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Right to get in early - WHY ISN'T HENSON IN THE TEST 15. DISGUSTING!!
Round of applause for TJ btw. (Did I read in your post 'Now then boys, we've all 'ad a few drinks, no need for this'?)
No mate, I've invited you to enlighten me and been offered 3 lions games.
As I've said BOD has played well against all the teams in the world, he was one of the stand out players in the last Lions tour to Australia when Australia were the best team in the world... I've said this a number of times, explain to me what else he could do?
Worseley had a very good even great 6N's. No?
No he's rubbish, does nothing as a 7 and is an average international 6 at best. He's what 30 + and has never been close to being Lions quality before.
I never though dillydayglo was world class
I always thought Quinnel was better, but I was trying not to look too anti english!!!
I wonder what type of thuggery the Provincial teams will indulge in. There was some pretty awful stuff in Living with the Lions the last time they were in S.A.
I wonder if a Mcrae O Gara, BOD Umaga Mealamu controversey will happen.
Love rugby banter always done with a smile and a wink.
No he's rubbish, does nothing as a 7 and is an average international 6 at best. He's what 30 + and has never been close to being Lions quality before.
Yes but the Lions is about the tour, not about preparing for the future, not about past performance. If you'er just miffed he humped the Welsh backrow in Cardiff fair enough. Just say it 🙂
Quinnel was world class
McRae - O'Gara, christ I forgot about that, that was one hell of a pummeling that he took, his face was huge the next day.
Does anyone remember what happened to McRae after that?
Yes but the Lions is about the tour, not about preparing for the future, not about past performance. If you'er just miffed he humped the Welsh backrow in Cardiff fair enough
Your deluded!! He tackled well but was destroyed at the breakdown which was the reason england gave away so many pens and got the yellow cards.
I think we'll be happy to have the grizzled 30 somethings when the pups have been hammered mate. Wors should not play at 7 though, you're right about that. I'm chuffed for the likes of Shaw and Quinlan, a lions tour is a swansong and a half!
Has anybody found a fantasy lions league? If so, anyone fancy it? Team name same as user name? STW league?
If you think that any part of wors was destroyed in that game, you're deluded. Didn't he get man of match for that one?
Fantasy Lions tour would be pretty good anyone know of a good site for it?
Backhander - he played one Welsh player out of the game. However he wasn't even the top tackler in that game nor did he do anything except mark one man out of the game. Very one dimensional play.
Worsely is another over rated player IMO - he simply is too slow for the modern game
TJ,
I think that he did exactly what he was told to do.
Oh, and it looks like he did win the man of the match, but what do they know.
You are right in that backhander - but that does not make him a great player. Great players do more.
He earned universal acclaim for that performance. Oh, and he put 2 players out of the game, Roberts and Powell. One of the welsh pundits joked that if Roberts opened his kit bag, Worseley would probably pop out!
Any joy on the fantasy lions yet anyone, I can't find anything.
No one is arguing that that was a not great performance and a great tactical move. the argument is that he is one dimensional as a player and in doing what he did it left gaps elsewhere
Sorry TJ, we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.
I think he does a particular and important job very well, that may make him one dimensional in some peoples eyes, I just think (as a back rower) that he's a good weapon to have. Simple no-nonsense violence has its place.
Your deluded!!
How? As a neutral watching that game (actually shouting more for Wales) I was impressed by a player who I have not been a big fan of in the past. He had a great game
He did hump the Welsh backrow that day! 🙂
[url=
o'driscoll done nothing against the best[/url]
[url=
has shane[/url]
Does anyone remember what happened to McRae after that?
Came to play in England and was assualted by Martin Johnson in an even more disgraceful manner!!
No one is arguing that that was a not great performance and a great tactical move
Good performance poor tactics which looked to limit losses. LOOK AGAIN AT THE PENALTIES england gave away as they effectively played with no 7. HAd he been playing 6 I would say it was a very good performance. For a 7 it was poor, but not his fault.
Yes yes good players, I take it they scored multiple tries in those games?
SW can run. OK we get it. Nearly as well as jason robinson.
<stands well back>
NOW THAT'S FISHING!
Robinson was IMO better, but he was played full-back too much. I do prefer watching the balletic grace of williams in favour of the explosive springness of Robinson but Robinson was propbably more effective.
Could you explain to me, how, other than winning a world cup (which isnt going to happen given there team mates , players can prove themselves at a higher level?
I take it they scored multiple tries in those games?
no but shane scored in both tests [url=
shit[/url]
Getting boring now, we've had that vid already.
OK he can run and side step. WE GET IT!
Backhander I'm still waiting for you to explain how BOD has not proven himself at the highest level.
Came to play in England and was assualted by Martin Johnson in an even more disgraceful manner!!
Reckon that was Jonno dishing out some 'justice'. Not sure it was more disgraceful though. What McRae did to O'Gara was pretty awful
[url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/1090267.stm ]another ban ending fore the six nations[/url]
I would say a knee drop to the back of a prone player followed by stamping is worse, just my opinion though.
Worzel is a very good defensive 6 or 7, he doesn't win a huge amount of turnovers. The two most rounded back rows are Ferris and Wallace, apart from that most of them have weaknesses that need to be balanced out by the other picks.
Dallaglio was better than Quinnel, pains me to say it but he was a very good player. He played a couple of years past his peak but deserved to be there because he could really lead a team.
Williams isn't a guaranteed starter its has to be said. Bowe is the form wing in the squad, the other wing is pretty open. Earls might even play himself in.
Fullback will be Byrne unless Kearney overtakes him on form.
Dallaglio was better than Quinnel
Not that clear cut, Dilly Dally the more rounded player Quinnel the better ball carrier.
Wallace lacks the creativity that Martyn Williams has in spades but is much more powerful, depends on the balance wanted and how the game is to be played. Martyn Williams, Shane Williams and Powell coming off the bench to change a game could be really exciting, replacing Wallace, Kearney (who has played wing a lot) and Leamy
Powell?
Is that your attempt at sarcasm?
M and S Williams, fair enough.
And you think Wors is bad? Powell will get destroyed by the saffas
What on Earth are you lot wibbling on about?
Do you even know, yourselves?
Powell will get destroyed by the 'boks. I would have had Jones before him any day. I know Jones was off form but Powell has hardly been on top of his game either
common backhander, tell us why BOD isnt world class?
I said Powell off the bench would be good and his pace would be a real asset, Ryan Jones lack of pace under ELV's has been a big part of his downfall. I believe he was man of the match agaisnt SA in the autumn, what did worsley do against SA?
[img] 
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Powell has hardly been on top of his game either
Dont watch much rugby do you! He was very, very good off the bench against Toulouse last weekend
So he's not even starting for his club?
Form indeed.
Dont watch much rugby do you
Not as much as I'd like and I didn't see the Toulouse game.
My point was he did not have a great 6N
not going to answer the question then backhander?
Powell is a bit cack and thick but as a game breaker off the bench he could be a real asset. MOM last time he played the Boks too.
So he's not even starting for his club?
Form indeed.
No he isnt but then Xavier Rush is a bit special. His form is good though, toulouse are a quality team.
I have never said that BOD is not world class, but that he was unproven at the highest level.
Turns out he's done more than I thought including 2 wins over the boks and the aussies. He's not been part of a good lions tour but not many have
Never let it be said that I won't admit when I'm wrong, and on this occasion, I was wrong.
I'm not wrong about Powell though. 😛
He's not been part of a good lions tour but not many have
The last one to Aus when he played so well was a good tour, went down narrowly to the world champs in the final test. Wilkinsons fault, idiot cant pass 😀
We lost that tour 3-0.
Can't blame that on one player.
Rudeboy are you not a rugby fan then?!
Powell is in because they don't have a big ball carrying 8, Heaslip is more of an all rounder. The other option for a carrying eight was Easter who isn't very dynamic and can't pop up in the backs and offload the way Powell can.
I can't believe we're struggling at 8.
I think they were right not to pick Easter though, I think he's lazy.
We (eng) haven't had a good 8 since dally.
What about R Jones?
I don't think Powell is physical enough, clever enough or reliable enough.
Shame Popham pissed Gatland off really.
Powell is physical enough and fast enough but doesnt do the hard graft in defence. He is also pretty thick. Popham is the same but worse. Lions in 2001 lost 2,1 to australia
Lions in 2001 lost 2,1 to australia
So we did, still not good.
Still, Powell? awwwww.
Have you lot stopped to watch Munster stuff the Scarlets then?
Have you lot stopped to watch Munster stuff the Scarlets then?
I'm not a sadist, christ that was poor team scarlets put out though. Looks like O'Leary may have a bust ankle poor sod. Who's next in line Peel, Care, Blair?
anagallis_arvensis - according to the Guardian Cusiter is the next in line. I hope so - he has been so unlucky with his international appearances - 3 times now he has claimed the starting berth for Scotland and each time he has got injured and someone else grabs the place and makes it their own.
Went on the last lions tour and got 1/2 a game - where he did really well
Spot on TJ.
That said I think Blair sold himself short in the 6N's also. Would have liked to have seen him on the plane. Not sure he merits it though
Confirmed broken ankle for O'Leary. He will be back but tough draw after the announcement on Tuesday
Cussiter wouldnt be my choice, but I'm sure he'd do well, who ever it is for some reason with scrum half (a position we have real strength in depth) I wouldnt bet against whoever it is startig the tests.
For those of you who don't get Scrum V, they mentioned that Nick Robinson (Blues) is officially on standby to go out to SA should anything happen to Jones or O'Gara.
Going by the last couple of Lions tours he will almost certainly get the call up and quite right too on form he can boss a game better than Jones or O'Gara but he is not as reliable. Shame he's not much of a place kicker.
Probably be cheaper for the Lions committee to hire there own jet with all the toing and froing theres going to be with injuries going home and replacements on way out.
Nicky Robinson has shown some really good form this season, but it shows the lack of depth doesnt it, I mean he has to my knowledge never really played well for Wales and hasnt played for Wales in any meaningful matches. They'll be calling up Dan Biggar next.
So Blair got the nod.
Before the 6 nations I had him as shoe in for the lions. Hopefully he will recapture some form whilst out there
Quinlan now joins Tomas and tom S in not going, but in Quinlans case its because he's a dirty thug.
[url=
lions team v Royal XV:
Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales).
Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England).
Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England/New Zealand Maoris).
Really annoys me that he's playing [i]for[/i] the Lions having previously played [i]against[/i] them as a NZ Maori.
Good looking team otherwise.
I don't think too much can be read into that for the test team. Geech has said that everyone will get a start in the first couple of games and the guys who played in the finals at the weekend would be rested for this weekend.
If anything I think / hope thats the second 15
Potential test back three, other than that looks second teamish. Suprised that back three has been picked mind as the rest of the team is a real mix of new combinations, like 13-9, front row and second row. Earls and Roberts could be an exciting mix, just a shame there's a speedbump defending the 10 channel. Expect Hook to be test bench cover for 10 rather than O'Turnstyle especially as he covers 10, 12, 13 and 15. I expect a 5 to 2 forwards to backs mix for the test bench.
[url= http://www.justin.tv/live24live/popout ]click here for the game[/url]here we go!!
Thanks for the link dude, keep em coming
**** me, how shit?
unbelievable. crap hands at the back, one good rolling maul... not much to shout about. thanks for the link by the way.
Looking a bit better at half time but jeez some of our lads are blowing already
Blair, O'Kick a lot and and Earls to be shot at half time, Worsley proving me right and Wallace is no 8.
Never mind O'kickalot how about O'bouncealot
[url] http://theeastterrace.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/05/ronan-ogara-looking-to-patent-unique-tackling-technique.html [/url]
2 missed Lions tries in 2 minutes
Well that was a pretty awful display on Saturday - hopefully Wednesday will be better. Not many people played half as well as they can - they all looked tired by half time too which doesn't bode well. Hopefully there will be a stronger team out on Wednesday
Good points - lee Byrne, Flutey looked lively when he did play. Roberts may have broke a few tackles but not convinced by his display - didn't provide much more in attack
Bad points - the rest! back row was slow and awful at the breakdown, Second row took two steps backward most of the time and seemed to take the ball standing still. Front row poor in the loose (difficult to tell in the scrums as not many went well!)
Not great but first games are always a bit sketchy, a win is a win. Now onto better things.
As a Welshman I was very interested to see the Baba's did so well 😉
Pigface can't argue...
Lions win, Wales win...Babas win...good weekend! 😆
Looks like their saving Murray and Ford for the sat game. Can't be much worse than the pack that played on Sat.
Apart from the front row who looked very average thought the pack did ok, steady and workman like rather than stellar. The ref didnt ping there front row for popping up at all. Not sure if this is SH ref interpretation or just a cack ref
Adam Jones destroyed his opposite number in the scrums but did F all else as did Sheridan both looked like donkey's with a poor workrate though and Rees is just plain shit. I suppose to be fair to Jones and Sheridan dragging that bulk around at altitude with no time to prepare is tough. Gethin and Murray would be my test props. Blair was beyond awful so I will forgive the shit display from O'Gara, almost felt sorry for him.
Robbo, I think Roberts was very good but never had any support, Earls was either always in the wrong place or dropped the ball and the backrow went AWOL. I think Roberts with O'Driscol outside could be tasty. Byrne, Roberts, Bowe and the desire to keep goinng and pull it all back were the plus points.
Yeah, the ref wasn't exactly as sharp as he should have been considering he's supposed to be one of the best in the world.
I'd give the Lions the benefit of the doubt because of altitude and heat - don't forget it's warmer there than here, and a lot of the players will not have played in any heat for a few years because of the crap weather we've had over here lately. Excuses, yes. Poor excuses, yes again.
The Lion's back row was appalling. But then Worsley doesn't exactly play the dynamic game that Williams plays, and the 8 was playing out of position. They didn't combine well - understatement.
As for stand out players - 3 out of 4 tries from the Ospreys, can't ask more.
The poor players were exactly the ones you would expect - Blair, Earls, Worsley. All borderline tourists, and when Blair was called up most people I know asked why a handful of other 9s hadn't been selected in front of him. A token Scot. Shane Williams tried too hard and disappointed.
The Golden Lions next at altitude, with a proper partisan crowd, and a few questionable selections again. I'll cross every thing I can possibly cross.
Rugby is for toffs, as is cricket for that matter.
"loddrik - Member
Rugby is for toffs, as is cricket for that matter.
"
Try standing on a terrace in south Wales and arguing that one.
I think Roberts with O'Driscol outside could be tasty. Byrne, Roberts, Bowe and the desire to keep goinng and pull it all back were the plus points.
Yeh I would agree with that as Roberts should be able to draw in a number of tacklers and hopefully pop it off to BOD who should be in the right place! We will see how it goes tomorrow evening. Im interested to see how Tom Croft will go as well and I think this backrow should go much better than on Sat.
loddrik - MemberRugby is for toffs, as is cricket for that matter.
Ironic isnt it someone comes onto a forum thats about a middle class sport and is so middle class its probably powered by extra virgin olive oil and starts going on about toffs 🙄
Jamie Roberts is 100% of teh awesomeness!
croft is also the don of running fast for a big fella. Roberts is having a bloody good game.
Agree with you there CFH - and BOD [i] is[/i] god
This is much more like it. Forwards roughing 'em up in the tight and the loose and getting the platform for the fancy boys to do their stuff. A couple of folk really nailing down their test place. Roberts, Croft.
Bring on ford and Murray for the second half. Those boys will do the stuff