Tom B - Shaw is a bit of a freak, but lets face it if you can still play well enough to get in the toulon pack with those legends, then most would sell their grannies for the chance
Played or not, he was selected which is what was asked.
On a side note away from lions speculation...
It really pees me off that a player can be clearly knocked unconscious yet allowed to continue. The consequences of a second knock could be massive
Anyone going, then?
I agree DanW and I think Warburtons loss of form is due to one too many bangs to the head. The sight of him knocked out then getting up and being sick then playing on against aus this summer was appalling. Refs and doctors need to do more imo.
Apparently the Lions team wiill be the england team with Back and DillyDally on the bench.
all those Moriarty's are thugs
I had a random thought- The midweek games are generally speaking the Lions trouncing a club side while the club side take lumps out of the Lions trying to reduce the number of players available for the tests.
So in response to that how about a specific mid week side to counter the skullduggery 🙂
Healey, Hartley, Julian White
What second and backrows like a scrap? Can Jamie Cudmore claim Welsh residency after his stint there in the early 2000's 🙂 I think a welcome return for Powell is in order!
Martin Roberts at scrum half would wind anyone up
ROG at 10 just to see him try and catch a high ball after a few bumps on the head. Being a doormat would tire the opposition too.
Back 3- Stoddard, Ashton and Liam Williams. The 2 Welsh are always being niggly and Ashton can get the proof he needs that he isn't a tough guy 🙂
Centres- Manu for sure as he could use Ashton as a punch bag in training to get ready for match day 🙂 Probabaly Manu by himself is enough.
It is a genius plan, I hope Gatland is reading 🙂
Could be an opportunity to blood that young welsh traveller lad in the front row. I understand he likes the odd "robust debate". 😀
Grewcock?
Maybe Trevor 'Jackie Chan' Brennan could make a return
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Grewcock is a liability. Not just with getting carded but to his own players.
Ausitn Healey remarked that he wasn't a dirty player (!?!?!?!?!?) he's just a bit clumsy!?!?!?!? He regailed a story about him treading on Kyran Braken's head once during a match. They were on the same side. This was in his defence after he stepped over a ruck on the try line and kicked Dwayne Peel in the head.
Samson Lee Wrecker? No idea of his background but he has been getting under the skin skin of his opponents rather a lot this season 🙂
Grewcock is perfect for the mid week Lions side!
In fairness bigblackshed there are a lot of rugby players who aren't too bright! An ex-Wales and Cardiff prop (amateur days) once told me of a team mate who would make a habit of punching himself in the face in rucks hard enough to draw blood and try and get opponents sent off!
Which reminds me... where is Mungo nowadays 🙂
I didn't realise that Julian White retired...he's a farmer now!
Neil Best would be a good pick in the back row for the midweek side. He's bat shit mental!!
Which reminds me... where is Mungo nowadays
Now, if we want to talk about stupid; this this the yardstick!
I watched the sale v exeter game and the commentators mentioned that although fit, mongo couldn't get a start. They didn't actually call him mongo.
Samson Lee Wrecker?
That's the one!
Mark Regan?
POC?
Johnson?
BlindMelon is there a video of that incident?
Lawes. Hamilton. Delon Armitage. Who at 10 Quade Cooper is the only complete knobber that springs to mind at 10 and he's the likely opposition!
Healy
Hartley
Lee
POC
Lawes
Powell
Clarke
O malley
That would be a suitably abrasive pack wouldn't it?
Spike plus Gav would be a pretty annoying half back pairing.
BlindMelon is there a video of that incident?
No video that I can find but a bit more info here, I believe the Ulster fan was less than complimentary about Trevor's mother
A couple of bits in there made me laugh;
Brennan, who has 13 caps for Ireland, was banned by rugby authorities three years ago after he repeatedly smashed Ulster fan Patrick Bamford in the face
described his lifetime ban from the sport as “really harsh”.
😀
yeah he was a bit of a nutter tbh
Awesome mid week pack Wrecker
I'm not sure Lawes is cut out for the mid week side. Need some nastier and thicker chaps.
I wouldn't waste Mikey P mid week either. It's a shame we can't call upon any of the tiny, cowardly eye gouging Frech scrum halves to keep the mid week clubs in check.
Delon is perfect at fullback 🙂
Given free reign I would probably send Gav out by himself 🙂
I'm not sure Lawes is cut out for the mid week side. Need some nastier and thicker chaps.
Yeah, I agree actually. He seems to have got a bad rep based on one incident.
I don't see Gav as a "tough guy" either. More of a niggler.
Fair play to Brennan though,the spectator would have been mouthing off to a guy he wouldn't dare abuse in the street. I hope he was given a lifetime ban from all Ulster games as he created the situation that got him a sore face. Was there not a similar fan/player interaction with a large South Sea Islander who had been subbed off in last years Hiney cup?
Cant have Stoddard as he has retired after never recovering fully from breaking his leg against england in the world cup warm up game. And Powell is brainless not abrasive.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21430799
Howley has announced the same team that played france will start v Italy. Not sure why he needs to announce this to the press now or why AW Jones isnt starting. Coombes has done well but Alun-Wyn is a different class.
Thats very strange to announce so soon, whats the thinking there? I'd bring AWJ back as well, he was fantastic against Ulster last week. Totally dominated the breakdown.
And Powell is brainless not abrasive.
Agreed but he [i]is[/i] a hard bastard.
Agreed re AWJ...is he in the squad then? I've not read the link.
4 years back mongo was one of my favourite players...what has gone wrong there? Aside from being a tool that is! He had been playing reasonably well for Sale from what I heard.
Wales have better players available than Powell who also doesnt really fit the Gatlandball model of a number 8 (pretty much another flanker). He is also too prone to brain explosions.
AWJ is in the squad, could also play for the Ospreys this week to get more gametime.
Really sad news about Stoddart, I hadn't realised he'd retired. I would expect a fracture like his to still give pain year on so (and it is amazing he made it through a few games) so the pain isn't a big surprise but retirement is a shock. I would imagine it was more a case of where he is in his career that forced the retirement.
Mongo is meant to be a good lad but as AA says prone to rank stupidity 😆 I think he is a good player but not a great player. Gatland likes his players to be professional and Mongo can't be trusted.
He's not got into too much bother at Sale has he? Actually was it hin that stuck his fingers up at some fans?
Garin Jenkins was a loon in the front row and could actually play 😆
Mark Perego on the flank utterly barking 😆
I remember watching a game where Trevor Brennan came on and someone said "oh watch out this guy is a nutter" about 30 seconds later he was heading back to the side lines.
We've forgotten Calum Clarke in all of this!!
See wreckers post tom 😉
Unsuprisingly Bradley is to leave Edinburgh at the end of the season.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21431483
Ah bollocks, the lions is going to be shit. Gatland is now saying he's worried to pick too many English players as he's worried that the papers follow to closely and people want to beat them. Sod form hey? What an utter pillock.
Actually, I think he's AA in the real world. Think about it, same team selections, same refusal to see English talent and you've never seen them in the same room have you?!?!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21435112
An English core is always important for the Lions as England (sadly) are the only home nation that really have the world beating mentality. Put it this way, of all the home nations you would have to favour England as the ones to beat the AB's regardless of squad on the day. Just based on belief and the expectancy within themselves to win just because they are England 🙂
Add the that the exciting talent from the other home nations and you have a solid squad with a lot of potential.
Another question for the Lions discussion:
Who are the game changers for each nation? Not the good players, but the guys with the real power to pull out a moment of brilliance and change a game.
England: Farrel? Wilkinson! Morgan, Brown, Burns, Care, Varndell? Wade?
Ireland: BOD, Boss?
Wales: 1/2p, Phillips, J. Davies, Hook, Tipuric, Walker?
Scotland: Hogg, Maitland? Denton, Laindlaw? Visser?
DanW. Game changers?
For Ireland: O'Connell, A bit long in the tooth now.
After this weekend to prove he's back on form: Ryan Jones. He was immense. And a true leader.
Agree with Phillips. His inability to deliver from the breakdown without taking a step is his biggest weakness. His ability to wind the opposition up within minutes of the first whistle is his biggest strength. Plus he can tackle.
Hook is a bit like Michalak, being mercurial (often crap).
BOD changes games.
Wilkinson and ROG mean you play the game where they want it to be played. Masters of closing out a game.
I think North could be considered a game changer and dont underestimate a forwards ability to do that with a turnover or big scrum. Ryan Jones will captain the midweek team imo and do a fine job of it too.
Oh and Gatland always talks crap to the press. Mostly just for a laugh I think. You'll learn to ignore him.
An English core is always important for the Lions as England (sadly) are the only home nation that really have the world beating mentality. Put it this way, of all the home nations you would have to favour England as the ones to beat the AB's regardless of squad on the day. Just based on belief and the expectancy within themselves to win just because they are England
thaqt worked so well for Lord Bald didnt it! when did you start watching rugby?
An English core is always important for the Lions
Important for Adidas to sell more shirts 😀
I was searching for info on Thomsons ban for stamping last autumn and found this article on rucking:
Basically Cleary is saying that banning rucking was a mistake and it should still be allowed in order to stop players laying over the ball and slowing it down. I have to say I agree with him. There was nothing worse than knowing you ended up wrong side and the opposition pack were about to trundle over you. You certainly made and effort to get out of the way.
Agree with Phillips. His inability to deliver from the breakdown without taking a step is his biggest weakness. His ability to wind the opposition up within minutes of the first whistle is his biggest strength. Plus he can tackle.
To be fair, youngs delivery is even slower. Phillips and care for me.
