Squad Selections

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Mar 4 2009, 10:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Mar 4 2009, 12:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

GG, what have you got against Bowe?
As for Halfpenny starting, I think he'll be lucky to make the tour![/b]

Ok, I am being a little harsh on him, but I think that's because other people overrate him in my opinion.

Basically, I think he's a solid player with nice hands. But nothing more. I don't rate his speed (shown when he was caught by about 5 Italians while scoring his try/ not scoring from O'Leary's kick through); I don't rate him under the high ball, I don't rate him too highly defensively and I think he tries too many impossible offloads (resulting in one horrendous forward pass which wasn't picked up...)

Also, I think there are better options. Shane Williams we know about. Halfpenny has shown he's a great finisher, mazy runner and has a good kicking game. Fitzgerald is vastly superior of the Irish wings; he's quicker, he picks nice angles. And of the remaining wingers... I'd take Sackey but Cueto, and Thom Evans are certainly better players than Bowe too imo.
[/b][/quote]

You'd be hard pushed to find any winger who'd have scored off O'Leary's chip, it always favoured the position of the defender.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

Evans is better than Sackey, he just needs more experience, they have similar pace but Evans picks much better lines and is always looking to get involved. If he could maybe get a try or two in the last two games i think he would be in with a good chance of being on the plane.

 

[An Tarbh]

the problem is though that the likes of Evans, Fitzgerald even Cueto at a push aren't going to get near the test team as long as Williams is fit.

 

[Cymro]

Halfpenny is raw but is being made out to be crap by some of the posters here which aint true

Fitzgerald, Evans, Sackey and Bowe are ahead of him!

 

[Sir Speedy]

Don't know about that. He's only 19 right? I've yet to see him be shown up by an opposite winger in an international. He's just too mature for his age. It's scary! :cryy:

I'd try Fitzgerald though since it's likely that Williams will be an absolute shoe-in at 11.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

I really rate Halfpenny, i wouldnt have any problem at all with him touring, hes just so young, maybe its better to wait until the next tour but hes really been impressive, easily better than Jones.

 

[cyRil]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 4 2009, 11:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

the problem is though that the likes of Evans, Fitzgerald even Cueto at a push aren't going to get near the test team as long as Williams is fit.[/b]

That's a problem?

 

[Sir Speedy]

Well yeh, since he's likely to be picked regardless of his form.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Mar 6 2009, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Well yeh, since he's likely to be picked regardless of his form.[/b]

which hasn't exactly been stellar for the last while.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 6 2009, 05:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Mar 6 2009, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well yeh, since he's likely to be picked regardless of his form.[/b]

which hasn't exactly been stellar for the last while.
[/b][/quote]

Ok there's players you leave out of sides because they're off form, then there's players you don't because they're world class. Shane Williams is one of the best wingers in the world. The Lions have, if you're being generous, 5 world class players to select from and they can't afford not to pick them. Williams is a shoe-in. Especially in a position like wing where there's no one really banging down the door saying they're better.

 

[Daocalla]

Lions Team Has To Be:

15. Byrne
14. Sackey
13 O'Driscoll
12. Roberts/Henson
11. Williams
10. Jones
9. Blair
8. Powell
7. Williams
6. Wallace
5. O'Connell
4. Wyn-Jones
3. Murray
2. Flannery/Ford
1. Sheridan

Subs

22. Kearney
21. Hook
20. Phillips
19. Heaslip
18. O'Callaghan
17. Jenkins
16. Flannery/Ford

 

[durbutter]

Thats preety good. Except Jenkins for Sheridan, dont rate Sackey, and i'm not sure Wallace is the man for the blindside. Ferris mayhap?

 

[danny]

Yeah I like the look of Ferris,very physical and hard.

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dan8 @ Mar 6 2009, 07:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Lions Team Has To Be:

15. Byrne
14. Sackey
13 O'Driscoll
12. Roberts/Henson
11. Williams
10. Jones
9. Blair
8. Powell
7. Williams
6. Wallace
5. O'Connell
4. Wyn-Jones
3. Murray
2. Flannery/Ford
1. Sheridan

Subs

22. Kearney
21. Hook
20. Phillips
19. Heaslip
18. O'Callaghan
17. Jenkins
16. Flannery/Ford[/b]

Close but no Shedrian! Cant see why people rate him hes done nothing! Gethin Jenkins is the man!

Heaslip is the Lions 8 easily!

Ferris to be a shout at 6!

But Sackey at the wing could work!

 

[danny]

As a surprise selection does anyone think Simpson-Daniel could make the trip? He`s the prem player of the season and if anyone saw his display last Saturday against Bath surely he can be a contender. I know his injuries after England call ups have become so sad its almost laughable but no-one can tell me he isnt a better player than Bowe,Sackey,Cueto or Halfpenny. Lions tours always throw up a surprise and given the coaching panels Prem experience I have a feeling Sinbad could finally have a chance to show the world what he can do.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Mar 6 2009, 06:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 6 2009, 05:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Mar 6 2009, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well yeh, since he's likely to be picked regardless of his form.[/b]

which hasn't exactly been stellar for the last while.
[/b][/quote]

Ok there's players you leave out of sides because they're off form, then there's players you don't because they're world class. Shane Williams is one of the best wingers in the world. The Lions have, if you're being generous, 5 world class players to select from and they can't afford not to pick them. Williams is a shoe-in. Especially in a position like wing where there's no one really banging down the door saying they're better.
[/b][/quote]

I'm not disputing that but it's still a worry nevertheless, the frustrating thing though is that all the decent wingers are vying for Williams position with nobody really putting their hand up for the other position, Sackey, Bowe, Halfpenny. Jones still has a decent chance to make it his.

 

[danny]

If the Lions was picked on the form atm the team would look something like this:
Jenkins
Rees
Vickery
O`Connell
AW Jones
Ferris
Heaslip
Worsley
Phillips (best of a terrible bunch)
Jones
Cueto
Shanklin
O`Driscoll
Bowe
Byrne.

 

[dullonien]

Vickery? No! Yellow cards are something the Lions need to avoid.

Worseley? All he's done is tackle, Wallace and Williams are ahead.

Phillips? Thought he had a terrible game v France, there must be someone better?

Cueto? What did he do to put himself in contention? Don't think he's anywhere neer the squad let alone the starting 15. I know Shane had a poor game, but if not him, then Fitzgeralld had a better game than Cueto, as did Tom Evans (or was is Max?).

Shanklin isn't a 12, O'Driscoll would be better, but agree with the pairing.

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (danny @ Mar 7 2009, 07:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

If the Lions was picked on the form atm the team would look something like this:
Jenkins
Rees
Vickery
O`Connell
AW Jones
Ferris
Heaslip
Worsley
Phillips (best of a terrible bunch)
Jones
Cueto
Shanklin
O`Driscoll
Bowe
Byrne.[/b]

No chance Vickery, I presume you picked him cause hes English! What has that man done? oh i can yell you .... giving a shed load of penalties away which would prove costly for the Lions. Heaslip is a shoe in at 8 not Worsley, the 6 and 7 shirt is between Ferris, Williams and Wallace at the moment! Worsley has had one decent game where he shut out 1 player! Cueto aint good enough and cannot be considered in front of Williams!

In fact the side is a joke!

 

[danny]

Its picked on form not what I want as a Lions team. I also meant Worsley at 7 as thats where he has played, Ferris is in the team if you didnt notice. On form Williams has been shite along with the rest of the try shy Welsh backs. Mark my words "Vickery will be a lions test player".