The Lions Tour of Oz 2013

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Mick are to trying to take credit for the above

> cut and paste job?

Eh, no. Obviously not.

[Alan Medic]

Gatland was supposed to keep it quiet but it would appear not in Wales.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/10008892/Picking-Sam-Warburton-as-Lions-captain-would-create-a-real-headache-in-the-back-row.html

A headache according to Brian Moore.

[Chillaxed]

A bit of 'old school' banter, Brian Moore style:

"So comprehensive was the mauling it moved Sky co-commentator Stuart Barnes to make the astute observation that ?there isn?t a tighthead in the world that hasn?t taken a pounding from an older man.? Indeed."

[Alan Medic]

Squad being announced tomorrow. I think it will be more about who doesn't get picked for a while! JW should be picked as a 10 but having commitments in France may not be in his favour.

[JohnL]

Well Warburton capt.

headline on BBC is 'No JW'

No Robshaw either - 4 x Welsh back row forwards.

[Mick Mac]

11.12 Captain, as expected, is Sam Warburton. Squad below:

Full-backs: Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg, Rob Kearney

Wings: Tommy Bowe, Sean Maitland, George North, Alex Cuthbert

Centres: Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Brian O'Driscoll, Manu Tuilagi

Fly-halves: Owen Farrell, Jonathan Sexton

Scrum-halves: Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs, Conor Murray

Props: Cian Healy, Adam Jones, Dan Cole, Matt Stevens, Mako Vunipola, Gethin Jenkins

Hookers: Dylan Hartley, Richard Hibbard, Tom Youngs

Locks: Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell, Geoff Parling, Richie Gray, Ian Evans

Back row: Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Tom Croft, Sam Warburton

[Mick Mac]

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02550/graph_2550153a.jpg

[Chillaxed]

No Robshaw, Best and inclusion of Matt Stevens the big surprises for me.

[Mick Mac]

Wales 15,England 10,Ireland 9,Scotland 3

I think Ireland can be happy with its representation, most of the potential candidates made the squad, with Rory Best the obvious exception.

The team has the potential to have a good balanced between England Wales and Ireland, but don't be surprised if its more than half welsh.

[david_carnell]

Can't believe there is no room for Robshaw. Shocking decision considering Croft is going.

Also amazed that Hartley gets in ahead of Best.

Good choice of Scottish backs but surprised Maitland gets in ahead of Visser.

[Mick Mac]

Wilkonson ruled himself out apparently - so maybe Farrell (or less likely sexton) was lucky.

[Alan Medic]

I'd have liked to have seen Madigan picked as a third no.10 who can play elsewhere. I'm sorry Zebo isn't going as he's exciting to watch. The selections of Hartley & Stevens leave me cold. No Rory Best either. Too many crooked darts? Still there will be replacements even before the tour starts I bet.

[maxxi]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Wilkonson ruled himself out apparently - so maybe

> Farrell (or less likely sexton) was lucky.

Surely only because of Toulon and his not being available at the start? I think - like Robshaw - he will join the party when the inevitable injuries occur.

[Mick Mac]

Too much competition for robshaw so he was never gonna go but Best is a different matter

A text from an English friend of mine on Robshaw.

[JohnL]

A few people saying Gatland likes big hookers - and he was one himself

Did he have issues with two Hookers under 17 St ?

Gatland admitted they discussed this extensively.

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Too much competition for robshaw so he was never

> gonna go but Best is a different matter

>

> A text from an English friend of mine on Robshaw.

[Alan Medic]

Looks like Rory Best is in with a chance of touring now that Dylan Hartley is likely to get a ban. What a plonker.

[Alan Medic]

Hartley gets 11 week ban. That was quick from the RFU.

[Mick Mac]

Great news for Best. Hope he gets a run out.

[SheldorAFK]

I can see Hibbard and Best challenging for the no.2 jersey but Youngs has proven recently that his throwing in the line out is very poor. Lions will definitely need to make use of the ability of O'Connell and Alun Wyn in the line out

[red devil]

Is anyone interested in this?... http://fantasygames.telegraph.co.uk/fantasylions/

If enough people join in we could form our own EDF Super League...

[Mick Mac]

I have selected a team RD.

[red devil]

In order to save time and get a Super League set up, I've auto-selected a team Mick. The Super League is called EDF Rugger Buggers, and the Pin No. is 8038592.

Anybody else is welcome to join in. It costs nothing and you can have up to 3 teams...

[red devil]

I've just spotted on the website that there are extra points to be gained by making simple predictions for Saturday's first game...

[red devil]

Another thing I've spotted is that there is Public/Private option for your team. It's defaulted to Public, so unless you click on Private, everyone else in the League will be able to view your team...

[Alan Medic]

I'll enter if I can get my head around the rules.