[Closed] Winters coming;all inclusive rugby thread.

If you think robshaw is a donkey, you know **** all about rugby.

and **** all about donkeys. 🙂

Away from the captain and team debates...Where do you rate a Lions tour in the general 4 year sporting cycle of RWC, Olympics, wendyball WC etc?

Fantastic sense of humour bypass there, wrecker. Well done. Of course Robshaw isn't a donkey. Nice to see you're still biting though. Arf.

😳

Serious SOH bypass on my part. Should have been much more chilled after a ride yesterday, obviously didn't try hard enough.

Lions tour doesn't even come close for me.....the best part is arguing over whom should go on the tour...after that I'm not that fussed-I'd like them to win but wont really care if they don't.

Robshaw seems to me to be like Martin Corey a great player not the most naturaly skilled but a real grafter.

Lions tour important, but still a bit Meh....Of course I would have had a different view in my youth as I forced down the first pint at what approx 4/5am? for previous tours in a rugby club with the shutters up.

Lions tour is more time for a party than taking it to seriously. I like the tradition of it all.

Lions Tests in Australia are a great excuse for a fried breakfast washed down with a beer.

I've been lucky enough to see football (Paris) and rugby WC finals (Marseilles, Paris and London), winter (France) and summer (London) olympics but am still gutted I didn't go with the brother in law to South Africa for the Lions (back when we won the first two tests and thus the tour). To try choose between "the best" is crazy, they are all different.

[b]Pigface[/b] - Member
Lions tour is more time for a party than taking it to seriously. I like the tradition of it all.

Lions by a mile for the craic!

Pic from outside the Gabba last time round.

[img] [/img]

Well.....Work commitment means I shall be in Hong Kong for the Lions v Baas game.

Which is nice.

Now, how to get a ticket....

clermont are a bit good arent they!!

Thought Munster were going to pull off a second half comeback. A lot closer than I expected.

Wilkinson was superb today

Farrel has just played himself out of a Lions place, Imho

Barnes summed it up: Sexton comes off after 60 mins,who would you rather was on the bench,Farrell or Wilkinson?

Neither?

Only take 1 fly half?
I don't think gavs in the running.......

You're forgetting Biggar! He's just as good as apparently 😆

So st johnny can kick a team with a huge domunant pack to victory and Farrel still has a lot to learn. This is not news.

So based on that A-A, plane seat for St J?

@CFH the Lions HK match sold out very quickly - I'd say the chance of a ticket is pretty slim - the rugby crowd there love the game and I doubt they'll be many sellers.

I've had the very great pleasure of watching Toulon play the quarter and semi final, JW is still in a different league. Farrell is the best 10 currently playing in the 6 Nations but he's still learning the game and is quite away behind Wilkinson who did everything right distributing the ball well and making some nice steps plus his usual defense and match winning kicking.

On this form Wilkinson should be the Lions starting 10 and captain too.

Farrell the best ten currently playing in the six nations.... My arse he is.
Do any of you know if St Johnny is available for the whole tour?
If playing well in a Heineken cup semi is the bench mark maybe O'Gara should be thr outside half for the Lions.

O gara it is then!

O'Gara's face is too soft to ever go back to Oz

Top 14 finishes 1st June same day as Lions v Barbarians in HK, think the Lions due to fly out 27th.

Gatland has already said he is keen for them all to travel together, how many exceptions will he make zero or 3 or 4 so all the French based candidates can go?

Not sure how wilko could not be considered but Gethin is.
Phillips, Hook are not in any danger of being in the final

Perhaps Toulon are happy to let Jenkins go as he is not starting regularly where as Wilkinson looks pretty key to their game plan.

Very likely Toulon and Clermont will contest the Top 14 final on June 1 and Lions training starts before then as well as the game (exhibition jolly) in HK. So common knowledge JW would not be available for the "whole tour"

Not taking a match and tour winning asset like JW because his club are likely contesting another championship would be a very short sighted basis for a selection decision.

Hard to forgive O'Gara for the headless chicken penalty he gave away to allow Steyn to kick the tour winning penalty in South Africa last time.

Regarding Toulon letting Jenkins go what I've heard rumoured is that Toulon are trying to line up Dan Carter as JWs replacement when finally retires after next season.

So what about a comp before the squad is announced tomorrow. Pick 38 players in any combination you want and nominate a captain. You get 1 point for each correct pick as named tomorrow and 5 points for getting the captain correct. The winner gets a bazooka joe and the bragging rights over all other contributors on the rugby thread.

My squad:
Leigh Halfpenny, Rob Kearney, Stuart Hogg

George North, Tommy Bowe, Alex Cuthbert, Simon Zebo

BOD, Manu Tuilagi, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, James Hook

Jonny Sexton, Owen Farrell

Mike Phillips,Laidlaw, Ben Youngs

Gethin Jenkins, Cian Healy, Andrew Sheridan, Adam Jones, Dan Cole, Euan Murray

Richard Hibbard, Rory Best, Tom Youngs

Alun Wyn Jones, POC, Ian Evans, Joe Launchbury, Ryan Jones

Dan Lydiate, Tom Croft, SOB, Sam Warburton (c), Justin Tipuric

Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip

As would be expected a fair bit of overlap with BM. I also expect that as others puts their squads up there will be players i have forgotten about and think should be in but here goes

Leigh Halfpenny, Rob Kearney, Stuart Hogg

George North, Tim Visser, Alex Cuthbert, Simon Zebo

BOD, Manu Tuilagi, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Iain Maddigan

Jonny Sexton, Jonny Wilkinson

Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs, Laidlaw

Vinupola, Cian Healy, Ryan Grant, Adam Jones, Dan Cole, Euan Murray

Richard Hibbard, Rory Best, Ross Ford

Alun Wyn Jones, POC (c), Jim Hamilton, Joe Launchbury, Donnacha Ryan

Kelly Brown, Tom Croft, SOB, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric

Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip

Hmm looking at them there are a few I have included that I don’t think should be going but will.

You both forgot Keet Earls 😉

Good game BM.
Might as well get as much arguing out of today as we can .
Guess my squad will look pretty similar too. Will [s]cut and paste [/s]post soon.

He isn't St Johnny - he is G-d ! Was sat next to these guys yesterday ...

[img] [/img]

I find it weird all this love for Jonny, he is fine playing behind a juggernaut pack when he had the luxury of time, but behind a pack that is going backwards he is headless. I think he is an average 10 with a very accurate boot. His idiocy of tackling people it isn't his job to tackle caused him loose a good couple of years out of his career.

Out of the england team that won the world cup none of the backs* could be accused of being world beaters, same cant be said of Johnson and Hill in the pack who are true greats of the game.
*Robinson when he played on the wing was very very good but putting him at FB was plain daft.

How about bonus points Melon for correctly picking a "wildcard player" the makes the squad tomorrow- this could be defined as a player no others here have in their predicted squads (such a Wade as the current predictions stand)

I think we need a new thread for the Lions, the person that starts it has to be the same nationality as the Skipper. So if it was Kelly Brown, I would start a new thread, 😀 etc,etc.

You both forgot Keet Earls

Don't get me started loum!

I did forget about Robshaw actually. I still think he will go.

@ Dan, go for it mate, game rules can be made up as we go! Can BOD be my wildcard?

Schmidt confirmed

New Ireland coach. Good news, IMO.
Except for Leinster

Yeah very pleased with that one loum, might be the end of Earls! If he can get Ireland playing like Leinster then I'd be pretty happy with that. he might even get BOD to keep at it for another year. I'd say Paddy Jackson might not be too happy though.

@Pigface - Without doubt the forwards as a group and a number as individuals were as good as anything anyone has ever seen before or since. However, Will Greenwood was an exceptionally good player, he made a lot of things look much easier than they really were. He was a big loss for England when he retired. Jason Robinson was outstanding with ball in hand, fearless under the high ball - perhaps not world class as his kicking was functional.

JW might have lost a season or two to tackle related injuries but injuries happen and the attacking nature of that part of his game was a key element to England's solidity in defense.

Schmidts a good choice. Although i am suprised as I thought Bradley had left Edinburgh to go for the Ireland job 🙂

Kearney, Hogg,

Bowe, Halpee, Maitland

BOD, JDavies, Tuilagi

Madigan, Robberts,

Zebo, North

Sexton, farrell

C.Murray, Phillips, Youngs

Healy, Jenkins, Vunipola

Strauss, Best, Youngs

Mike Ross, AJones, E.Murray

POC, AWJ, Hines

Doncha Ryan, Richie Gray,

P O'Mahoney, Croft,

SOB, Tipuric, Warburton

Heaslip, Faletau

Jeremy Guscotts from the BBC site.

Props

Cian Healy, Ryan Grant, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Dan Cole

Hookers

Rory Best, Richard Hibbard, Ken Owens

Locks

Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell, Joe Launchbury, Ian Evans, Richie Gray

Flankers

Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton, Tom Wood, Sean O'Brien, Tom Croft

Number eights

Toby Faletau, Ben Morgan

Scrum-halves

Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs, Danny Care

Fly-halves

Johnny Sexton, James Hook

Centres

Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Manu Tuilagi, Brian O'Driscoll, Billy Twelvetrees

Wingers

George North, Tommy Bowe, Simon Zebo, Sean Maitland, Alex Cuthbert

Full-backs

Leigh Halfpenny, Rob Kearney

apart from Morgan, I like that! I'd take Heaslip instead.

Good to see Ken Owens getting a mention too- he been developing nicely for Wales

I think Woody had Ken Owens as his pick, he must see something there as well. No Farrell from Guscott

As it's the "all-inclusive rugby thread" can I just shout up for Huddersfield U 15s who [s]humped[/s] beat Otley Zebras 15 nowt in the Yorkshire cup yesterday? 😀
[URL= http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/emilysdad/yorkshirecupfinal2013494crop.jp g" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/emilysdad/yorkshirecupfinal2013494crop.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

That Guscott squad is a joke surely! Or did Robshaw not have a good enough six nations?! and Richie Grey....seriously 😯

BEST
MINI
RUGBY
SHIRT

[b][i][u]EVER![/u][/i][/b]

[img] [/img]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-22280880

Ken Owens is an excellent Hooker but like maybe other welsh borderline picks I dont think he'll go as a lot of welsh will and Gatland needs to be seen to be including all.

My best guess:
Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg

George North, Tommy Bowe, Alex Cuthbert, Simon Zebo

BOD, Manu Tuilagi, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Hook

Jonny Sexton, Owen Farrell, Henson

Mike Phillips, Murry, Ben Youngs

Gethin Jenkins, Cian Healy, Ryan Grant, Adam Jones, Dan Cole, Euan Murray

Richard Hibbard, Rory Best, Tom Youngs

Alun Wyn Jones, POC, Ian Evans, Joe Launchbury, Parling

Dan Lydiate, Robshaw, SOB, Sam Warburton (c), Justin Tipuric

Toby Faletau, Johnnie Beattie

One of those is a joke by the way 😆

One of those is a joke by the way

BOD!

Comedy genius! 😀

Only the one a_a!! 🙂

Warburton will definitely go, but is he best left without the captaincy? Losing it didn't seem to do him any harm against England.

Warburton will definitely go, but is he best left without the captaincy?

Yes. Best without the armband.

AWJ or POC as captain for me.

Can we take this guy as a wildcard please?

[img] [/img]

With Warburton its not the armband that worries me its the head guard, you hardly ever see him play well when he's got a head gaurd on. I thinks its due to one too many bangs on the head.

Right then 😀

3 Scrum halves- Phillips, Laidlaw, Youngs
3 Fly halves- Sexton, Farrel, Hook
4 Centres- BOD, Roberts, Tuilagi, Davies
4 Wings- North, Cuthbert, Maitland, Hogg
2 Full backs- 1/2p, Kearney

6 Props A Jones, Healy, Cole, Jenkins, Murray, Vinupola
3 Hookers Hibbard, Best, Owens
5 Locks AW Jones, Launchbury, Parling, Ian Evans, POC
5 Flankers Warburton, Robshaw, Tipuric, O'Brien, D. Ryan
2 No 8's Faletau, Morgan

POC/ BOD as "squad captains" I think.

So, today is the day!

Indeed, it all starts now. Then the arguments will be about what test XV. Fantastic!

Sssshhhh im in work, whats the best website to have the live announcement minimized in my taskbar????

Chris Ashton gets a text....

[img] :large[/img]

Courtesy of - https://twitter.com/WelshDalaiLama

^ 😀

Very good

😆

Arf! 😆

I think anyone brave/ stupid enough to suggest Ashton in their Lions squad prediction should automatically get the win if he is in... for the sheer outrageousness of it all 🙂

What time are we expecting the announcement?

11am press conference is due to start

Well that was quick!

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

Loving Sky's coverage:

ROBSHAW AND WILKINSON NOT IN LIONS SQUAD!

Obviously everyone in all four nations are very interested in which English players aren't going 🙄

Should be easy enough to pick the 1XV from that lot. Wales back three, spoilt for rest of the back, Great props, mixed bunch at 2, and great back row.

Looking forward to it!

Score of 28/37 for me. 😀

Seems I know least about Hooker and and the back row 😀

That squad is a joke! Croft in place of Robshaw?! **** me!

Robshaw a victim of playing out of position.He is a very good six,but an average seven. Stevens and Gray VERY lucky, who is the wildcard?

Bit of a risk with only two number 10's. Pity Hook isn't trusted.

Stevens and Gray are hilarious picks. Stevens is the wildcard I guess.

Hogg is 10 cover I guess.

No risk of not having enough players in any one position as such as injuries can easily be covered with a new plane ticket

The Lions can name an entirely Welsh team minus fly half which I think most would agree is the only position lacking for Wales. A_A was on to something with the pro-welsh talk after all 😉

Stevens is in for his singing.

Agree Tom and there is already one token so why the need for Gray. Sorry that's harsh on Hogg. I hope the big three Irish names live up to their experience and true potential. I thougt Keanrey was average in 6N, but it doesn't matter at 1/2p is a shoe in. And BoD was disappointing. If picked I hope he has a good swansong this time without the over-zealous defence!

Warburton as captain too! Gonna be an interesting back row Warbs Tips Falatau?

Feel a bit deflated seeing that squad

Disappointed there are only 3 Scots especially when one is Richie Gray.

Only one of the scrum halves has a decent pass on him.

There is only one regular inside centre and he is pass shy.

EDIT: As far as i know Hogg has never played at 10 but has played 13 a bit for Glasgow this year

Mmmm interesting choices some a bit bizzare, this will be Gatlands legacy as a coach as well.

If the best of that lot play well they should see off Australia.

The samoan will have to learn to pass 😆 Roberts and BOD 4 years on will they still have that magic?