Discussion
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union...
There's an old saying that the only people who can score an own goal in rugby are the selectors.
There's an old saying that the only people who can score an own goal in rugby are the selectors.
There is some truly bizarre stuff being touted in that discussion!
- Guscott suggests David Wallace as Lions captain even though, as Stephen Jones (the journalist, not the fly half) points out, he's never captained as much as a pedalo before.
- Dallaglio is touting Cipriani in the test team at full back (maybe Lawrence, but only if Byrne, Kearney and Armitage all lose their legs in freak accidents first, eh?)
- Jones wouldn't have O'Driscoll in his test team, but fails to say who he'd have instead.
- Dallaglio wants Shanklin at inside centre, but most of the others want Roberts. Only Guscott and Jones see the light and select Henson.
- Dallaglio wants Vickery at tight head, so clearly must have watched England's games this season with his eyes closed!
- Dallaglio and Logan both suggest Matthew Rees at hooker. FFS, the guy's lucky to be in the Welsh team and why you'd even consider him when you've got Best and Flannery available is beyond me. Mind you, Jones goes for Matthew Hibbard who isn't even in the Welsh squad.
- Dallaglio appears to advocate taking Andy Powell on tour, but not Ryan Jones.
- Dallaglio wants Shaw in the second row (he does realise that having played for Wasps at some point in your career isn't a pre-requisite for Lions selection, doesn't he?)
TheGreatSoprendo said:
There is some truly bizarre stuff being touted in that discussion!
I've been a big fan of O'Driscoll over the years but I've got to say that he's passed his best. That didn't stop him being man of the match twice in the 6 Nations I know. He's got the Grand Slam and I think that perhaps a bloke his age should have the summer off, especially with the season to come likely to be a strenuous one for him.- Guscott suggests David Wallace as Lions captain even though, as Stephen Jones (the journalist, not the fly half) points out, he's never captained as much as a pedalo before.
- Dallaglio is touting Cipriani in the test team at full back (maybe Lawrence, but only if Byrne, Kearney and Armitage all lose their legs in freak accidents first, eh?)
- Jones wouldn't have O'Driscoll in his test team, but fails to say who he'd have instead.
- Dallaglio wants Shanklin at inside centre, but most of the others want Roberts. Only Guscott and Jones see the light and select Henson.
- Dallaglio wants Vickery at tight head, so clearly must have watched England's games this season with his eyes closed!
- Dallaglio and Logan both suggest Matthew Rees at hooker. FFS, the guy's lucky to be in the Welsh team and why you'd even consider him when you've got Best and Flannery available is beyond me. Mind you, Jones goes for Matthew Hibbard who isn't even in the Welsh squad.
- Dallaglio appears to advocate taking Andy Powell on tour, but not Ryan Jones.
- Dallaglio wants Shaw in the second row (he does realise that having played for Wasps at some point in your career isn't a pre-requisite for Lions selection, doesn't he?)
Who do you replace him with? Well, that's the question. Once he's out of the way we're spoiled for choice. I know my team selection skills are limited - I was shocked at the dropping of Sackey and said in a strong a certain voice that we would miss him. Good call, I think.
Even so, Cipriani? Perhaps as third or fourth choice.
ExChrispy Porker said:
Clever journalism if you ask me. They got a reaction. You read the article. Their job is done. 
In that case, I declare Dilly Dally a journalistic genius! 
Derek Smith said:
I've been a big fan of O'Driscoll over the years but I've got to say that he's passed his best.
I'd have said the same thing a year ago, but this season he's lost a few pounds and looks much more like the player he was, albeit with a little less outright pace.Derek Smith said:
I was shocked at the dropping of Sackey and said in a strong a certain voice that we would miss him. Good call, I think.
Wasn't Sackey injured rather than dropped?Derek Smith said:
I've been a big fan of O'Driscoll over the years but I've got to say that he's passed his best. That didn't stop him being man of the match twice in the 6 Nations I know. He's got the Grand Slam and I think that perhaps a bloke his age should have the summer off, especially with the season to come likely to be a strenuous one for him.
Who do you replace him with? Well, that's the question. Once he's out of the way we're spoiled for choice. I know my team selection skills are limited - I was shocked at the dropping of Sackey and said in a strong a certain voice that we would miss him. Good call, I think.
Even so, Cipriani? Perhaps as third or fourth choice.
The Eng 2003 team were past their best when they won the world cup. Doesn't mean that much to me, being past their best. You pick the best option you have in each position and there is NO ONE else who could play 13 for the Lions other than BOD. Experience, leadership, defence, attack, passing and running lines - no one comes close. Who do you replace him with? Well, that's the question. Once he's out of the way we're spoiled for choice. I know my team selection skills are limited - I was shocked at the dropping of Sackey and said in a strong a certain voice that we would miss him. Good call, I think.
Even so, Cipriani? Perhaps as third or fourth choice.
Sackey was rightfully dropped from the Eng team and we have not missed him because Cueto and Monye have done well. He has been ineffective for more than 12 months for Eng. Scored a good try vs Wales and hasn't been given much of a platform during that 12 month period, but pretty much everything he has done has been poor. He has also been poor for Wasps. He is a good player and will come good again, but for now i wouldn't have him in the Eng team or Lions squad - but he will go.
Halfpenny, Williams, Bowe, Fitzgerald, T. Evans and Cueto are the leading wingers at the moment.
TheGreatSoprendo said:
Derek Smith said:
I've been a big fan of O'Driscoll over the years but I've got to say that he's passed his best.
I'd have said the same thing a year ago, but this season he's lost a few pounds and looks much more like the player he was, albeit with a little less outright pace.Derek Smith said:
I was shocked at the dropping of Sackey and said in a strong a certain voice that we would miss him. Good call, I think.
Wasn't Sackey injured rather than dropped?As for Sackey, I stand corrected if he was injured when dropped (if you see what I mean). But I've got to say Ugo Moyne really surprised me. I replayed the final England match and I've got to say he was brilliant all the way through. The cross-field run was remarkable but I think it blinded us to what else he did. Real promise.
Derek Smith said:
TheGreatSoprendo said:
Derek Smith said:
I've been a big fan of O'Driscoll over the years but I've got to say that he's passed his best.
I'd have said the same thing a year ago, but this season he's lost a few pounds and looks much more like the player he was, albeit with a little less outright pace.Derek Smith said:
I was shocked at the dropping of Sackey and said in a strong a certain voice that we would miss him. Good call, I think.
Wasn't Sackey injured rather than dropped?Do you think SA will leave out the players they think we will target ?
Looking at the last lions tour, although there was a plent of cynical foul play, and more in the provincial games than the tests, I think the more brutal but fair tackling came from the lions.
Bullies don't like it up 'em, think of Scott Gibbs putting Os Du Rant on his arse in '97
The most effectice tacklers in the game aren't necessarily the biggest Umanga, wilkinson, lewsey etc...
Bullies don't like it up 'em, think of Scott Gibbs putting Os Du Rant on his arse in '97
The most effectice tacklers in the game aren't necessarily the biggest Umanga, wilkinson, lewsey etc...
merseyboy said:
I don't follow this. You wouldn't take BOD on the Lions tour because of his age (the last time the Lions beat SA we had some pretty old guys in the backline) the fact he will be targeted and because Umaga and Mealamu put him out of the last Lions tour with an illegal, disgraceful tackle which never received the right punishment ?
I wasn't thinking of the deliberate and cynical spear tackle that occured half the pitch away from the ball and could have ended his career so much as O'Driscoll himself. He's just played against five international sides, putting everything into it. He's got one, perhaps two, seasons of top flight club rugby left in him. A very competative off-season series is not what a bloke his age and in his position needs is my thought. He, more than anyone, has got nothing to prove. He's done it all. He owes us, the spectators, nothing.People play on with injuries, bruises, irritations and nagging pain. Once his age healing takes a considerably longer time. That's my thought. The Lions' tour proves nothing in reality. It's a bit of fun. There is no British Isles in the ruby sense of a unit. It's fluff. Enjoyable fluff that's well worth watching, but fluff none the less.
Fluff???????????? Fluff??????????!!!
A lions tour is NOT fluff! It is the pinnacle of the International scene, certainly rivals a WC. The SANZAR nations build their teams upto a Lions tour, they regard a Lions series victory as the major defining aspect of their sport as it the only series and time that the best players in the world are pitted against each other. The Lions have a happy knack of touring against the strongest SANZAR country at that time, so rather than it being a bit of a pot luck cup tie job in the WC, you have a series against the best of the best.
The Lions also provides a chance for the British Isles rugby contingent to put aside parochial issues and show they can create a team greater than the sum of its parts. It also provides a context on which to show that a side can be created from such disparate talents, teams, personalities, styles and abilities. It is a totally unique and elite example.
The Lions is the epitome of British rugby. I love it. The only thing I would like to see alter about it is for the Lions to play a home series sometime. A 4 match series played at Twickers,MS , Murrayfield and Landsdowne Rd...that would be awesome.
Oh and to see a Johnson, Back, Wood and Howley coaching team leading them out.
A lions tour is NOT fluff! It is the pinnacle of the International scene, certainly rivals a WC. The SANZAR nations build their teams upto a Lions tour, they regard a Lions series victory as the major defining aspect of their sport as it the only series and time that the best players in the world are pitted against each other. The Lions have a happy knack of touring against the strongest SANZAR country at that time, so rather than it being a bit of a pot luck cup tie job in the WC, you have a series against the best of the best.
The Lions also provides a chance for the British Isles rugby contingent to put aside parochial issues and show they can create a team greater than the sum of its parts. It also provides a context on which to show that a side can be created from such disparate talents, teams, personalities, styles and abilities. It is a totally unique and elite example.
The Lions is the epitome of British rugby. I love it. The only thing I would like to see alter about it is for the Lions to play a home series sometime. A 4 match series played at Twickers,MS , Murrayfield and Landsdowne Rd...that would be awesome.
Oh and to see a Johnson, Back, Wood and Howley coaching team leading them out.
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