British and Irish Lions Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Tigerandahalf

The worry about ODriscoll is whether he is capable of playing 3 competitive games in a row on hard ground in Oz. Playing him at 12 and Tuilagi at 13 I wouldnt be hopeful about. For me Roberts and ODriscoll. They have good previous form too. Perhaps a case for Roberts and Tuilagi but not sure if Tuilagi is smart enough to read other players' lines.

trouttrout

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Is it a 'fantastical managerial record'? He's director of rugby.

Yes it is a fantastic record. He might have a different title. But he still sets the tactics, picks the team and makes subs etc like any other manager

shuffol

My XV

Healy
Best
Jones
Evans
AWJ
SOB
Tipuric
Faletau
Phillips
Sexton
North
Davies
O'Driscoll
Cuthbert
Halfpenny

Close calls at TH(Cole), lock(Gray), scrumhalf(Youngs) and at 12(Tuilagi).

irishbucsfan

trouttrout wrote: »

Yes it is a fantastic record. He might have a different title. But he still sets the tactics, picks the team and makes subs etc like any other manager

Don't forget John Kingston.

But O'Shea has had two very successful reigns as a DoR now and I'd love to see him brought in.

I would love to see us use the structure he seems to like. Appoint him as our DoR (change Wigglesworth's job title) with his current responsibilities and then appoint a head coach beneath him. You could have something like O'Shea and Elwood.

Cardinal Richelieu

More bull from Hook, says that Adam Jones is not the fittest player. Jones played 80 mins last week and 72 mins this week while the rest of the 6 nation props are pulled off around the regulation 60-65 mins mark.

trouttrout

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

More bull from Hook, says that Adam Jones is not the fittest player. Jones played 80 mins last week and 72 mins this week while the rest of the 6 nation props are pulled off around the regulation 60-65 mins mark.

Jones never kills himself in the loose though. Cole is certainly much fitter but the scrum should be a weapon for the Lions and Jones is the man in that regard

Anyway, I'm off the watch Dredd. Sick of rugby!

jamiedav2011

trouttrout wrote: »

Yes it is a fantastic record. He might have a different title. But he still sets the tactics, picks the team and makes subs etc like any other manager

So, leaving that argument aside, you'd be happy with BOD at 12, Fez at SR or ROG at 10 and Sexton at 12?

COS hasn't exactly talked a great game on that panel tbh.

Kiwi_knock

I think it is important to remember that a lot of this Welsh team where found out tactically against Australia last summer, so I would not be rushing to have a Welsh dominated team.

trouttrout

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

So, leaving that argument aside, you'd be happy with BOD at 12, Fez at SR or ROG at 10 and Sexton at 12?

COS hasn't exactly talked a great game on that panel tbh.

You mean that far more relevant point of COS coaching record to date?

You can't base your opinion of him as a coach on three suggestions he made as a pundit . You can bet your left eye those producers in RTÉ are egging Hook, Pope and COS on to suggest things like that for entertainments sake. Take them with a pinch of salt, and the context they were said in would be my advice.

Swan Curry

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

I think it is important to remember that a lot of this Welsh team where found out tactically against Australia last summer, so I would not be rushing to have a Welsh dominated team.

In fairness to them,the three matches were close enough and they had Rhys Priestland at 10 who after a great season in 2011 seemed to have forgotten how to play rugby.

jamiedav2011

trouttrout wrote: »

You mean that far more relevant point of COS coaching record to date?

You can't base your opinion of him as a coach on three suggestions he made as a pundit . You can bet your left eye those producers in RTÉ are egging Hook, Pope and COS on to suggest things like that for entertainments sake. Take them with a pinch of salt, and the context they were said in would be my advice.

Or could you not take into agreement his opinions on the Irish team over the last two years?

shwah

15. Halfpenny (K)
14. Cuthbert
13. O'Driscoll
12. Roberts
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Phillips
8. Morgan
7. Warburton/Tipuric
6. Lydiate
5. Hamilton
4. AWJ
3. Cole
2. Best
1. Jenkins

16. Ford
17. Healy
18. Jones
19. Gray
20. O'Brien
21. Youngs
22. Farrell
23. Hogg

If Bowe can show some form in the short time he'll have left in the season I'd love to see him make it, but realistically it's looking like Cuthbert at this point in time.

I don't think O'Driscoll is as assured of his place as we'd all like him to be either. I really hope he makes it, but Tuilagi and Davies are right up there too.

the baby bull elephant

Surely Healy must be a starter.

trouttrout

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Or could you not take into agreement his opinions on the Irish team over the last two years?

I myself would pay little attention to them. I'd value his actual onfield record and the game he plays with Quins as more far more important than stuff he says on RTÉ (which most of the time, he's actually spot on with)

Fits Morris

Revised Test team (and first replacements) as of 16/3/13

15. Halfpenny (Hogg)
14. Cuthbert (Ashton)
13. Tuilagi (Davies)
12. Roberts (O'Driscoll)
11. North (Visser)
10. Farrell (Sexton)
9. Phillips (Youngs)
8. Faletau (Beattie)
7. Tipuric (O'Brien)
6. Robshaw (Lydiate)
5. Wyn-Jones (Launchbury)
4. Hamilton (Parling)
3. Cole (Jones)
2. Ford(Best)
1. Jenkins (Marler)

Captain: Robshaw

trouttrout

Fits Morris wrote: »

Revised Test team (and first replacements) as of 16/3/13

15. Halfpenny (Hogg)
14. Cuthbert (Ashton)
13. Tuilagi (Davies)
12. Roberts (O'Driscoll)
11. North (Visser)
10. Farrell (Sexton)
9. Phillips (Youngs)
8. Faletau (Wood)
7. Tipuric (O'Brien)
6. Robshaw (Lydiate)
5. Wyn-Jones (Launchbury)
4. Hamilton (Parling)
3. Cole (Jones)
2. Rees (Hartley)
1. Jenkins (Marler)

Captain: Robshaw

Some absolutely ridiculous calls in there. Marler ahead of Healy, Wood ahead of Heaslip? Harltey and Rees (neither of whom start for their country) ahead of Best? Cole ahead of Jones? Farrell ahead of Sexton? BOD at 12 ?

Oh and not one Irish player in the starting 15. Are you just looking to get a reaction?

Fits Morris

trouttrout wrote: »

Some absolutely ridiculous calls in there. Marler ahead of Healy, Wood ahead of Heaslip? Harltey and Rees (neither of whom start for their country) ahead of Best? Cole ahead of Jones? Farrell ahead of Sexton? BOD at 12 ?

Oh and not one Irish player in the starting 15. Are you just looking to get a reaction?

I edited two selections as the post was done in haste, I have Ford at hooker and Beattie at replacement 8.

The reason I have no Irish players is pretty simple - none deserve to be on the team. That's the sad reality.

thomond2006

Healy, Hibbard, Jones, AWJ, POC*, Robshaw, Tipuric, SOB
Phillips**, Sexton, North, Roberts, Tuilagi, Cuthbert, Halfpenny

Bench: Best, Jenkins, Cole, Lawes, Lydiate, Youngs, Farrell, Hogg

*big question mark over this one I know! However with Gray out I think it opens the door for O'Connell should he prove his fitness.

**Provided he turns up with his "I'll play this good every so often" form.

Glass Prison 1214

trouttrout wrote: »

Some absolutely ridiculous calls in there. Marler ahead of Healy, Wood ahead of Heaslip? Harltey and Rees (neither of whom start for their country) ahead of Best? Cole ahead of Jones? Farrell ahead of Sexton? BOD at 12 ?

Oh and not one Irish player in the starting 15. Are you just looking to get a reaction?

Could you please refrain from quoting him, you are making this forum a less happy place.

trouttrout

Fits Morris wrote: »

I edited two selections as the post was done in haste, I have Ford at hooker and Beattie at replacement 8.

The reason I have no Irish players is pretty simple - none deserve to be on the team. That's the sad reality.

Ha, but Dan Cole deserves to start? Despite getting his arse handed to him in nearly every game in the championship?

And that's not even touching on the rest of the ludicrous selections in that team

Anyway just reading through some of your posts and you're either a troll or dangerously clueless. Good day to you sir

Fits Morris

BOD at 12 is because Tuilagi and Davies are ahead of him in the queue for 13. Roberts has the starting spot at 12 nailed down. However O'Driscoll's experience is too great not to have on the bench. It will have to be at 12, if anywhere.

Fits Morris

Fits Morris wrote: »

The Wales-England match could go a long way towards deciding a number of Test spots, namely:

14: Cuthbert v Ashton
13/12 - Tuilagi/Barritt v Davies/Roberts
9 - Youngs currently in pole position but if Phillips was to get back to his best he is still in with a shout
8 - Faletau v Wood/possibly Morgan if fit
7 - Robshaw in the box seat here but Tipuric may still be in with a chance
5/4 - Evans has a chance of forcing out either Parling or Launchbury
1 - Corbisiero would have been my choice but won't be fit for this match and very doubtful for the tour, Jenkins and Marler could be in direct competition for a starting spot here - Healy is too indisciplined

I wasn't wrong. This evening's match means it will now be a Wales-dominated XV.

14: Cuthbert nailed on
13: Tuilagi v Davies is a toss up, could go either way
12: Roberts nailed on
9: Phillips in pole position
8: Faletau nailed on
7: Tipuric on the box seat, Robshaw too good to leave out however IMO and has to be accommodated somewhere
5/4: Wyn-Jones the big mover
1: Jenkins nailed on

3 is now a toss up between Cole and Jones who has staked a serious claim for inclusion.

Utopia Parkway

Probably no bad thing that Ireland won't have many traveling with the Lions. The squad is injury ravaged, numerous players probably need a rest during the Summer and the new coach (hopefully) could probably do without it given he has to rebuild almost from the bottom up.

The Lions is obviously a big honour for the players but whether they win or lose I forget about it within an hour. Whereas Ireland losing is just depressing.

Tigerandahalf

A lot of rugby to be played yet and who knows what might happen. If Bowe gets back in time he will travel. Lydiate is another for the dirty work. I thought Mike Phillips played v well today.

Podge_irl

I don't think Tuilagi has had a particularly good 6N. He's been incredibly one dimensional for England and not even that good at that one dimension. His position at 13 has a part to play in Ashton's lack of try scoring methinks. I like Davies and and would have both him and BOD way, way ahead of Manu for the 13 jersey. I don't even think he should travel.

CoDy1

thomond2006 wrote: »

Healy, Hibbard, Jones, AWJ, POC*, Robshaw, Tipuric, SOB
Phillips**, Sexton, North, Roberts, Tuilagi, Cuthbert, Halfpenny

Bench: Best, Jenkins, Cole, Lawes, Lydiate, Youngs, Farrell, Hogg

*big question mark over this one I know! However with Gray out I think it opens the door for O'Connell should he prove his fitness.

**Provided he turns up with his "I'll play this good every so often" form.

3 starters and a sentimental hopeful is about right.

Heaslip, while hasn't been as bad as some here have said, has definitely been outplayed by his counterparts and Best's darts won't have done him any favours.

CoDy1

Oh and Ian Madigan, by the very definition of a Bolter, should be a Bolter!

Principal Skinner

Fits Morris wrote: »

I wasn't wrong. This evening's match means it will now be a Wales-dominated XV.

14: Cuthbert nailed on
13: Tuilagi v Davies is a toss up, could go either way
12: Roberts nailed on
9: Phillips in pole position
8: Faletau nailed on
7: Tipuric on the box seat, Robshaw too good to leave out however IMO and has to be accommodated somewhere
5/4: Wyn-Jones the big mover
1: Jenkins nailed on

3 is now a toss up between Cole and Jones who has staked a serious claim for inclusion.

A tuilagi roberts partnership would be absolute madness. Two players who just run straight into contact would be very easy to defend. The wings would never be see the ball at all.

Also haven't seen Davies have a good game yet. BOD showed him up in the Wales Ireland match as well

bilston

Principal Skinner wrote: »

A tuilagi roberts partnership would be absolute madness. Two players who just run straight into contact would be very easy to defend. The wings would never be see the ball at all.

Also haven't seen Davies have a good game yet. BOD showed him up in the Wales Ireland match as well

Davies played very well yesterday. Much better than Tuilagi.

.ak

bilston wrote: »

Davies played very well yesterday. Much better than Tuilagi.

I wouldn't say very well. I thought he missed a few opportunities to get people in space, and generally distributed the worst in the backline. He's good in his day, but I thought yesterday wasn't it and probably do him any favours regarding Lions spots. Think he'll travel. Or else Scott may be a surprise choice.