Planet Rugby Lions Tour Side

bugler

Yeah I know, I myself am almost sick of hearing the phrase "what if the lions' tour was this summer instead of next", but screw it, I'm bored and we might have a chance to argue. Planet Rugby's choices in Italics:

Fullbacks: Geordan Murphy (Ireland), Gareth Thomas (Wales).

I won't argue too much with this. Thomas is essential for versatility, but I'd play Murphy ahead of him. This is slightly dodgy considering he's not back that long..but I'm feeling risky.

Wings: Ben Cohen (Eng), Jason Robinson (Eng), Josh Lewsey (Eng), James Simpson-Daniel (Eng), Shane Williams (Wal).

Wow, four English wingers. Makes you wonder. I'm not Cohen's or Lewsey's biggest fan. How exactly Simpson-Daniel worms his way onto this years Test squad escapes me. Robinson is a banker. S Williams...yes. I'd have Horgan in instead of either Lewsey or S-D, thinking physically Webster of Scotland probably isn't up to it but had a good 6 nations. This is all ignoring Hickie who can't make it. /Me wonders about potential full-back problems..

Centres: Brian O'Driscoll (Ire, captain), Gordon D'Arcy (Ire), Iestyn Harris (Wal), Mike Tindall (Eng)

Harris has yet to convince me, but looking at alternatives I find few. Tindall is a good choice. None of it matters because it's the two irish lads who get the starting nod, if anything happened to either of them then Tindall gets in at inside (if D'Arcy goes down O'D slides over, if BOD goes down it's a straight swap.

Fly-halves: Ronan O'Gara (Ire), Mike Catt (Eng), Chris Paterson (Sco).

Haha. Paterson. Did Stephen Jones die or something, I must have missed it.

Scrum-halves: Peter Stringer (Ire), Matt Dawson (Eng), Gareth Cooper (Wal).

Fair enough. Don't think Stringer is no.1 though. Dawson didn't have his best tournament but I'd bank on him getting it together for the test.

Back row: Richard Hill (Eng), Lawrence Dallaglio (Eng), David Wallace (Ire), Jason White (Scot), Colin Charvis (Wal), Chris Jones (Eng), Martyn Williams (Wal).

Jason fricking White?! Alistair Hogg maybe, not bloody White. Wallace is a big call, but seeing as how no genuine class specialist openside is available (I'd back Gleeson if fit) and I think highly of him I'll say yes. Foley should have a shout. The Welsh boys haven't convinced me I'm afraid, and there's only be room for one of them. I don't know a huge amount about Jones, but I've heard the reviews. Easterby is the premier Northern Hemisphere blindside on current form, with a lineout capability to boot. Ok, the back-row is my passion so I'll try tidying this up. My choices are Hill, Wallace, Easterby, Dallaglio, Foley, Jones and Charvis.

What's the starting line-up you say? Wallace to be given chance to prove himself at no.7. Hill waiting for him to be anything other than first-rate. Easterby at no.6. Dallaglio at no.8.

Second row: Danny Grewcock (Eng), Paul O'Connell (Ire), Malcolm O'Kelly (Ire), Michael Owen (Wal), Scott Murray (Scot).

Hmm. Owen is dropped. Toss up between O'Callaghan and Kay. I'd ordinarily go with O'Callaghan but given he didn't have a lot of game time (perhaps more due to bad luck than anything) it might be a bit biased. O'Kelly has proven he deserves a place, what a man to have in reserve even.

Props: Trevor Woodman (Eng), Tom Smith (Scot), Phil Vickery (Eng), Julian White (Eng), John Hayes (Ire)

Hmm. That's a lot of tight-head for your money. Tom Smith returning is probably not the worst idea...the 1 shirt is truly up for grabs. I may miss something here as I'm not really aware of how comfortable any of these punters are at packing down on the opposite side if needed. England have two better scrummagers at no 3 than Hayes, so he might count himself lucky that an extra tight-head is taken rather than loose. Hard luck Reggie Corrigan. /me tiptoes away quietly without making any decisions...

Hookers: Shane Byrne (Ire), Steve Thompson (Eng), Robin McBryde (Wal).

Thompson still gets in despite the unpleasantries of his patchy tournament. Byrne to start though, or at least be given the chance to keep the no 2 shirt. McBryde over Bulloch..yeah whatever.

Planet Rugby's starting 15:

15 Geordan Murphy (Ire), 14 Jason Robinson (Eng), 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Ire, captain), 12 Gordon D'Arcy (Ire), 11 Ben Cohen (Eng), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Ire), 9 Peter Stringer (Ire), 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (Eng), 7 Martyn Williams (Wal), 6 Richard Hill (Eng), 5 Paul O'Connell (Ire), 4 Danny Grewcock (Eng), 3 Phil Vickery (Eng), 2 Steve Thompson (Eng), 1 Tom Smith (Scot).

bugler's starting 15:

15 Geordan Murphy (Ire), 14 Jason Robinson (Eng), 13 Gordon D'Arcy (Ire), 12 Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), 11 Ben Cohen (Eng), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Ire), 9 Matt Dawson (Eng), 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (Eng), 7 David Wallace (Ire), 6 Simon Easterby (Ire), 5 Paul O'Connell (Ire, Captain), 4 Danny Grewcock (Eng), 3 Phil Vickery (Eng), 2 Shane Byrne(Ire), 1 Tom Smith (Sco).

Alright...there are a couple of choices that to be honest I'm not really sure about, namely Cohen at 11..and christ the front row made my head hurt. Vickery probably has to lose the no 3 shirt himself, I actually had White down first but changed it. Smith...well his scrummaging gets slagged off but he has withstood Tests before. Experience gets its chance. Richard Hill fans will probably vomit with rage. Wallace has to earn his place on there with an outstanding display. It's also very questionable who should partner O'Connell, but I don't want to put out an utterly Irish dominated side....

I still think Dallaglio has it in him, so he gets the nod at 8, experienced fellow too.

I feel the strengths of the side are the second and back-rows (however they end up) in the forwards. The backs look good to me at full-back and in the centre, with plenty of attacking potential. The problem areas are at 10, where Jonny would undoubtedly be, and the wings. Well, one of them anyway.

Ok, discuss.

Hugh_C

Originally posted by bugler
Tindall is a good choice.

I was talking to Philip Browne the other day and there's a move on to have talks with Tindall - he has an Irish grandfather in Wakefield on one side and a grandmother on the other - not quite sure which side is which. Anyway, Mike has come to the attention of Niall O'Donovan in recent weeks as a possibility at tighthead thorough eligibility rules and our lack of emerging talent in this position. Also at 6'2" and close on 16 stone, his obvious physicality equips him for forwardhood.

When asked about the possible moves in an interview in the Bath Chronicle, Tindall was reported to have said that he's excited about the possibilities of the new positions, both on the park and in representative matters. Pace has been a problem for him in the last two seasons. He also made subtle references to internal problems between Sir Clive and Dallaglio. No surprises there really.

HC

spanner

Originally posted by hughchal
I was talking to Philip Browne the other day and there's a move on to have talks with Tindall - he has an Irish grandfather in Wakefield on one side and a grandmother on the other - not quite sure which side is which. Anyway, Mike has come to the attention of Niall O'Donovan in recent weeks as a possibility at tighthead thorough eligibility rules and our lack of emerging talent in this position. Also at 6'2" and close on 16 stone, his obvious physicality equips him for forwardhood.

When asked about the possible moves in an interview in the Bath Chronicle, Tindall was reported to have said that he's excited about the possibilities of the new positions, both on the park and in representative matters. Pace has been a problem for him in the last two seasons. He also made subtle references to internal problems between Sir Clive and Dallaglio. No surprises there really.

HC

is it not a rule that if you play for one international team you cant play for another?

i dont agree with this thing of the grandparnets rule especially if they have plegde their allegance to another country. people like the easterby brothers are fair enough because one of their parnets are irish and keith glesson who was born here and plays his rugby here.
but i think with rugby we have moved away from turning out like the soccer with loads of foreigners with a flegling connection to ireland. it does nothing for the confiedence of the game to see their international team as a place for washed up players who cant make their own national teams and exploit the opportunity to play international rugby.
with most of the team irish born, managed by an irish man and playing domestic rugby here in ireland i belive this whats causing irish rugby to improve so much because we have confienice in our own abilities.

Hugh_C

Originally posted by spanner


i dont agree with this thing of the grandparnets rule especially if

especially if it's April Fool's...

Gotcha!

MarVeL

A lot of people seem to be going for O'Driscoll for captain but I'm not yet conviced he's ready this time out. Despite the reports on the Healy bout I can't quite see him bringing enough grit to the role. The only other candidate though is Dallaglio as far as I can see and on his performance this year in the role he is doubtful as well. Any names I've missed that are test certainties who could do the job?

daveirl

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MarVeL

Possibly next year O'Connell could do it. He'll have proved himself to everyone on the international stage for a consistent period of time. This year I'd have to say he's too inexperienced on the international scene. He just doesn't have the reputation outside of Ireland, yet, too carry it off. Unless of course we end up with 9 or 10 on the test side, which would be nice

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

spanner

Originally posted by hughchal
especially if it's April Fool's...

Gotcha!

HAHAHA thats good:D

joey#10

LIONS XV

15. Geordan Murphy
14. Jason Robinson
13. Brian O'Driscoll
12. Gordan D'Arcy
11. Ben Cohen
10. Jonny Wilkinson (c)
9. Matt Dawson
1. Trevor Woodman
2. Shane Byrne
3. Phil Vickery
4. Malcolm O'Kelly
5.Paul O'Connell
6. Simon Easterby
7. Martyn Williams
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
reps:
16. Steve Thompson (unfortunately!)
17. Tom Smith
18. Donncha O'Callaghan
19. Richard Hill
20. Peter Stringer
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Josh Lewsey

GreenHell

Hmm I think Marcus Horan should get a place on the lions but I don't really give a crap about the lions, nothing good has ever come from lions tours.

joey#10

how can you say that, sure you get the best players from england, ireland, scotland, and wales all playing together to try and stuff some arrogant aussies! Its deadly!

daveirl

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