Lions Squad

[Cymro]

The DVD showing highlights of the Lions Tour to NZ rated Ryan Jones as the best Lions player in a list of ten. He definately was a great player on that tour, along with a number of Welsh players, although you can't say that they'll play well on this tour because of what happened 2.5 years ago. [/b]

Agreed, you could argue that Shanks and Gethin Jenks would fall under that also!

 

[An Tarbh]

I don't think previous form can really be taken into account, Easterby put in strong performances in the tests he played but he won't tour next time round.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotemain'> 1-Sheriden
2-Ford
3-Hayes
4-Hines
5-Shaw
6-White-captain
7-Williams
8-Leamy
9-Blair
10-Hook
11-S Williams
12-Darcy
13-Shanklin
14-S Lamont
15-R Lamont

I just noticed how Scottish biased that is for apologies for that [/b]

No way is Ross Ford good enough!!! He is a poor man's hooker
[/b][/quote]

Hes a crap thrower at the moment but hes still in his early 20's, there's no questioning his strength though there are few players more bulked up than him. I was tempted to put Regan but he wont be about in 2009 i fansy..

 

[candybum]

May i ask, can the selectors choose players from club teams (like the GP or HC etc) or do they have to pick the players from the national sides in the 6N?

 

[An Tarbh]

Nigel Melville was capped by the Lions before he played for England in the 83 tour of New Zealand and Elgin Rees and Brynmor Williams were also capped for the Lions in 77 before they played for Wales.

 

[dullonien]

How many games of Union had Jason Robinson played for England before going to Aus with the Lions? Sure it wasn't many.

 

[melon]

I think he play an England 'A' game against Wales and then was picked for England on the bench 2 weeks later for the game against Italy and was then picked in the Lions straight after.

 

[An Tarbh]

He played in the Six Nations that year so had at least 3 caps before he toured, Johnno only had 1 cap when he played in the 93 test series.

 

[danny]

Based on this season so far how can you not pick O'Gara? I don't think there is a better distributor that the lions could pick.
[/b]

O'Gara is not a distributor its the worst part of his game. He is a great tactical kicker and has good game management skills but he aint no distributor. Have you seen him play?

 

[NSRFC_Saint]

Jonny Wilkinson would be a better kicker in pressure situations on the tour, maybe Ronan O'Gara could be a starter if Wilkinson continues to be off the boil. James Hook hasn't really played in big enough games to be considered better than O'Gara or Wilkinson

 

[An Tarbh]

He will have come 2009, he'll presumably have 3 Six Nations under his belt by then so experience won't be an issue.

 

[shazbooger]

Only stand out players in my eyes at this stage are; Hayes, O'Callaghan, Leamy, Reddan, Hook, S Williams, M Williams, Sheridan, Shaw, R Jones.

Outside of that, special mention can go to other talented individuals who you hope will be there on the top of their games; O'Driscoll, Wilkinson, White, Flannery, Barclay, O'Connell, D'Arcy, Shankiln, Strettle, Lamont, eh ... the other Lamont, Horgan.

 

[Bullitt]

By 2009, I would hope the 3 outside-halfs selected will be Hook, Patterson and either Lamb or Geherety. There certainly (in a world that isn't completely insane at least) won't be any place for either O'Gara or Wilkinson.

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'> 1-Sheriden
2-Ford
3-Hayes
4-Hines
5-Shaw
6-White-captain
7-Williams
8-Leamy
9-Blair
10-Hook
11-S Williams
12-Darcy
13-Shanklin
14-S Lamont
15-R Lamont

I just noticed how Scottish biased that is for apologies for that [/b]

No way is Ross Ford good enough!!! He is a poor man's hooker
[/b][/quote]

Hes a crap thrower at the moment but hes still in his early 20's, there's no questioning his strength though there are few players more bulked up than him. I was tempted to put Regan but he wont be about in 2009 i fansy..
[/b][/quote]

Fair enough like he has a year to presuade me!

 

[crispy]

Hooker seems to be one of those positions that could go to anybody, all the Home Nations seem to have had trouble with the lineout at times this year.

I'd probably go with:

1-Sheridan
2-Flannery
3-Hayes
4-Hines
5-O'Connoll
6-Haskell
7-M. Williams (if he's still around. If not it'll probably go to David Wallace unless John Barclay or Ross Rennie really step up their game)
8-Jones
9-Blair
10-O'Gara
11-S Williams
12- Henson/Hook/Flood unless D'Arcy starts playing like he did last year again
13 - O'Driscoll
14 - R. Lamont
15 - Tait

 

[Cymro]

I cannot see why anyone would contemplate Hayes at tighthead!

I dont care what people say the fact is he is not a great scrummager, I feel that If the Lions don't pick a great front three then I dont see the tour progressing well!

 

[shazbooger]

I cannot see why anyone would contemplate Hayes at tighthead! I dont care what people say the fact is he is not a great scrummager, I feel that If the Lions don't pick a great front three then I dont see the tour progressing well! [/b]

Hes just faced the French and Italians in two successive matches and not given an inch. I dont think his scrummaging is really in too much doubt anymore.

 

[MunsterMan]

<div class='quotemain'> I cannot see why anyone would contemplate Hayes at tighthead! I dont care what people say the fact is he is not a great scrummager, I feel that If the Lions don't pick a great front three then I dont see the tour progressing well! [/b]

Hes just faced the French and Italians in two successive matches and not given an inch. I dont think his scrummaging is really in too much doubt anymore.
[/b][/quote]

Exactly, and to add to that his defense is immense and he is probably the best lifter the Lions could pick. If he wasn't 33 (34) during next years Lions tour I would pick him.

1. Sheridan
2. Flannery
3. Stevens
4. O'Callaghan
5. Hines
6. Haskell
7. Wallace
8. Jones
9. Reddan
10. O'Gara
11. Williams
12. Hook
13. O'Driscoll
14. Strettle
15. Paterson

 

[Bullitt]

Well, so far all the teams I've seen posted would get annihilated.

 

[Sir Speedy]

To be fair, what team wouldn't get annihilated? Only two Home Nations are playing above average, really.
What would your XV be at the moment?