Team GB Olympic Rugby XV

First topic message reminder :

Obviously 15 a side Rugby is unlikely to be involved in the Olympics in the foreseeable future. However, if the 15 a side game was currently in the Olympics this is what I'd imagine the team would look like. (So pretty much the Lions, excluding players from the Republic of Ireland) I'll try to make my selection as fair as possible nation wise, some tough calls!

15. B.Foden (England)
14. T.Bowe (N.Ireland)
13. J.Davies (Wales/England)
12. M.Tuilagi (England/Samoa)
11. T.Visser (Scotland/Holland)
10. J.Hook (Wales)
09. M.Phillips (Wales)

08. D.Denton (Scotland/Zimbabwe)
07. C.Robshaw (England)
06. S.Ferris (N.Ireland)
05. A.Wyn-Jones (Wales)
04. R.Gray (Scotland)
03. D.Cole (England)
02. R.Best (N.Ireland)
01. G.Jenkins (Wales)

16. R.Ford (Scotland)
17. A.Corbisiero (England/U.S)
18. A.Jones (Wales)
19. I.Evans (Wales/South Africa)
20. S.Warburton (Wales/England)
21. D.Care (England)
22. D.Cipriani (England/Trinidad)
23. G.North (Wales/England)

Other players in the squad - L.Halfpenny (Wales) C.Ashton (England) J.Roberts (Wales) R.Priestland (Wales) M.Blair (Scotland) T.Faletau (Wales/Tonga) G.Parling (England) E.Murray (Scotland) M.Rees (Wales) J.Marler (England)
:
*Couldn't help but include some of the players dual nationalities

Disappointing return for Ireland so far but hopefully they will pick up few in the boxing.

I hope everyone in Ireland can take pride in the 3 medals won by the Coleraine rowers .

So you're asking for another Lions team. I thought rugby was to be at the next olympics but only in Sevens format?

It is, I don't know why we have another Lions thread here

rodders wrote:Disappointing return for Ireland so far but hopefully they will pick up few in the boxing.

I hope everyone in Ireland can take pride in the 3 medals won by the Coleraine rowers .

Here, here those guys were fantastic!

Disappointing return for Ireland so far but hopefully they will pick up few in the boxing.

I was at the female marathon and the Irish girl who came last deserves some credit. Gutsy effort considering she was injured early in the race and limped round a large portion of the course refusing to retire and insisting that she finished. She got as good a reception as the winners in the final straight.

for TeamGB after one of the best weekends of sport I've ever seen in my life. Too many spectacular performances to note but Mo Farrah has to be the standout for me, even above Jess Ennis and Andy Murray. Superlative stuff.

Not to be forgotten great stuff from JJ Nevin for Ireland. Heres hoping he can turn that Bronze to Gold and that a few of his compatriots can join him on the podium.

On an International note Bolt and Phelps are just from another planet. Never seen anything like it.

I've got to admit, watching a load of guys run round and round a track for 25 laps doesn't sound appealling to me. But it was facinating to watch, holding his pace until the end when he nailed them. Fair play to Rupp as well for his silver. It was also nice to have it broken up with the first British gold in the long jump for about 50 years.

Essentially another "We'll have more players in the Lions than you" thread. What if we were to apply the under-23 rule (three exceptions) that the football format entails in order to distance this article from the old squabble and in the process make things more interesting?

1. Joe Marler
2. Rory Best (difficulty finding any stand-out under-23 hookers)
3. Adam Jones (same problem)
4. Richie Gray
5. Luke Charteris (final exception)
6. Dave Denton
7. Justin Tipuric (23 today, I'm going to count him)
8. Toby Faletau
9. Ben Youngs
10. Owen Farrell
11. George North
12. Scott Williams
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Stuart Hogg

That, sir, is a tasty looking side!

Knowsit17 wrote:Essentially another "We'll have more players in the Lions than you" thread. What if we were to apply the under-23 rule (three exceptions) that the football format entails in order to distance this article from the old squabble and in the process make things more interesting?

1. Joe Marler
2. Rory Best (difficulty finding any stand-out under-23 hookers)
3. Adam Jones (same problem)
4. Richie Gray
5. Luke Charteris (final exception)
6. Dave Denton
7. Justin Tipuric (23 today, I'm going to count him)
8. Toby Faletau
9. Ben Youngs
10. Owen Farrell
11. George North
12. Scott Williams
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Stuart Hogg

You could make it even more awkward if you applied the other rule that the Team GB football had to deal with, which was anyone involved in the Euro 2012 was out of contention, seeing as the 6Ns is our equivelant to the Euros, then it would have to be players who have not taken part in the 6Ns too.

You could make it even more awkward if you applied the other rule that the Team GB football had to deal with, which was anyone involved in the Euro 2012 was out of contention, seeing as the 6Ns is our equivelant to the Euros, then it would have to be players who have not taken part in the 6Ns too.

Not really the same thing, the GB Football team had that rule so that the likes of Rooney would actually have some rest time over the summer rather than finishing the season, playing 2 back to back tournaments and then playing another season. That would have been asking for an injury.

10. Owen Farrell

No. You line up a lovely backline and then select a 10 that cannot pass and has little creative ability. Go with Ford, Farrell played second fiddle to the younger 10 in the under 20s (shifting to 12 to accomodate Ford) and may well end up doing so again if he doesn't improve.

Pretty close to the team I selected earlier in the thread.

1. Corbisiero (23 so is still under the age limit)
2. Ford (over age player)
3. Cole (over age player)
4. Gray
5. Hamilton (over age player)
6. Kvesic
7. Warburton (c)
8. Faletau
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Cuthbert
12. Scott
13. Tuilagi
14. North
15. Hogg

I'm still not familiar with Ford at all which is why I went with Farrell, whom I've at least seen play and was impressed with in the 6N. Not saying you're wrong, just that I can't very well pick someone I know nearly nothing about besides the opinions of others.

Interesting that you've picked Hamilton as one of your over-age exceptions when you have a host of (imo better) candidates to choose from at lock (Charteris, Evans, Jones, Parling to name a few offhand).

Interesting that you've picked Kvesic over Denton as well

ScarletSpiderman wrote: You could make it even more awkward if you applied the other rule that the Team GB football had to deal with, which was anyone involved in the Euro 2012 was out of contention, seeing as the 6Ns is our equivelant to the Euros, then it would have to be players who have not taken part in the 6Ns too.

Admit it, you're just dying to find a way for Henson to be picked aren't you?

Interesting that you've picked Kvesic over Denton as well

I picked the team before realising that Denton was eligible as an under age player. I would find room for him at 6 and move Kvesic to the bench in hindsight.

Interesting that you've picked Hamilton as one of your over-age exceptions when you have a host of (imo better) candidates to choose from at lock (Charteris, Evans, Jones, Parling to name a few offhand).

Hamilton adds considerably more weight to the pack than the players you name and is experienced at international level. With the added advantage of his partnership with Gray is already developed and working. The chances are that under 23 teams are going to lack grunt due to the players still developing and toughening up, a big monster like Hamilton to do all the nasty work in the tight will be an advantage especially paired with the rampant Gray (who will be more available for the rampaging carries because Hamilton is there doing the grunt work).

I'm still not familiar with Ford at all which is why I went with Farrell, whom I've at least seen play and was impressed with in the 6N. Not saying you're wrong, just that I can't very well pick someone I know nearly nothing about besides the opinions of others.

Fair enough. If you can find it watch the highlights of the AP Semi Final against Sarries. Ford was excellent on that day. At 19 the now former IRB Young Player of the Year plays like a 25 year old multi capped international in the body of a 14 year old. I mainly included him because he can stand flat and distribute all day, bringing backs and forwards into the game off either shoulder and with varying widths. Makes him hard to defend against (that and his step and acceleration when under pressure), he's got a nice hanging cross field kick which considering the wingers on offer would be a great option.

[quote="formerly known as Sam
Fair enough. If you can find it watch the highlights of the AP Semi Final against Sarries. Ford was excellent on that day. At 19 the now former IRB Young Player of the Year plays like a 25 year old multi capped international in the body of a 14 year old. I mainly included him because he can stand flat and distribute all day, bringing backs and forwards into the game off either shoulder and with varying widths. Makes him hard to defend against (that and his step and acceleration when under pressure), he's got a nice hanging cross field kick which considering the wingers on offer would be a great option.[/quote]

Haha, so true! Looking forward to seeing him come the new season- seeing if his training has worked and he's bulked a bit!

Yeah, I'm tempted to head down to the friendly against Notts to see how the boys are looking ahead of the opening match. I wouldn't mind them announcing their intentions a little earlier re who's playing. Don't really want to see the A Squad play Notts but I would very much like to see how Tait, Crane and Ford have been developing this off season.

If Ford is somewhere between 13 and a half and, 14 stone with his acceleration still intact then it's job done and Flood will have a fight on his hands.

If you've got the chance mate, I'd definitely go. Some big names coming back and hopefully they'll get some game time.

Agree regarding Ford's weight. Anything over 14 stone would be too much on him, and he'd lose a step or two. To be honest, he's such a little tenacious defender anyway, I think anywhere close to that would make the world of difference. Mainly just got to make sure his shoulders are up to the collisions and force of impact.

Yeah I think that's it. The likes of Lambie, JOC etc are all around 13 and a half to 14 stone so with Ford being similar in stature to those guys I think that's what the conditioning coaches are aiming for.