Lions 2009 thread

[The GAA]

Hs the look of a predominantly dirt track team today bar 3/4 on trial for starting spots

[muppet]

Looks like probably 5 Irish to make the test team at the moment.

O'Connell, Wallace, Heaslip, O'Driscoll and Bowe.

Jones needs a good one today to keep O'Gara out. Fitzgerald has a real chance of making it 6 Irish starters while Kearney has done nothing wrong he would need a stupendous game to dislodge Byrne.

Assuming O'Callaghan is jumping in his usual front of the line-out position and if he does very well today he is not out of it either as Wyn-Jones and O'Connell may be too similar to play together in McGeehan's eyes.

Martyn Williams could upset things but I'm sticking with the famous 5.

D'Arcy and Earls look out of it at the moment.

[tyroneboi]

Always thought Bowe was a decent player but over the past 6 months he has really stepped up his game to develop into a top class winger. Having a deadly tour so far. Scored one today and set up another already.

[orangeman]

Always thought Bowe was a decent player but over the past 6 months he has really stepped up his game to develop into a top class winger. Having a deadly tour so far. Scored one today and set up another already.

He seems to have bulked up seriously recently.

[muppet]

Lions win by three.

Bowe and Moyne likely starters now.

Martyn Williams was good and scored a try but it's a tight call between him and Wallace.

Stephen Jones had a mixed bag. If Hook starts on Tuesday, O'Gara could be the starter. Hook hit the winning penalty with Jones having missed from a similar distance earlier (similar to Cardiff).

[Capt Pat]

O'Gara is the best outhalf on tour so far. Unless they go for the partnership of Jones and Phillips it will be O'Gara. Croft isn't in the same class as Wallace and Williams and I would go with both of those players for their experience with Heaslip at number 8. I would have Kearney on the left wing as well. Below is my team

15 Byrne
14 Bowe
13 O'Driscoll
12 Roberts
11 Kearney
10 O'Gara
9 Phillips
8 Heaslip
7 Wallace
6 Williams
5 O'Connell
4 I don't really know who to pick here, nobody stands out, try Wyn Jones
3 Vickery
2 Mears
1 Sheridan


That is 7 Irish, 5 Welsh and 3 English. What do you think about that?

[bcarrier]

Sheridan wont be on test team.

Jones was a mixed bag today. ROG might make team .

Backrow is 3 from 4. I think Wallace will  miss out.

DOC might make bench.

[Hound]

Some interesting comments on the test team by the Sky Sports "experts":

Despite his poor performance, all think Stephen Jones is a shoe-in for 10.

Stu Barnes: If Lions want to play a kicking/territory game Kearney could play 11, all others went for Monye.

Dewi Morris: Wallace at 6, Williams at 7.

Will Greenwood: Croft 6, Williams 7. AW Jones at lock.

Ieuan Evans and Paul Wallace: Croft 6, Wallace 7. Hines at lock.

Greenwood, Evans and Wallace: Back subs to be Hook and Kearney so every position covered.

[ludermor]

http://timesonline.typepad.com/sports_commentary/2009/06/vote-for-your-lions-xv.html
Lawrence Dallaglio
Lee Byrne (Wales); Tommy Bowe (Ire), Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Ugo Monye (Eng); Ronan O'Gara (Ire), Mike Phillips (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Lee Mears (Eng), Phil Vickery (Eng), Simon Shaw (Eng), Paul O'Connell (Ire,capt), Tom Croft (Eng), Jamie Heaslip (Ire), David Wallace (Ire).

David Walsh
Lee Byrne (Wales); Tommy Bowe (Ire), Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Luke Fitzgerald (Ire); Ronan O'Gara (Ire), Mike Phillips (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Lee Mears (Eng), Phil Vickery (Eng), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ire, capt), Tom Croft (Eng), Jamie Heaslip (Ire), David Wallace (Ire).
Stuart Barnes
Lee Byrne (Wales); Tommy Bowe (Ire), Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Ugo Monye (Eng); Stephen Jones (Wales), Mike Phillips (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Lee Mears (Eng), Phil Vickery (Eng), Nathan Hines (Scot), Paul O'Connell (Ire, capt), Joe Worsley (Eng), Jamie Heaslip (Ire), Martyn Williams (Wales).

Stephen Jones
Lee Byrne (Wales); Tommy Bowe (Ire), Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Ugo Monye (Eng); Stephen Jones (Wales), Mike Phillips (Wales); Andrew Sheridan (Eng), Lee Mears (Eng), Phil Vickery (Eng, capt), Simon Shaw (Eng), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Joe Worsley (Eng), Jamie Heaslip (Ire), Martyn Williams (Wales).


Stephen Jones showing his colours again, why does he hate the Irish so much? He had managed to fit 6 english players into the team, its a wonder he hasnt shafted O'Driscoll for Flutey.

[Hoof Hearted]

i had never of heard of Stephen Jones before, but everytime there is a rugby thread on here, he is always mentioned. what a w**ker. Did he ever play the game ? if he did it wasnt at a very high level.

[ludermor]

This is his bio from the times, he prob wrote it himself!
Stephen Jones has been rugby correspondent of The Sunday Times for more than 20 years and is regarded as one of the sport's most influential commentators. Twice named Sports Correspondent of the Year by the Sports Journalists' Association, he won William Hill's Sports Book of the Year for Endless Winter.

The first line in his Wiki page sums it up ( though it does look like it has been written by a Irish fan pretty recently!!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Jones_(journalist)
He is noted for his controversial and often provocative views, in particular his anti-Irish and anti-New Zealand tirades that have drawn much scorn from all corners of rugby

[bingobus]

O'Callaghan to captain side tomorrow, Earls at full back, Darcy and Fitzgerald also start. O'gara and Wallace on bench.

Interesting that they start Hook at 10. Might see O'gara under a bit of pressure if he puts in a good shift.

[muppet]

O'Callaghan to captain side tomorrow, Earls at full back, Darcy and Fitzgerald also start. O'gara and Wallace on bench.

Interesting that they start Hook at 10. Might see O'gara under a bit of pressure if he puts in a good shift.

B team tomorrow. Hook is out of it for the 1st test as are all the other starters. Pity about Fitzgerald.

[thebandit]

Williams is on the other wing, so that must mean Bowe and Monye on the wings for the first test. Kearney an outside chance.

[gawa316]

Lions team: K Earls (Munster & Ireland); S Williams (Ospreys & Wales), R Flutey (Wasps & England), G D'Arcy (Leinster & Ireland), L Fitzgerald (Leinster & Ireland), J Hook (Ospreys & Wales), M Blair (Edinburgh & Scotland); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks & England), R Ford (Edinburgh & Scotland), E Murray (Northampton & Scotland), S Shaw (Wasps & England), D O'Callaghan (Munster & Ireland) (capt), N Hines (Perpignan & Scotland), J Worsley (Wasps & England), A Powell (Cardiff Blues & Wales).

Replacements: M Rees (Scarlets & Wales), A Jones (Ospreys & Wales), T Croft (Leicester Tigers & England), D Wallace (Munster & Ireland), H Ellis (Leicester Tigers & England), R O'Gara (Munster & Ireland), U Monye (Harlequins & England).


Can't see any of this starting 15 making the test team at wkd, unless there are some injuries.

My team for 1st test would be

1. Jenkins
2. Mears
3. Vickery
4.POC
5.Wyn-Jones
6. Croft
7. Wallace
8. Heaslip
9. Phillips
11. Monye
12. Roberts
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Byrne