British and Irish Lions Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

FellasFellas

schools rugby wrote: »

I dont think thats enough of a reason for him to go. He is a decent player but he shouldnt travel just becasue he can play 9 and 10

He's not a Lions standard 10 though, debatable whether he's a Lions standard 9 either.

Buer

schools rugby wrote: »

I dont think thats enough of a reason for him to go. He is a decent player but he shouldnt travel just becasue he can play 9 and 10

He has more in his arsenal than just versatility. He was excellent in some of his 6N showings. He absolutely tortured France and was the main reason they were in the game at half time. He's an accomplished goal kicker who has played some really good rugby this year, covers two important positions and, unlike the vast majority of the squad, has actually gone to Australia and beaten them in their back yard.

P.Walnuts

So after 6N and this round of matches I would put the irish selection as

On the plane - Healy, POC, SOB, Sexton, BOD

Touch and go - Best, Heaslip, Murray, Bowe, Zebo, Kearney,

Bolters - Madigan ( a suggestion I mocked a few weeks ago), POM

Out of contention - Ross, Marshall, Gilroy, Earls, Ryan

Swiwi

Lock as source of concern for the WBs?

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/second-row-must-be-first-priority-for-deans-20130407-2hepp.html

the baby bull elephant

P.Walnuts wrote: »

So after 6N and this round of matches I would put the irish selection as

On the plane - Healy, POC, SOB, Sexton, BOD

Touch and go - Best, Heaslip, Murray, Bowe, Zebo, Kearney,

Bolters - Madigan ( a suggestion I mocked a few weeks ago), POM

Out of contention - Ross, Marshall, Gilroy, Earls, Ryan

I would say if Zebo is touch and go then so Gilroy must be as well.

Even though I dont think he will go there is a decent chance Ross will go as third choice tighthead. Even though most of us automatically rule him out.

schools rugby

the baby bull elephant wrote: »

I would say if Zebo is touch and go then so Gilroy must be as well.

Even though I dont think he will go there is a decent chance Ross will go as third choice tighthead. Even though most of us automatically rule him out.

I think Zebo will travel. Gatland said he would give him a chance to get fit afterall

Hype710

Zebo looked like he hadn't missed a minute of rugby out there today, fair play to him. Kelly Brown was impressive (20+ tackles) and has versatility up his sleeve. Robshaw could yet find himself excluded, Gatland says he views him as a 6.5 and you have Brown and SOB who also fall into that category. Tipuric and Warburton are both likely to go as 7s and Gatland is a massive Lydiate fan. Interesting times.

CIARAN_BOYLE

trouttrout wrote: »

What do people think about Robshaw?

Personally while I think he's very good when in form I just think there's better players ahead of him

Good player but I'm honestly not sure if I would bring him.

Assuming six backrows travel Tipuric Felatu and SOB have to travel imo. Ferris and Lydiate would have travel but they won't be fit for it. After that there isn't much between eight or nine players who could travel and he is one of them.

P.Walnuts

Any word in Lydiate's conditioning after his injury?

There was a photo put up a while ago and he looked about 20 st

Hype710

I'd definitely take Lydiate. Enough games between now and the test games to get into top form, and guys who've missed chunks of the season are likely to be fresher than those who've been flogged. Robshaw in particular looks in need of a rest.

jacothelad

buyer95 wrote: »

Rog a bolter for Lions tour after today.

Yes. The ones at Longleat.

Grandpa Hassan

rpurfield wrote: »

probably gonna sound a bit strange saying this but i was out today missed the munster match caught bits on the radio and by all accounts oconnell was immense but surely he wont have enough time at this stage to be in with a shout on the lions??

I'd go further and say the lions NEED Paul o'Connell. And I'm a Leicester, not a Munster fan. Potentially losing Tom Croft is a blow. And Wilkinson was immense today. If picking on form alone, I'd have him on the plane

Dublin Red Devil

I don't think these H-Cup Games will have much impact in Lions selection.

trouttrout

Dublin Red Devil wrote: »

I don't think these H-Cup Games will have much impact in Lions selection.

On the contrary I think they hold a lot of weight

durkadurka

Gatland wouldn't be attending otherwise.

Tox56

durkadurka wrote: »

Gatland wouldn't be attending otherwise.

And he really made an effort, he was in Gloucester on Thursday, London on Friday, Bath on Saturday (don't know if he was at Ulster-Sarries game later that day, surely he was?), and back to London today. That in itself shows how seriously he is taking these games

Dublin Red Devil

trouttrout wrote: »

On the contrary I think they hold a lot of weight

Go on then who is making the team, That wasn't before this weekend, I say none

Mahatma Geansai

trouttrout wrote: »

On the contrary I think they hold a lot of weight

The HEC matches matter hugely. Just look at the 2009 tour. Munster were by far the best team in Europe when the squad was selected, and as a result they dominated the squad.

As an aside, anyone else think that Best could/will miss out on the plane? His form has fallen over the last few months to a point where he is a liability from touch. Someone like Sherry could/should well be testing him for an Irish jersey this time next year due to his darts being much better.

Tox56

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

The HEC matches matter hugely. Just look at the 2009 tour. Munster were by far the best team in Europe when the squad was selected, and as a result they dominated the squad.

As an aside, anyone else think that Best could/will miss out on the plane? His form has fallen over the last few months to a point where he is a liability from touch. Someone like Sherry could/should well be testing him for an Irish jersey this time next year due to his darts being much better.

Sherry is far from his only competition, Cronin is a good impact option off the bench (and a new coach might actually use him as one), Strauss has fine darts and several years proven H Cup quality behind him. Hooker will be a strong position for Ireland for the foreseeable future

TheGoldenAges

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

The HEC matches matter hugely. Just look at the 2009 tour. Munster were by far the best team in Europe when the squad was selected, and as a result they dominated the squad.

As an aside, anyone else think that Best could/will miss out on the plane? His form has fallen over the last few months to a point where he is a liability from touch. Someone like Sherry could/should well be testing him for an Irish jersey this time next year due to his darts being much better.

Sherry? I think Strauss and even Cronin are ahead of him

trouttrout

Jaysus Sherry won't tour. Relax lads

jimjamcos

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

The HEC matches matter hugely. Just look at the 2009 tour. Munster were by far the best team in Europe when the squad was selected, and as a result they dominated the squad.

As an aside, anyone else think that Best could/will miss out on the plane? His form has fallen over the last few months to a point where he is a liability from touch. Someone like Sherry could/should well be testing him for an Irish jersey this time next year due to his darts being much better.

Strauss.

Tox56

trouttrout wrote: »

Jaysus Sherry won't tour. Relax lads

He/we are talking about him challenging Best for Ireland

Chabals Beard

Sherry is the best all round player in the no2 jersey in Ireland, being a ex flanker has stood to him, he has great hands, tackles well, can carry well in the tight and out wide, I have been hugely impressed with him this year. In a couple of years he will surely be n the Ireland squad with Struass.

Brewster

Steady on folks, if Best had an O Connell to throw to there would be no issue... Look forward to seeing them together again in Oz!

decisions

Cronin is a better player than Sherry.

Chabals Beard

decisions wrote: »

Cronin is a better player than Sherry.

Cronin must worry about Struass not Sherry, I think Sherry throws better darts also.

trouttrout

decisions wrote: »

Cronin is a better player than Sherry.

I don't think there's much between the two

.ak

Why are we discussing Sherry or Cronin in a Lion thread? Aside from Sherry's darts he offers very little, and was found out big time at scrum time today. Cronin is a fantastic impact sub, but again his wayward darts would probably let him down. Cronin strikes me as someone that can develop, but I can't ever see him being Lions test quality imo.

Chabals Beard

.ak wrote: »

Why are we discussing Sherry or Cronin in a Lion thread? Aside from Sherry's darts he offers very little, and was found out big time at scrum time today. Cronin is a fantastic impact sub, but again his wayward darts would probably let him down. Cronin strikes me as someone that can develop, but I can't ever see him being Lions test quality imo.

I always assumed you were a knowledgeable so I will give you the benefit of the doubt but Sherry offers a lot around the park, best hands for a hooker in Ireland and unlike most front rows he doesn't look for contact all the time (due to the fact he used to be a flanker), he actually tries to go around players, fantastic prospect.