Lions Tour

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Sir Clive will be naming his squad to tour NZ soon. So, you rugby union fans of SP, who would you pick for the Lions?

1/ Gethin Jenkins - A serious talent.
2/ Steve Thompson or Shane Byrne... Thompson if he can keep his line outs consistent.
3/ Julian White - Got to go.
4/ Paul O’Connell - Just in ahead of Ben Kay. Just.
5/ Danny Grewcock - Nobody intimidates quite like Danny.
6/ Richard Hill - Hopefull will be over hios injury. One of the best in the world at what he does.
7/ Martyn Williams - Good 6N's
8/ Martin Corry - No contest for this position.
9/ Dwayne Peel - Was tempted to say Peter Stringer and probably would have before I saw Dwayne Peel dominate in the 6N's...
10/ Stephen Jones but Jonny Wilkinson if fit - Jones had a great 6N's but Wilkinson is God. Hopefull he will be fit.
11/ Jason Robinson - Not the best 6N's but still a big game player and has to go.
12/ Gavin Henson - New golden boy of Welsh rugby. Good kicks.
13/ Brian O’Driscoll - Capt. Definitely world class.
14/ Josh Lewsey - Just brilliant.
15/ Gareth Thomas - Very steady and reliable. Never shirks a tackle.

I'd go for that.

 

huh?

 

Hahaha! Probably only about 2% of SP forum goers understand what you're talking about and only about 5% of that 2% care

 

Well, it was aimed at the equivalent of less than 1% .
Namely, Harbourboy. He might have his own idea of who should travel.

 

The Lions tour is going to be HUGE. Easily the biggest sporting event of 2005 for me.

I guess I mostly have to agree with the 15 you've chosen. Good to see that you haven't stacked it with too many English. I'm not sure about the tight five because I I always find it tough to tell who is doing well in that area, especially from this side of the world.

It will also be interesting who else tours. For example, how many halfbacks will be taken? Do you take Peel, Stringer, and Dawson?

Oh, I suppose I also chip in that I still think Robinson is way overrated.

 

I like Joe Worsley. How's his form these days?

Yeah I agree, this is *the* sporting event of the year. The Lions will be an awesome opponent, especially with what I have seen in the 6 Nations. The All Blacks will have their hands full. I wonder who will be captain? Tana has to lead the haka, no arguments here.

 

I pretty much have to agree with HB. It's also probably the most looked forward to event in NZ sport short of the rugby world cup.

Makes me wonder if they should have a southern hemisphere vs northern hemisphere team/event.

 

The problem with a Southern hemisphere vs Northern hemisphere event is that it would be difficult to get people enthused about it and tough to get players available for, given all the other competing priorities at various levels.

The Lions tour has so much history and prestige about it that it can work, but even then it is a mammoth task to organise and can only happen once in a blue moon.

Anyway, the Lions is pretty much a Northern hemisphere team, minus a few Frenchmen (no offence to the Netherlands Rugby Football Union intended).

Tana will captain the All Blacks, barring injury or some sort of shock change of selection heart.

My current All Black starting XV would be:

1. Greg Somerville
2. Keven Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Chris Jack
5. (tough call this one, could be one of several, but I go for Ali Williams
6. Craig Newby
7. Richie McCaw
8. Rodney So'oialo
9. Justin Marshall
10. Daniel Carter
11. Joe Rokocoko (been quiet for the Blues but I blame the rest of the Blues for that)
12. Aaron Mauger
13. Tana Umaga
14. Rico Gear
15. Mils Muliaina

My main worry with this team is the tight five, which will be crucial against the Lions. I don't believe that there are enough quality props performing at the moment and the locking resources outside of Chris Jack look pretty thin.

 

Somerville and Newby?

Very interesting. Somerville I understand given his pedigree. Personally I like the abrasive play of Jerry Collins and his partnership with So'oialo. Newby I am unsure of, he lacks presence and is more a number 7. Convince me.

 

Harbourboy - I can't see Sir Clive picking 3 halfbacks. That's a bit of an unnecessary luxury. He'll add more options to the wings with those extra player places. Personally, off the top of my head, I'd take the following as replacements...

Gordon Bulloch
Steve Thompson - If doesn't start
Adam Jones
Malcom O'Kelly
Brent Cockbain
Robert Sidoli
Neil Back
Lawrence Dallaglio
Michael Owen
Peter Stringer
Ronan O'Gara
Shane Williams
Tom Shanklin
Gordon D'arcy
Sean Lamont
Chris Patterson
(2 Scots!)

Tassadar - Well, Worsley is ok. Although he's just a generic flanker that are a penny a dozen in the Zurich Prem. He never lets anyone down though I suppose, he's an honest lad and performed well for us against SA and the Aus towards the end of last year. The best he can hope for on this tour though, in my opinion, is a place in the replacements.
Although, saying that, I think Sir Clive likes him and I can see that old boring duffer picking more English players than are worthy of a place this year...

 

An unnecessary luxury? Have you seen the size of his touring party and entourage?

Tassadar - the whole loose forward trio is a bit up in the air really. Other than McCaw, there are no definites there. I wish we had a genuine specialist blindside and no. 8 but I think we're going to be stuck with utilities like So'oialo, Newby, and Collins. I just think Newby is having a great season with the Highlanders this year. Xavier Rush has been rubbish so far.

 

Well, there's 15 in a team and he's probably taking around 30 players (or possibly a few more). I was never really good at maths in school, but I make that a first team and a replacement player for each position. Plus a few extras. Those extras would be better used for extra wide men in my opinion.

 

Plus another 15 hangers on. Isn't he bringing 45 people in total? That's one admin person for every two players.

I also see in the news today that Matt Dawson is saying he doesn't even want to go on the Lions tour anyway. Talk about pre-empting selections.

 

Well, what can I say? Some baffling decisions in the list to say the least.
There are English players in there who can't even get in the English national side. Ollie Smith and Will Greenwood for example and there are plenty more. Bit of favouritism maybe. Unless Sir Clive sees something like Robbo doesn't!

Still looking forward to the tour though! It's going to be massive.

 

Lots of angry Irish/Welshmen on radio talkback today, lol. I think the starting XV will be predominantly Welsh/Irish though, so not really sure who else Clive could've picked. Wonder if Jonny will recover in time?

 

How did Neil Back and Matt Dawson get in the team? Tour will still be huge but I'm very disappointed that Sir Clive is going to be dragging out dinosaurs from 2003. Why not wheel out Jason Leonard while he's at it?

Very strange. Still, 44 players is a massive squad for 11 games.

 

Anything could happen HB when it comes to injuries. You want to be able to replace players with players who play that position, not just with another player who is 'alright' in that position.

 

What have Neil Back and Matt Dawson done wrong exactly, HB? Even though they aren't getting any younger, they can both do the business. Back in particular is still going strong for the Tigers.
Besides, I wouldn't expect Back to start and I'd fully expect Dwayne Peel and Peter Stringer to be ahead of Dawson in the line-up. I'm struggling to name another scrum half? Dawson is in the pad out the numbers.

I am dissappointed in Sir Clive to not see Morgan and Davies in there though. They've both done brilliant for Wales this year. Although it is difficult to argue with a man who masterminded a world cup win in the Southern hemisphere.

Looking over the squad, I have drafted a new XV that I think it will be.

1 Gethin Jenkins
2 Shane Byrne
3 Julian White
4 Malcolm O'Kelly
5 Phil O'Connell
6 Richard Hill
7 Martyn Williams
8 Lawrence Dallaglio
9 Dwayne Peel
10 Stephen Jones
11 Shane Williams
12 Gavin Henson
13 Brian O'Driscoll ©
14 Jason Robinson
15 Josh Lewsey

 

I guess when you are taking 44 players (that's not a squad, it's a convention) you have to fill in the numbers from somewhere.

 

Last time I heard, Los Pumas (argentinian selection of rugby) did far enough well in some recent championship; have some of you heard of them?