paul James is a a proven player. The other option is to have a looshead on the bench and shift Jenkins across is Adam get's injured, but as I said, not a fan of that at all.

 

[big ginger 8]

As Wales and England are throwing their utility props in I'll throw in the Irish.

How about Tom Court?

• 
  

Or the majestic Jack McGrath.

 

[Draggs]

Paul James for Lions, love to see it!
Great player, 100% for Wales and the Ospreys every week. Very good scrummager.
Cole over Healy/Ross.

Dan Lydiate is such a rubbish player. Why do we even bother with him. We all know Andy Powell is the real Welsh backrow.

 

[Peat]

Corbisiero has played a fair amount at tighthead at LI, and by most accounts does a fair job there. Which probably makes him the frontrunner for the utility prop space on the bench.

 

[Me 1]

They will all be in Shock when Andy Robinson is named as the Lions Coach...

And we know he hates the Irish and Welsh... So it will be Scotland taking on Australia....

Well at least our players won't get injured

 

[Feicarsinn]

As it seems that it's impossible to please everyone with regard to team selection, I've decided to go the complete other way and try to offend as many people as possible:

15) Nick DeLuca
14) Aled Brew
13) Keith Earls
12) Matt Banahan
11) Tom Varndell
10) Dan Parks
9) Tomas O'Leary

8) Andy Powell (c)
7) Andre Pretorious
6) Ernst Joubert
5) Mick O'Driscoll
4) Steve Borthwick
3) Scott Andrews
2) Dougie Hall
1) Tom Court

Coach: Brendan Vetner

 

[TRF_Olyy]

As it seems that it's impossible to please everyone with regard to team selection, I've decided to go the complete other way and try to offend as many people as possible:

15) Nick DeLuca
14) Aled Brew
13) Keith Earls
12) Matt Banahan
11) Tom Varndell
10) Dan Parks
9) Tomas O'Leary

8) Andy Powell (c)
7) Andre Pretorious
6) Ernst Joubert
5) Mick O'Driscoll
4) Steve Borthwick
3) Scott Andrews
2) Dougie Hall
1) Tom Court

Coach: Brendan Vetner

Faletau should be at 8.

 

[Leinster4HC2012]

If kidney is in the coaching staff, Earls will be picked with Mick o driscoll, o callaghan, o mahony, johne Murphy etc

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Faletau should be at 8.

I was going to say "lol?"(inquisitive).. until I realised that you were having a lols of your very own.

I don't have a problem with Healhy or Ross as players, but, one-eyedness/personal preference aside, in the front row we can at least all agree that the props picked have to be the best scrummagers whilst also providing a modicum of loose work. We have to take full advantage of our scrummaging power against the Aussies. Court wasn't the only Irish prop to get shafted that day, Healy and Ross also. Meanwhile England(largely Corbs) got schooled by Wales(largely Adam).

I noticed the other day that Powells' actually quite quick... despite running like a crab with arthritis.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I was going to say "lol?"(inquisitive).. until I realised that you were having a lols of your very own.

Debatable

:lol:


I wouldn't really want Corbisiero or Jenkins playing tighthead for the Lions to be honest, would rather have a tighthead on the bench and then one of the 2 tightheads can try and make do at 1 if needs be (am I right in thinking that 1 is an 'easier' position than 3?). I know both have them have/can play 3, but I'd rather James/Doran-Jones or a full on tighthead.
For all we know Sanzar and the IRB will come to their senses and we'll have 23 players for internationals by then.

 

[Teh Mite]

Stick Paul Doran-Jones on the bench, he's the best scrummaging 1&3 (not the best 1 or 3, but of the players who play both to a high standard) in the British Isles, IMO.
Hopefully he'll take over from Wilson and/or Stevens on the summer tour for England and can prove his worth on the international stage.

OBJECTION!


Northampton players are not, nor ever will be, good enough for caps. Ever...

 

[Feicarsinn]

OBJECTION!


Northampton players are not, nor ever will be, good enough for caps. Ever...

It must be tragic only having 8 players in the EPS at the moment. Oh wait, isn't that the largest representation in England? But you're right, you guys are always overlooked

 

[Peat]

I was going to say "lol?"(inquisitive).. until I realised that you were having a lols of your very own.

I don't have a problem with Healhy or Ross as players, but, one-eyedness/personal preference aside, in the front row we can at least all agree that the props picked have to be the best scrummagers whilst also providing a modicum of loose work. We have to take full advantage of our scrummaging power against the Aussies. Court wasn't the only Irish prop to get shafted that day, Healy and Ross also. Meanwhile England(largely Corbs) got schooled by Wales(largely Adam).

I noticed the other day that Powells' actually quite quick... despite running like a crab with arthritis.

I'd disagree. As long as they're a better scrummager, I'd pick on loose ability. Virtually all of our props are better scrummagers than the Aussies, so we don't lose a great deal out of it. The scrum is frequently a lottery, so I'd rather not gamble on it, but Australia are incredibly dangerous in the loose, so I'd put an emphasis on making sure we match them there.