To be honest I think Tipuric has looked the better player for a while. I'd make Adam Jones captain just for the interviews!!!
I really can't see Ashton going-he really is just too much of a knobber. He did look good in the highlights of last weekends game though when he wasn't in the bin.
Hope Ashton doesn't go and Gatland takes a hard line with some of the prima donnas who will think they're already on the plane.
What price Cipriani gets a call?
What price Cipriani gets a call?
i'll give you 80 to one
Aye - that seems about right. I was just thinking of rugby playing idiots and his name came to mind!
Decent player wasted.
Henson is an idiot with a bigger chance, Gatland loves him, although I'd still give you 50 to 1.
Cipriani is still young though and lets not forget he looked pretty good until that horrific leg break.
Anywhere other than S4C showing Ospreys v Ulster?
Wouldnt have thought so.
BBC Website streams Ulster games or English commentary is on the red button on s4c
Well 2 from 2 for Ulster, very pleased with that considering we are still not back to full strength. I thought both sides were poor in the first half but the Ospreys took the gift we gave them. Ulster pack were very poor first half until we bulked it up a bit. Ulster much better in second half and probably just about deserved the win, the try was very well worked.
Big home game next week against Munster would be great to be 3 from 3 after that one. Ain't that right DD?
Ospreys would have one if Henson still played for them!
Would they?? He would be too busy throwing ice cubes at children or something.
Hopefully Saracens and Toulon will lose today and I can keep this up!
I'll give 30 : 1 against Wilkinson too despite the headlines.
No chance of Wilko going as a player. Farrell would be my choice for 10.
All round solid player.
Solid allround player who has done very little in international rugby and is not first choice for his club. Sexton is most likely at the moment imo
Actually, sexton is the only choice. Farrell and priestland are just not good enough.
If Priestland comes back into form he may well tour but he is pretty flakey, would mean picking 1/2p to kick goals too. I could still see James Hook coming to the fore again if he continues to impress at 10 for Perp. 9, 10 and 12 are real problem positions for the Lions. There are a number of big ball carrying centres available like Roberts, Tuilagi and Davis, but the only creativity comes from a 500 year old BOD and I'm not sure his body is up to the job. At 9 we have Phillips and very little else.
Actually, sexton is the only choice. Farrell and priestland are just not good enough.
That's truly depressing. Because it's true. 🙁
Hook at 10? Would be lovely to see if he can come to form.
Ospreys should of won if they didn't turn over so much ball 😡 going to be a long season at this rate.
Exeter are a gutsy team.
How did Dwarfs Sale do? 😉
So nobody rates Greg Laidlaw?
Maybe a bit light but he is a very astute player.
tiggs121 - Member
So nobody rates Greg Laidlaw?
I'm sure someone rates him, but he's not here right now. 🙁
*Raises glass to the Embra One! Cheers, TJ*
😉
If Floods kicking doesn't get screwed up by England coaches again this season, he'll be going. He's the best attacking fly half England.
Oe thing that everybody forgets about young Farrell, he couldn't nail down the fly half spot for any of the England age group teams. He's nowhere near as good as Ford (another Leicester player) who will be the next big (in a small body) thing.
Laidlaw and care are perfectly capable 9s. Plenty of options there.
12 and 13 is where the lions could lack potency. Eng have nothing to add (yet) other than tuilagi. Roberts hasn't stood out for Wales for some time and BOD isn't getting any younger. Loads of wings and full backs.
Priestland will go (prob Farrell too), but they're still not good enough. Fords bulked up a bit this year I thought?
Hasn't the sale 10 ever been in the running for Wales? Top scorer in the prem last season and has looked good every time I've seen him play.
Good point about Flood I forgot about him.
Laidlaw and care are perfectly capable 9s. Plenty of options there.
Not sure if they fit the Gatlandball game plan and they dont call him Cementhead on gwlad for nothing!
Roberts hasnt stood out for Wales? Really? He is an excellent player when not playing on one leg which he was for sometime last season.
Roberts is an excellent player, I agree. He's not been his own measure of excellent in recents times (for Wales) I don't think. Maybe it's down to injury.
I see that the BBC are reporting that JW is in contention. He's been doing well for Toulon. More likely that gats is trying to wind the French up though 😀
Gethin wont be released apparently so doubt St Johnny would be. Think its Gats on a wind up.
Connor Murray is the closest in style to Phillips, and has beaten the Aussies in the southern Hemisphere already. Not as much as a @*@* to play against yet, but good defence. Did a good job on Genia in the WC, and that's half the job with beating them. I'd reckon he'll be on tour as one of the back up 9's. Phillips has got to be first choice though, the oz hate playing him.
[i]"12 and 13 is where the lions could lack potency" [/i]
jonathon davies is a cracking player, so imo, we've got at least 2 top 13's. Agree that 12 is a worry if Roberts is injured though.
Phillips has got to be first choice though, the oz hate playing him.
He certainly does get up their collective noses, doesn't he?
Problem with Jonathan Davis is he couldnt pass water, combine him with Roberts or Tuilagi and you centres would have the combined "hands" of Abu Hamzar and that bird from CBbies.
Problem with Jonathan Davis is he couldnt pass water, combine him with Roberts or Tuilagi and you centres would have the combined "hands" of Abu Hamzar and that bird from CBbies.
PMSL
Ouch A-A 😀
As a Scot I will be interested to see if Laidlaw can throw his hat into the ring for the 10 jersey. I have a sneaking suspicion Flood may do enough over the season to edge it mind. In other news the Times had a picture of Cipriani tackling somebody yesterday (don't get too excited,it was only Charlie Hodgson)Roberts and Grampa o'D in the centres..OR..play Roberts at prop;it's not as if the convicts XV bother with forwards either.
Interesting Poll on the telegraph. Who should Gatland pick.
Based on the options avaiable I have:
Kearney
Bowe
BOD
Roberts
North
Sexton
Phillips
Healy
Best
Jones
Gray
Davies
Ferris
Warburton
Heaslip
The Independent seem to think that Dan Cole is a shoe in.....
I'd have Cole on the bus, but not totally sure he's my first pick yet. Then again, not sure who is!
Whisper it quietly, but I don't see BOD going on this tour.
I can't quite make up my mind on Cole. Last season in the Heine the Ulster pack took Ayerza,Castro then Cole apart, then in the 6N Cole destroyed Tom Court, I guess it maybe says a lot more about the players around you than the ability of the props.
Whisper it quietly, but I don't see BOD going on this tour.
CFH - Catch yourself on. 33-1 that he starts.
BOD MUST go. Otherwise Tuilangi(sp) and Roberts in the centre(shudders)
Unsure of Cole but pick Healy? please.
Last season in the Heine the Ulster pack took Ayerza,Castro then Cole apart, then in the 6N Cole destroyed Tom Court, I guess it maybe says a lot more about the players around you than the ability of the props.
Did you see what the england pack did to ireland in the last meeting?
Different sides of the scrum my friendUnsure of Cole but pick Healy? please
I know that but one is rather good and one....isn't that good at all.
Edit; I haven't seen [i]that[/i] much of Healy, maybe I'm being harsh. what I have seen has been quite average though.
No I agree that if you are just picking a 'prop' without specifying LH or TH then Cole is better than Healy. However the Tele poll I linked two separated the side of the scrum. Therefore the choice was between Adam Jones and Cole and that is no contest.
Fair enough (although I don't wholly disagree that it's no contest). Did they not have jenkins, corbs or marler on there?
Pick Adam Jones and build from there. Can't remember the last time anyone got one over him.
Tuilangi was dropped by England last time out, let alone being a Lions test starter although I hope he comes on well this season.
Wilko has been playing well in France for several years but that has been no indication as to his performance on the international stage.
The biggest concern is a long hard season (well the Premiership and Europe anyway), and then minimal prep time so it may be a case of picking who is left standing.
The biggest concern is a long hard season (well the Premiership and Europe anyway), and then minimal prep time so it may be a case of picking who is left standing.
You're not wrong there. Also the 6N in the feb/mar and possible HC S/F, QF and finals in april/may.
