British and Irish Lions Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Inspector Coptoor

I'd go for:

Healy Best A Jones

Gray Ryan

O'Brien Heaslip Tipuric

Youngs

Sexton

Visser Roberts BOD Cuthbert

Halfpenny

TheGoldenAges

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

I'd go for:

Healy Best A Jones

Gray Ryan

O'Brien Heaslip Tipuric

Youngs

Sexton

Visser Roberts BOD Cuthbert

Halfpenny

One Englishman and none in the pack

Fishooks13

Don't see Visser making the team.

Inspector Coptoor

TheGoldenAges wrote: »

One Englishman and none in the pack

I think we'll see by the end of the 6 Nations that a lot of that England team are overhyped and fairly inexperienced

thomond2006

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Don't see Visser making the team.

Maitland and Hogg are ahead of him as it stands.

TheGoldenAges

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

I think we'll see by the end of the 6 Nations that a lot of that England team are overhyped and fairly inexperienced

Still because of politics there'll be atleast 4 English starters

Inspector Coptoor

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Don't see Visser making the team.

fair enough.
Wingers will be tough to pick alright.
If Bowe was fit, i think he;d get it, I wouldnt be surprised to see Ashton get there.
He's just so easy to dislike

Inspector Coptoor

thomond2006 wrote: »

Maitland and Hogg are ahead of him as it stands.

Is Hogg not a fullback?

For Paws

Podge_irl wrote: »

Warburton isn't even the best openside in Wales at the moment and SOB is way out in front of him.

Agreed.

Reckon Tipuric is a better 7 than Warburton (even if Warburton offers a better lineout option).

But would anyone see SOB as a 6 ?

Inspector Coptoor

For Paws wrote: »

Agreed.

Reckon Tipuric is a better 7 than Warburton (even if Warburton offers a better lineout option).

But would anyone see SOB as a 6 ?

I had him as a 6 in the team I put up there.

For Paws

In terms of selection there are always a number of criteria that 'come into play' for a Lions Squad.

(1) It's always a good idea to have a number of previously capped Lions, and if it comes to a decision between 2 otherwise equal players as to which one will travel / start, it will be the guy who's been there before.
Experience counts more with Lions selection than it does even at national level. It's not one match, it's a tour.

(2) Weight is given to national team performance in the 6 nations championship. It is easier to justify picking guys from a Grand Slam winning side than from a 'wooden Spoon' side.

(3) The style of play & the likely squad composition of the opposition, and the pitch conditions which are predicted to prevail also influence. In Australia the Lions will expect to play 'top of the ground' rugby on dry pitches (even in the Oz winter).

(4) The Laws regarding having experienced front row players means having at least 6 Props on tour, and therefore extra consideration must be given to props who can play as Tight Heads and Loose Heads. Similarly, Flankers who can play Open side or Blind side are valued more highly.

(5) Players with a poor disciplinary record will not be considered, whatever their talents.

Dublin Red Devil

Podge_irl wrote: »

Warburton isn't even the best openside in Wales at the moment and SOB is way out in front of him.

Somebody fill in the gaps

LHP - Healy
HK -
THP -
SR -
SR -
BSF -
OSF - O'Brien
N8 - Heaslip
SH -
FH - Sexton
IC -
OC - O'Driscoll
LW - North
RW -
FB -Kearney

Podge_irl

Dublin Red Devil wrote: »

Somebody fill in the gaps

LHP - Healy
HK -
THP -
SR -
SR -
BSF -
OSF - O'Brien
N8 - Heaslip
SH -
FH - Sexton
IC -
OC - O'Driscoll
LW - North
RW -
FB -Kearney

Well I think Heaslip is far from cemented in at 8, Faletau is probably the front runner at the moment but the make up of the backrow is not even remotely definitive yet. If Tipuric keeps up that level of performance he'll have to start.

I would say that only Healy, Best and Sexton are considerable front-runners from an Irish POV.

.ak

Dublin Red Devil wrote: »

Somebody fill in the gaps

LHP - Healy
HK - Best
THP - Cole
SR - Gray
SR - Ryan
BSF - Obrien
OSF - Tipuric/Robshaw
N8 - Heaslip
SH - Youngs
FH - Sexton
IC - Davis
OC - O'Driscoll
LW - North
RW - Ashton/halfpenny
FB -Kearney

Can't see north making the squad tbh. It'll be one of either halfpenny or cuthbert. Ashton needs to improve, big time, to secure a spot. There's far too many back three in the home nations with oodles of skill; Hogg, halfpenny, north, cuthbert, Fitzgerald, gilroy, zebo, maitland etc.

For Paws

.ak wrote: »

LHP - Healy
HK - Best
THP - Cole
SR - Gray
SR - Ryan
BSF - Obrien
OSF - Tipuric/Robshaw
N8 - Heaslip
SH - Youngs
FH - Sexton
IC - Davis
OC - O'Driscoll
LW - North
RW - Ashton/halfpenny
FB -Kearney

Can't see north making the squad tbh. It'll be one of either halfpenny or cuthbert. Ashton needs to improve, big time, to secure a spot. There's far too many back three in the home nations with oodles of skill; Hogg, halfpenny, north, cuthbert, Fitzgerald, gilroy, zebo, maitland etc.

If you can't see North 'making the squad tbh', why do you have him at LW ?

Tbh, I'd have him in my squad ahead of Hogg, Cuthbert, Maitland or Ashton.

Cosmo Kramer

The competition for places on the wing is especially tough this time around - I'd say eight possible options from the four nations, only Mike Brown of the eight starters from the weekend would have next to no chance of a pick and you can't rule Bowe out yet.

So, with Kearney, 1/2p and Hogg likely to be picked at 15 and wing cover, you're left with four from

Visser
Maitland
Bowe
Gilroy
Zebo
Ashton
North
Cuthbert

If all are fit when the time comes, I'd pick the four in bold, albeit grudgingly in the case of Ashton.

For Paws

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

The competition for places on the wing is especially tough this time around - I'd say eight possible options from the four nations, only Mike Brown of the eight starters from the weekend would have next to no chance of a pick and you can't rule Bowe out yet.

So, with Kearney, 1/2p and Hogg likely to be picked at 15 and wing cover, you're left with four from

Visser
Maitland
Bowe
Gilroy
Zebo
Ashton
North
Cuthbert

If all are fit when the time comes, I'd pick the four in bold, albeit grudgingly in the case of Ashton.[/QUOTE)

The fact that Bowe has previous Lions experience will see him picked.
Visser not yet being talked about, but could turn out to be another Jon Bentley.

.ak

For Paws wrote: »

If you can't see North 'making the squad tbh', why do you have him at LW ?

Tbh, I'd have him in my squad ahead of Hogg, Cuthbert, Maitland or Ashton.

The OP did, not me.

For Paws

Love the 1/2p (so much easier)

Apparently Twelvetrees was christened '36' by Geordan Murphy at Leicester.

Swiwi

An Australian view on

1) The 15 from week 1 of the 6N (7 Irish lads in the team)

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/rugby-union/union-news/lions-team-of-the-week--feb-4-20130204-2du1x.html

2) The first weekend of games

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/six-nations-delivers-strong-message-20130204-2duny.html

Dublin Red Devil

The 1st 6 nations match has put me right off Davis, I wouldn't even bring him on tour

clsmooth

Dublin Red Devil wrote: »

The 1st 6 nations match has put me right off Davis, I wouldn't even bring him on tour

Ah give him a chance. Good player but playing catch up now with BOD and Tuilagi whose back this week

Fishooks13

I'd like to see Davies travel as a 12

tolosenc

Swiwi wrote: »

An Australian view on
...
2) The first weekend of games

Let me guess:

"Ah strewth, they get more than 6 attempts to move the bloody footie!"

Dublin Red Devil

Remember this Aussies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55xPjGFWv9o

rchendz92

Healy (although I'd prefer a fit Corbisiero)
Best
Cole
Gray
Launchbury
Lydiate or Ferris if fit (Wood if not)
Robshaw
Heaslip
Youngs
Sexton
Zebo
36 (if he keeps up his form)
BOD
Cuthbert
1/2p

Dublin Red Devil

Cuthbert is overrated in my opinion, Honestly I'd have 1/2p on the LW before Cuthbert

Leslie91

.ak wrote: »

LHP - Healy
HK - Best
THP - Cole
SR - Gray
SR - Ryan
BSF - Obrien
OSF - Tipuric/Robshaw
N8 - Heaslip
SH - Youngs
FH - Sexton
IC - Davis
OC - O'Driscoll
LW - North
RW - Ashton/halfpenny
FB -Kearney

Can't see north making the squad tbh. It'll be one of either halfpenny or cuthbert. Ashton needs to improve, big time, to secure a spot. There's far too many back three in the home nations with oodles of skill; Hogg, halfpenny, north, cuthbert, Fitzgerald, gilroy, zebo, maitland etc.

This would be my team but I'd have 1/2p over Ashton. Tipuric over Robshaw just barely.

conf101

If BOD weren't to be selected as captain does anyone see Robshaw being a surprise selection? Assuming that Gatland doesn't go with Warburton, who at this stage might not even make the tour.

No idea where the Robshaw love comes from.

Not even in the same league as Tipuric and SOB, nor even Warburton running at 80%.

Solid, bruising player, but not subtle or clever enough for me.