Any British Lions wild cards?

Is there anyone who has recently retired, about to retire or MAY be retired from rugby / international rugby by summer 2013 that may make the Lions tour as a wild card or a surprised injury replacement?

I would say BOD and Shane Williams are two of the best players in the last 12 years to not play in a world cup final. BOD has a realistic chance of at least touring as long as he's fit. I'm not sure Shane has any hope or if he would even accept an offer, but it's always nice to dream.

I doubt it, only in dire need would a retired player be recalled. An tbh with the pool of players available, there's probably at least 10 - 12 international class players available for every position on the pitch from England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland. So I think the lions is pretty covered.

BOD and Shane definitely the class acts of the NH who deserved to be in a world cup final. Id probably say Dan Carter is probably the most unlucky overall.

Simon Shaw should have another tour or two in him.

3 more for Shaw, easily.

still way too early for deciding even the wildcards, 18 months before 2009 tour Keith Earls was unheard off, Alan Quinlan recently announced his retirment from international rugby and jamie roberts i think had only made a couple of substitute apearances for wales.

If anyone young guns are gonna make a surge i feel Ashley Beck down at The Ospreys or Craig Gilroy at Ulster. Both are destined for nternational honours so it seem only natural

The minute you talk about wildcards is the minute you are done.

There is no room for sentiment. If BOD does mange another tour (which I doubt), then it will be on the back of a huge amount of merit. And knowing as I understand BOD's spirit to be, it wont be for lack of trying. It's just that his body probably won't match his desire.

Over two hours and not one Irishman yelling himself hoarse at the fact you referred to them as 'British Lions'. I'm impressed

In terms of any players, no matter age or experience, who could make the tour without being in contention at this precise moment, I'd say Beck, Webb, Lloyd Williams and Ian Evans for Wales. Gilroy, O'Mahoney, Zebo and Madigan for Ireland. Welsh and Visser for Scotland. And for England Flood, Parling and Mike Brown.

Of course the wild cards could get even wilder pending on injuries at the tour and names like Byrne and Lee Jones could emerge.

Dan Parks is a good candidate for a wild card. Watch this space...

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Dan Parks is a good candidate for a wild card. Watch this space...

Not if he's internationally retired. And Parks getting in on current form and likely failing to make a splash at Connacht of all places is something I struggle to see even in another dimension.

I recall a claim on the old 606 when mentioning Parks as a Lions candidate in 09 which I'll dare make now. If Parks makes the tour I will eat my computer.

I think your computer is safe.

He's Australian born so could we pretend he didn't play for
Scotland and get Oz to start him? I'm sure they'll drop JOC and Cooper for him?

More seriously, poor bloke, I'm sure he will make a splash and finish his career as a local hero in Connacht

Ehhh -Dan Parks ?

Knowsit17 wrote:Over two hours and not one Irishman yelling himself hoarse at the fact you referred to them as 'British Lions'. I'm impressed

In terms of any players, no matter age or experience, who could make the tour without being in contention at this precise moment, I'd say Beck, Webb, Lloyd Williams and Ian Evans for Wales. Gilroy, O'Mahoney, Zebo and Madigan for Ireland. Welsh and Visser for Scotland. And for England Flood, Parling and Mike Brown.

Of course the wild cards could get even wilder pending on injuries at the tour and names like Byrne and Lee Jones could emerge.

Why would that impress you? It's not like Irish people have finally decided to accept that they're British because of some ignorant comment? It's like if you keep on telling someone that black is black and they still call it white, you get tired of being repetitive.

Twas meant in jest. Of course I'm not really impressed, just amused at how nobody used to be able to get away with skipping over 'Irish' without a prolonged row breaking out

I'll take this opportunity to mention that I never made that mistake btw.

Knowsit17 wrote:Twas meant in jest. Of course I'm not really impressed, just amused at how nobody used to be able to get away with skipping over 'Irish' without a prolonged row breaking out

I'll take this opportunity to mention that I never made that mistake btw.

Did I just fall into the trap then? Maybe I should delete my first post

The sooner the Scarlets and Munster game starts the better.

Can't wait either. Got the inexplicable sensation this'll be Scarlets' day and Munster are due to have the living stuffing knocked out of them. Just a gut feeling

Knowsit17 wrote:Can't wait either. Got the inexplicable sensation this'll be Scarlets' day and Munster are due to have the living stuffing knocked out of them. Just a gut feeling

Did you eat something bad?

Shingler and Knoyle.

which shingler?

I've heard Manu Tuilagi is a bit of a wild card...

flankertye wrote:which shingler?

Aaron

Which Knoyle?

KickAndChase wrote:

Knowsit17 wrote:Can't wait either. Got the inexplicable sensation this'll be Scarlets' day and Munster are due to have the living stuffing knocked out of them. Just a gut feeling

Did you eat something bad?

That or the Scarlets did

Knowsit17 wrote:

KickAndChase wrote:

Knowsit17 wrote:Can't wait either. Got the inexplicable sensation this'll be Scarlets' day and Munster are due to have the living stuffing knocked out of them. Just a gut feeling

Did you eat something bad?

That or the Scarlets did

I thought they were going to reel Munster in but they held out... Makes for a cracking fight for the last playoff place.

Simon Zebo is a definate shout, as a big outside bolter perhaps Billy Vunipola and or Mako vunipola.

Is Billy the number 8? Could actually see him making the tour.

Phil Vickery

There is no way whatsoever that Mako Vunipola will be going, there a way too many props (is he a loosehead) in England alone never mind UK + Ireland.

Billy is highly unlikely as well. He needs to lose a lot of weight he seems to have picked up while injured.

Although I will add a caveat that you never know with injuries, etc

If, and it's by no means certain, Wasps survive, I can see them being dark horses next year and very dangerous and that may make the change for their players who are currently young talents into proper international contenders. With Haskell etc back and more luck, who knows what the likes of Daly, Wade, and Vunipola etc can do?

It depends if Dai Young stays and can't find any average foreign players to bring in. They may not have a chance.

Alex Dunbar !

kyle eastmond

Christian Wade.