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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?
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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