British and Irish Lions 2013
Discussion
Well that's the autumn internationals and 6N done.
Who has stuck their hands up and who has shot themselves in the foot?
Based on form until now, what would be your first test team? I've stuck in who i think have booked their places so far
Test team
15 Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert
13
12 Doc
11
10
9
8
7 Tipuric
6
5 AWJ
4 Parling
3 Shaggy Beast
2 Hibberd
1 Jenkins
Let the arguing commence.
Who has stuck their hands up and who has shot themselves in the foot?
Based on form until now, what would be your first test team? I've stuck in who i think have booked their places so far
Test team
15 Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert
13
12 Doc
11
10
9
8
7 Tipuric
6
5 AWJ
4 Parling
3 Shaggy Beast
2 Hibberd
1 Jenkins
Let the arguing commence.
DocJock said:
I don't watch the French league stuff. Any England exiles who could be bolters?
How is Sheridan playing atm?
Armitage brothers?
Sackey?
Sheridan was keeping Jenkins out of the side...the other loose head is Corbisiero, no idea how long he is injured for. How is Sheridan playing atm?
Armitage brothers?
Sackey?
The other bolter in France is J Wilkinson esq....apparently playing very well.
Sorry??? Bradshaw??? Ahead of Tipuric and Warburton and Brown?
Parling too lighweight. How long is Grey out for? If he can get some fitness back then yes please.
BOD............Maybe. Im unsure after past 2 performances.
I wasnt sure about Cuthbert in defence BUT he really showed up against England. I like Hogg a lot though!!! I dont want to leave him out! Maybe as am attacking back 2??
There are no 10's that are still playing as well as Jonny. Farrell is too fragile. Sexton not on form. Biggar, too much too soon?
Welsh back row. They just proved they are the best in Europe. No bias BUT that was with argueable our best back row injured (Lydiate). Lydiate makes Warburton work. They are a pair.
Laidlaw is the best 9 ATM. Although Danny Care with decent hair and an attitude redressing would leapfrog him. Despite this Phillips WILL START! Big game player and Gatland fav despite all his flaws!
15 Halfpenny
14 Hogg/Cuthbert
13 J. Davies
12 Roberts (if he can keep the intensity) If not then Twelvetrees OR Marshall
11 North
10 Wilkinson
9 Laidlaw
8 Falatau
7 Warburton (if Lydiate is fit)/Tipuric
6 Lydiate Warburton if Lydiate is not fit
5 Absolutely anyones guess!!!!
4 Absolutely anyones guess!!!!
3 Jones
2 Owens
1 Jenkins
Parling too lighweight. How long is Grey out for? If he can get some fitness back then yes please.
BOD............Maybe. Im unsure after past 2 performances.
I wasnt sure about Cuthbert in defence BUT he really showed up against England. I like Hogg a lot though!!! I dont want to leave him out! Maybe as am attacking back 2??
There are no 10's that are still playing as well as Jonny. Farrell is too fragile. Sexton not on form. Biggar, too much too soon?
Welsh back row. They just proved they are the best in Europe. No bias BUT that was with argueable our best back row injured (Lydiate). Lydiate makes Warburton work. They are a pair.
Laidlaw is the best 9 ATM. Although Danny Care with decent hair and an attitude redressing would leapfrog him. Despite this Phillips WILL START! Big game player and Gatland fav despite all his flaws!
15 Halfpenny
14 Hogg/Cuthbert
13 J. Davies
12 Roberts (if he can keep the intensity) If not then Twelvetrees OR Marshall
11 North
10 Wilkinson
9 Laidlaw
8 Falatau
7 Warburton (if Lydiate is fit)/Tipuric
6 Lydiate Warburton if Lydiate is not fit
5 Absolutely anyones guess!!!!
4 Absolutely anyones guess!!!!
3 Jones
2 Owens
1 Jenkins
9 and 10 is a massive problem for all the home nations and I fear will stop us winning in Aus. Our only chance is if we can do to the Aus pack what we (wales) did to the English yesterday. For that reason I think AWJ must start for his bulk. For the back 3 and back row it's hard to look outside Wales BUT let's not forget this English side has recent experience of beating SH opposition, Wales do not and have a bit of a phobia there. I agree with JW at 10, been there done it all and some much needed experience, let's not forget how young both the Welsh and English squads are.
Will Tommy Bowe be fit? He'd be my first name on the teamsheet if so.
Will Tommy Bowe be fit? He'd be my first name on the teamsheet if so.
FIK said:
el stovey said:
Halfpenny; Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North; Biggar, Phillips; Jenkins, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Warburton, Tipuric, Faletau.
After yesterday this is a good shout. Only changes I would make are to put Sexton instead of Biggar and Parling instead of Evans. [/quote
Whilst that choice may seem great after yesterday. In reality it will never happen.
They may all be in the squad. But will not be a first choice lions team.
There are to many other players (if fit) better in some positions than welsh players.
I've had a good think about who would be in my Lions starting 15 but just cant figure it out, if I did put down a team you would all think I'm more rabid Welsh than ever before as pretty much 1-15 would be Welsh players.
The players who I thought would be firm faves to start had shockers on the weekend and crumbled in their first big pressure test(Farrell, Youngs, Robshaw, Parling, Cole, Tuilagi..etc. I'm looking at you!!). The 3 tests in Oz will be massive games and if these so called 'world class' players wilt under the pressure again we're doomed.
Saying that, I'd like to see Ashton selected for the flight over and dropped off mid flight in the Indian ocean. I dont think there's a bigger plank inrugby the world right now
The players who I thought would be firm faves to start had shockers on the weekend and crumbled in their first big pressure test(Farrell, Youngs, Robshaw, Parling, Cole, Tuilagi..etc. I'm looking at you!!). The 3 tests in Oz will be massive games and if these so called 'world class' players wilt under the pressure again we're doomed.
Saying that, I'd like to see Ashton selected for the flight over and dropped off mid flight in the Indian ocean. I dont think there's a bigger plank in
I think a lot of selections depend on what style of play WG has planned.
If it's an expansive game, bringing the back three into it, then I'd like to see Twelvetrees playing. He was very creative in his time on the pitch.
If it straight up and down, then your midfield picks will be Roberts, Barritt, Davies, Tuilagi.
Same up front. I think he should be going for a tight five to dominate the set piece, even if that's at the expense of a little mobility. Parling, Hamilton, AWJ for example.
If it's an expansive game, bringing the back three into it, then I'd like to see Twelvetrees playing. He was very creative in his time on the pitch.
If it straight up and down, then your midfield picks will be Roberts, Barritt, Davies, Tuilagi.
Same up front. I think he should be going for a tight five to dominate the set piece, even if that's at the expense of a little mobility. Parling, Hamilton, AWJ for example.
Damn, posted in the 6N thread before I read this.
Well Ive praised the Welsh front row once already (in the 6N thread), but I thought Id do another, distinct post to address what has been a bit of a ranty issue for me for most of the last decade, namely the lack of a decent hooker in the British Isles since Wood retired and Thommo was at his peak in 2003. Step forward Mr Hibberd. Fair play you manage to have the most stupid haircut in the Welsh front row...which lets be honest is worthy of an award all by itself given the competition...but you also appear to be something close to a genuine World Class Hooker. Good in the loose (has he got a cpl of tries this 6N?) and part of that superb scrummmaging Welsh ABC. Ive seen his lineouts have been a bit hit and miss over the 6N, but then so has the functioning of the Welsh lineout and Pack over the Championship, crucially though he was getting better, improving and looking to up his effort.
The Lions have a Hooker! That ABC is really very very good though, very impressed with it. Import it wholesale for the Lions and have Billy V and Sheridan to impact from the bench. The Aussie front row will run screaming for the hills.
Something that is coming out of the woodwork I feel for the Lions...there is a worrying lack of guile in the midfield from everybody outside except BOD. Everybody seems to be working to Plan A, hard, fast route 1 and fairly little in the way of Plan B and craft. Does this matter or am I just being biased in favour of someone like Hook again?
And lastly Id said 1/2p booked the fullback berth over Hogg.
PS. Glad to see Ive another convert to the "Laidlaw for 9" school of thought. Its going to be Mike bloody Phillips though isnt it?
And 10. Wilkinson is playing the best rugby of any 10 in the northern emisphere currently. Granted he has forwards in front of him and a back line outside of him at Toulon that would make ME look good at fly half, but it is what it is. He also scares the s
t out of the Aussies.
The downside to French picked players is the length of the French season, it goes on a month past the UK season and the French dont/wont release players early for the Lions, esp their critical players. Jenkins, Sheridan and Wilko are all critical, Jonny arguably the most critical player in France at the moment and Toulon have spent UBER money to win the league and this yr is their best shot.
Well Ive praised the Welsh front row once already (in the 6N thread), but I thought Id do another, distinct post to address what has been a bit of a ranty issue for me for most of the last decade, namely the lack of a decent hooker in the British Isles since Wood retired and Thommo was at his peak in 2003. Step forward Mr Hibberd. Fair play you manage to have the most stupid haircut in the Welsh front row...which lets be honest is worthy of an award all by itself given the competition...but you also appear to be something close to a genuine World Class Hooker. Good in the loose (has he got a cpl of tries this 6N?) and part of that superb scrummmaging Welsh ABC. Ive seen his lineouts have been a bit hit and miss over the 6N, but then so has the functioning of the Welsh lineout and Pack over the Championship, crucially though he was getting better, improving and looking to up his effort.
The Lions have a Hooker! That ABC is really very very good though, very impressed with it. Import it wholesale for the Lions and have Billy V and Sheridan to impact from the bench. The Aussie front row will run screaming for the hills.
Something that is coming out of the woodwork I feel for the Lions...there is a worrying lack of guile in the midfield from everybody outside except BOD. Everybody seems to be working to Plan A, hard, fast route 1 and fairly little in the way of Plan B and craft. Does this matter or am I just being biased in favour of someone like Hook again?
And lastly Id said 1/2p booked the fullback berth over Hogg.
PS. Glad to see Ive another convert to the "Laidlaw for 9" school of thought. Its going to be Mike bloody Phillips though isnt it?
And 10. Wilkinson is playing the best rugby of any 10 in the northern emisphere currently. Granted he has forwards in front of him and a back line outside of him at Toulon that would make ME look good at fly half, but it is what it is. He also scares the s
t out of the Aussies.The downside to French picked players is the length of the French season, it goes on a month past the UK season and the French dont/wont release players early for the Lions, esp their critical players. Jenkins, Sheridan and Wilko are all critical, Jonny arguably the most critical player in France at the moment and Toulon have spent UBER money to win the league and this yr is their best shot.
Edited by DJRC on Monday 18th March 10:09
Aye, I think Laidlaw has done as well as any other 9 in the 6N and he brings a great place kicking game to the table as well.
Much as I love Hogg, Halfpenny has been absolutely peerless this season (and Hogg did miss a one-up tackle vs France) I actually feel sorry for Hogg. If he played any other position, his form this year would have seen him in the Lions test team.
And no, you are correct about guile being lacking. This season has seen too much 'route one' rugby imo. Love them or hate them, every time the Crims get ball in hand they look like scoring. We seem to have moved away from that in the northern hemisphere, exemplified by France playing a lumbering, 18st centre ffs! Sella would be turning in his grave if he were dead.
Much as I love Hogg, Halfpenny has been absolutely peerless this season (and Hogg did miss a one-up tackle vs France) I actually feel sorry for Hogg. If he played any other position, his form this year would have seen him in the Lions test team.
And no, you are correct about guile being lacking. This season has seen too much 'route one' rugby imo. Love them or hate them, every time the Crims get ball in hand they look like scoring. We seem to have moved away from that in the northern hemisphere, exemplified by France playing a lumbering, 18st centre ffs! Sella would be turning in his grave if he were dead.
Edited by DocJock on Monday 18th March 17:37
Despite his tries on Saturday I'm not so sure Cuthbert is in the first XV as defensively he can be found wanting. North however could not be more nailed on. I think there's certainly a case to play 1/2p at 14 to bring Hogg into the back three. Failing that, I suppose they wouldn't be going far wrong with the Welsh back three.
hornetrider said:
Despite his tries on Saturday I'm not so sure Cuthbert is in the first XV as defensively he can be found wanting. North however could not be more nailed on. I think there's certainly a case to play 1/2p at 14 to bring Hogg into the back three. Failing that, I suppose they wouldn't be going far wrong with the Welsh back three.
Brown on the wing against Cuthbert was a prime example of playing a top test winger against a good player playing out of postion. Not only this, you cant move the best 15 in the 6N to the wing to make way for the 2nd best 15 to start at 15. 1/2p has to start at fullback, I'd also play Cutherbet and North on the wings. It's up to Hogg/Kearney to prove in the mid week dirt trackers games whose's the 15 in waiting.
The postion I think the Lions are stuggling with is at 10. I've done some more thinking about this and I'd like to see Wilko selected. Sexton, Biggar and Farrell all have questions marks around them, Wilko has the experience and has been playing well for Toulon. My Lions back line:
9 - Phillips - Big game player, extra back row
10 - Wilkinson - Experience & on form
11 - North - Needs no introduction
12 - Roberts - Big game player
13 - BOD - He's still BOD and he and Doc made awesome duo in last tour
14 - Cuthbert - Top scorer, massive, fast, eye for the line.
15 - 1/2p - Best 15 in NH
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
North and Northampton in talks!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21846171
North and Northampton in talks!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21846171
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