If fit – BOD.
No doubts in my mind on this one. Tuilagi/JDavies as back up.

If fit – BOD.
No doubts in my mind on this one. Tuilagi/JDavies as back up.

Scots for a lions test team

In the team – Ford, Gray

On the plane with a chance to prove themselves worthy of a test place – laidlaw, Weir, Hogg, Denton, Barclay, Brown.

A Jones
R Ford
G Jenkins
P OConnell
R Gray
S Ferris
S Warburton
J Heaslip

9 Drunkdriver
J Sexton
G North
J Roberts
J Davies
M Tuilangi(sp)
R Kearney

That pack has a bit about the night about them! I watched the Brumbies ‘Tahs game at the weekend, the scrum would not really seem to be a priority for them yet.Imagine the carnage that front five would create. Alas I think it will be a bit late for PoC and BoD.

No glitch 8) good work STW

Duckman – I’d like to find a place for Denton in that and / or Barclay and / or Brown. Not easy tho in the back row – loads of great back rowers around right now.

10 is wide open – I’d probably agree with you that sexton is the man right now but plenty with potential out there – Preistland, Farrell, Weir , Laidlaw

TJ
I reckon Rennie could be in with a shout, depending on the gameplan, as cover at 7.
Warburton is in pole for that, but does have a habit of not playing complete matches/tournments and the other international opensides aren’t true 7s (Obrien and Robshaw). I’d expect Pocock to beat them to the breakdown more often, and if we’re gonna use the backs we need to support them fast. Another option is Shane Jennings, but I think Rennie’s ahead on form.
Its another reason, for me, for BOD (and probablly Phillips in the same vein) to play as he’s the best centre-openside hybrid there is.

My Irish selection:
to start – POC, Ferris, BOD, Kearney
Very Close – Healy, Ryan, O’Brien, Heaslip, Sexton, Bowe
Squad player in with a shout – Best, Murray/Reddan, Earls,
Longshots – Jennings, Zebo

duckman
Interesting side. I like it a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a “surprise” selection like Manu on the Wing. If he learns the positioning that could be fun to watch. I think I’d find space for BOD and Faletau in the starting 15, but would be happy to support that side.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a “surprise” selection like Manu on the Wing. If he learns the positioning that could be fun to watch

Not sure why you’d need to, with two experienced international wings already big enough to play that role. North/Cuthbert

You’d seriously take Cuthbert in a side before Manu?
That has to be a joke, right?

I forgot Rennie.

Need to see a bit more from Cuthbert and North than we got last week CFH 🙂

Need to see a bit more from Manu as well. None of them fit to lace Shane Williams boots or Billy Whizzes

No doubt about North as one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Its stretching it a bit to describe Cuthbert as an “experienced international wing” at the moment. That’s probably more apt for a player like Tommy Bowe tbh, and he’s a much safer option. Or 1/2penny too, with a bit of kicking cover thrown in.
I’m not against Cuthbert, and he could be great in a year’s time, but he’s already been substituted at half time because his defensive positioning was targeted as a weak point. I’d like to see him on the tour, and with his size/speed it would be good if he proves to be good enough, but at the moment he’s got a lot to learn.
edit : (and at the risk of being cheeky, so does anyone who thinks he’s a Lions first choice 😉 )

North over Manu oh yes not sure about Cuthbert yet.

Billy Whiz was so overated

Tim Visser – the best wing in the northern hemisphere. Just check out his record in the magners / rabo laying for a team that loses a lot of games – scores many more tries than anyone else and voted player of the league or whatever a couple of times

Pigface – really? I think he was the best one on one runner I have ever seen

Are players being picked on current form or reputation?
Selections like denton suggest form, ones like BOD reputation.

Oh and billy whizz was the player shane wishes he was.

Can we take a Dutchman?
Seriouslly, is he eligible or when would he be?

Wrecker that is a good one 😆 one of the funniest things I have heard in ages.

Visser is Scotland qualified in June – we all expect him on the scots summer tour

Oh and billy whizz was the player shane wishes he was.

How’s that then?
Is that more caps? More points? How would you calculate something like that? Would you base it on the support they had from the teams they played in? Or is it simply an opinion?

I don’t know why you’re laughing. It wasn’t a joke, nothing funny was posted. Nervous reaction to home truths perhaps?

I tell you what davidjones (I wonder who you support?)
Why don’t you pull this comment;

Billy Whiz was so overated

For the same scrutiny?

Manu’s form is being judged in terms of England’s progress. I’d not have him anywhere near a Lions test start, at the moment anyway – still has much to learn – was badly exposed when Scott Williams took him on the outside.

Err for the simple minded among us Wrecker I was laughing at your ridiculous statement, hope that clears thing up for you 🙂

James SD should be in the england set up.

Nothing ridiculous about my statement pal. Nothing any more than yours, anyway.

I tell you what davidjones (I wonder who you support?)

Well done Sherlock, but it was a half serious question. If the stats don’t back you up, it must be pure opinion, which is fine. Just don’t get so shirty when other people have other opinions or pull you on your opinion masquerading as fact.
Be a good boy and play nicely or the big boys will come round and shut you up. 😉

Thats the beauty of personal opinion 😆

Be a good boy and play nicely or the big boys will come round and shut you up.

Adam Jones to sit on you and chunk to eat the squished bits

Just don’t get so shirty when other people have other opinions or pull you on your opinion masquerading as fact.

I’m not shirty and I haven’t presented anything as fact.

Be a good boy and play nicely or the big boys will come round and shut you up.

Feel free fella.

Anyone got good candidates, with reasons, for the bench?
I don’t mean players who only just miss out on starting spots, but players that can cover multiple positions, or have other hidden skills that make them so much more valuable to be in the 22:
Props who play both sides,
Hookers who can prop,
Lineout specialists (particularlly non locks),
Half-backs happy at 9 & 10.
Any others?

To start, Halpenny covers wing, fb, and goal-kicking. If he doesn’t start, he’s in.
Farrell covers FH, centre, goal kicking. Maybe a better bench bet than either Priestland or Sexton (whoever starts).
O’brien covers 6,7,8 and the Aussies are scared of him.
Dean Ryan covers 4,5,6
Keith Earls plays anywhere you let him.

Is Laidlaw really a scrum half too? SRFU website says he is, so that might be in his favour for a bench spot.

They won’t all be in the 22, but you need some players like that who offer a lot of cover, to allow you a couple of real game changers.

Is Laidlaw really a scrum half too? SRFU website says he is, so that might be in his favour for a bench spot.

SRU!

Yes – some folk think he is better as a scrum half but I have only seen him play 10 – although when playing with Blair they often alternate which is fun

Rennie can play right across the back row, if he has a season like he is having he will be on the plane. Despite my fellow Scottish supporter’s claims the flying Dutchman isn’t quite there yet…..though he might be after NEXT years 6n. Bod picked on what he can do,plus it would prob be his last swansong and I like a bit of romance in my rugby.

Pigface – Member
James SD should be in the england set up.

POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

Coming soon JSD’s autobiography; How I did it with Clive Woodward’s daughter and Francis Baron’s Mum. A savage story of opportunity missed.

😆 he must of done something wrong.

Sam’s view of the match

Sam Warburton

Nice pop at Vincent Clerc in that article

England must be fed up of the Welsh and the Scotts. Scott Gibbs denied them at Wembley with a late try in 1999 and Scott Williams stole the ball and victory at Twickenham last weekend with less than five minutes to go

Yeah, twice in 13 years. They must be threaders 🙄
In that period, England have won at the millennium what, 5 times?
What a strange comment.

Not 6 Nations related but…

Just read Edinburgh have sold over 20,000 tickets for the HC match v Toulouse on 7 April (Easter weekend). Been to about 10 Edinburgh matches this season and they have been good days out (even the rugby has been good to watch) and would recommend a match to anyone interested.

Normally the players will come in and chat to the fans in the lounge afterwards.

Delon Artmitage got plenty of stick after the London Irish match but managed not to assault anyone on that occasion…well done him.

Wow – I must get my tickets. That will be a great crowd if they have really sold that many. A win is possible as well and would be great revenge

Thanks for the reminder – tickets now booked

East Stand top and bottom is sold out, West standing is sold out lower South and North almost sold out sothey have opened up more sections in West stand. Discounted ticket offer has been extended too.

linky

http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/edinburgh-news/4078-20-thousand-tickets-sold-as-edinburgh-rugby-chart-new-territory