Winters coming;all inclusive rugby thread.

Bookies are usually right so Warburton it is.
My choice would be Adam Jones who I love almost as much as Gav.

POC

I’d have gone for Adam jones too.

Lions captain: AWJ.

Lions captain: AWJ.

I was saying this years ago. I still say it.

A fine player, and deserving of the spot. POC may well push him hard on current form, though! Either way, those two at 4 and 5? Yes, please!

The bookies have two three players now odds on, so even they’re hedging a bit. Truth is , they haven’t a clue ‘cos every bit of info contradicts another.
I know it’s been a while since your post, but Ryan Jones (!!??) is now the current favourite at 3/16 for captain.
But weirdly, he’s still only 4/1 to start.

Another vote for AWJ. About time the Welsh got a shot anyway.

Retiring hero! Off to start his own plumbing business. “It’s all pipes and leaks, so I have kept my hand in”

Cipriani v Bus

What a tit! Why are Sale out doing pub crawls during the season though ffs!

He was obviously hammered, he has spent all season avoiding contact with fast moving objects (centres,No8’s etc etc)

IGMC

Sooner he ***** off the better as far as I’m concerned!
As to the rest of the squad, shows why we are so bloody crap! 🙁

@duckman no need to get your coat, it’s been more than just this year, his defensive frailties were a major issue in Australia.

As I posted before Warburton as captain for me. Adam Jones is a great player and a first XV choice but I’m not sure he’s going to last the the tour physically so not a captain. POC himself says his main argument is “I’m fresh” but he’s a big risk fitness wise too, too much to make him captain.

I cannot think of a single reason for appointing Warburton as captain. He was dropped as captain of wales due to poor performances, and isn’t (certainly shouldn’t be) nailed on for a start. Lydiate is more talented and Robshaw more consistent. Out of his last 8-10 international games, he played well for about 3. It would be a massive shame if he gets it (which he probably will) over someone far more deserving.

To be fair Warburton has come right back to form hasn’t he? A consistent player isn’t good enough for the Lions test team.

……neither is an inconsistent one. And, in all fairness Robshaw offers a lot more than consistency (not that I’m offering him us as capt).

Hasn’t Warburton’s inconsistency largely to do with coming back from injury though?

Perhaps, but you have to question the management if they’re playing an injured player when other high quality options are available.
Googling “warburton injury” gives results with a lot of different dates. It seems he’s a bit fragile.
He’s a damn fine player on his day, but those days aren’t often enough for me. Not with so many very, very good alternatives.

Pub crawl a couple of days before a game ? WTF.

Warburton hardly ever finishes a game or plays two in a row. However his best is much better than Robshaw at 6 or 7. Adam is much more resistant so not sure i understand the comments above.

However his best is much better than Robshaw at 6 or 7.

We’ll have to agree to disagree there. Perhaps his best is better at 7, but at 6? Absolutely no chance whatsoever.

No way on this earth is hovis better at 6 than Robshaw! Robshaw was one of the players of the tournament in the 6n’s….Warburton had one great game. Robshaw is very short of form atm though..

Warburton is far better hence wales smashing england senseless a few weeks ago have you forgotten about that. Robshaw was a real weak link in defence in that game. Roberts was running over him for fun.

Robshaw played 7 all six nations, he’s not a real 6 😀

I remember that game, and the 7 games preceding it where Warburton was a liability (and got dropped and stripped of his captaincy) and wales got smashed by Samoa (amongst others) whilst Robshaw was on fire and England beat the All Blacks (and Ireland).

got dropped

Got injured actually.

wales got smashed by Samoa (amongst others)

he only played the last 9 mins so I’m not sure we can blame him for that. He did play in the narrow defeat by Aus, who incidently munched england where robshaw got taken to the cleaners by Hooper. More you think about it the more you start to wonder how the norro virus may have helped england.

Could you give me examples of how warburton was a liability in the games wales lost as his play was by no means the reason. Cpataincy could be questioned but the reason for Wales losing was more to do with injuries to others especially Adam Jones and a confidence shot 10.
Do you not remember how england were utterly and completely destroyed in every department by wales?

Do you not remember how england were utterly and completely destroyed in every department by wales?

Posted 13 seconds ago # Report-Post

Were they? proof please or it didn’t happen 😈 😈

Edit, I am kidding!

Do you not remember how england were utterly and completely destroyed in every department by wales?

Yes, I do. I also remember;

wales got smashed by Samoa (amongst others)

More you think about it the more you start to wonder how the norro virus may have helped england.

That’s tired, even the ABs admit that wasn’t the case.

How long has it been since wales beat australia again? where is the tour?

some proof, first the build up to wales second try note the ineffectual 7

then a few missed tackles

and thats before we even consider the scrums

only got till next tuesday to play this game boys, dont give up too easily 😆

Warburton’s not even a first choice flanker for his country any more.
Tipuric’s well ahead of him now at openside, and Ozzy pitches and conditions are never going to swing that back in Warburton’s favour.
And he only got a Wales game at 6 ‘cos of RJones’ injury.
That makes him unlikely to start, and even if he did, he’s proven before that he doesn’t always last. At least Robshaw won’t be turning up for training with a sicknote from his mom.
IMO, any back row’s a bad choice for captain this tour. Don’t think any of them (with captain experience) will play all three tests. Too much chance of injury, and too many excellent alternatives.

And front row’s too much of a lottery, so for me, AWJ or POC.

Tipuric is good and certainly has had better form for the majority of the season, but Warburton is better at more aspects than Tips when at his best. I agree though that flanker open and blind will be hugely competitive and some very good players will miss out. Less strength at 8 imo. They should make Toby captain, then we wouldnt have to listen to endless drivel in press conferences as he hardly ever seems to speak.

Ouch

http://news.sky.com/story/1082782/danny-cipriani-hit-by-double-decker-bus

Toby?
TOBY??!

SOB 4 no8 😉

AWJ or Ryan (how is Ryan by the way?) seem like good choices as test captains but I feel they will do far better without the extra pressures.

Someone like POC or BOD will handle this better but may or not play too often on the tour. Whenever the Lions have been mentioned or there has been media around the Lions BOD has been the man fielding the question (of course recent injury did make him more available though)…

To be fair, in recent tours the teams have been rotated quite a lot between tests so it is very hard to predict who will be around for all tests. A “tour captain” such as BOD/ POC could be good…

Lydiate is more talented recovering from injury and Robshaw more consistent is a donkey

FTFY

Pub crawl a couple of days before a game ? WTF.

Sale dont play until the 4th so 9 days! I dont think player have to be teetotal for the whole season.

In all fairness being on the lash would explain a bit for Sale this year.

Lydiate is more talented recovering from injury and Robshaw more consistent is a donkey

Lydiate seemed fully recovered in the last few games I’ve seen him play, got plenty of tackling practise too as he plays for the dregs

He’s getting some match fitness back but there’s a big difference between Pro12 and test match rugby. I’m sure Gatland will have a few surprises for us though.