Your assured Lions starters

First topic message reminder :

Going by form over the past year or so and picking from your own national team, whom do you think is assured to start for the Lions and be on the bench?

I'll start with mine:

Ryan Jones: On form he keeps Lydiate off the plane. He's had a few dips in form in his time but right now he's on good form. He covers the back 5 but he is probably best at 6 or 8. It also gives the Lions another leadership option.

Leigh Halfpenny: This young man is class. Since the last 6 Nations he's been outstanding in every single game he has played for Wales. Unfortunately he found himself on the losing side too often post 2012 6 Nations. Had he not he would have been MOTM in every single game. He could well be the first choice kicker also. The question is should he be at wing or full-back; I'd say he's the best in his position so why move him over? We could try Hogg on the wing instead.

Mike Phillips: The best scrum-half in the NH for the past two seasons. He acts as another game manager from no.9 and is a constant and unpredictable threat to the opposition. I don't need to say much more .

Some of the following could also be involved in the Lions 23: Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric, Jonothan Davies, George North; but they are not yet cert's in my view.

BlueNote

So you would pick halfpenny solely because his range is 5m longer than Farrell's or Sexton's??? How many kicks will the lions get in 3 tests over that distance.... a couple at most... and what are his success chances?

His range is the longest of the lot but he's no Frans Steyn.

fa0019 wrote:I'd still have Heaslip as my Lions No8 at the moment.... although I don't think he should be captain, maybe it was just not his day but big time captains always seem to perform when it matters.

And who was man of the match for England?

BTW, if his body holds together for long enough, I'd have BOD as the Lions captain. There's a guy who does have a record of performing when it matters, and someone who deserves one final opportunity for the Lions after the issues in NZ.

dummy_half

Robshaw isn't a number 8 though.... I'd have him starting 7 though. Players follow him, they react well to his leadership.

FA

I wasn't suggesting Robshaw as an 8, merely following your comment about big time captains performing in the big games. That's why I would still consider BOD for the captaincy.

8 is one of the shirts that is really up for grabs. I can understand the arguments for Heaslip based on his experience (when compared with Morgan and Faletau in particular) and on how well he was playing a year or two ago, but his recent form isn't much cop. I haven't seen the Wales v France game, but understand that Faletau was very good again, while Beatty impressed against England in a losing cause. Morgan's injury problems are perhaps shuffling him down the pecking order a little though.

Yeah if Beattie continues to shine he will be the dark horse and could take the jersey from the "favourites" hands.

BlueNote wrote:I can't see how you wouldn't pick BOD if he is fit and in reasonable form.

As regards 'you don't need 1/2p if you have Farrell', that's failing to take into account 1/2p's range.

#

true but he was bloody awful against England...i understand he was in labour the night before and frankly wonder if he should not have been benched

Too true about 1/2 but range won't get you picked. Its his defensive skill and kicking in general.

Morgannwg wrote:Going by form over the past year or so and picking from your own national team, whom do you think is assured to start for the Lions and be on the bench?

I'll start with mine:

Ryan Jones: On form he keeps Lydiate off the plane. He's had a few dips in form in his time but right now he's on good form. He covers the back 5 but he is probably best at 6 or 8. It also gives the Lions another leadership option.

Leigh Halfpenny: This young man is class. Since the last 6 Nations he's been outstanding in every single game he has played for Wales. Unfortunately he found himself on the losing side too often post 2012 6 Nations. Had he not he would have been MOTM in every single game. He could well be the first choice kicker also. The question is should he be at wing or full-back; I'd say he's the best in his position so why move him over? We could try Hogg on the wing instead.

Mike Phillips: The best scrum-half in the NH for the past two seasons. He acts as another game manager from no.9 and is a constant and unpredictable threat to the opposition. I don't need to say much more .

Some of the following could also be involved in the Lions 23: Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric, Jonothan Davies, George North; but they are not yet cert's in my view.

Jones at 8 a good shout. Halfpenny is class - either at wing or fullback. Phillips I just don't rate with the backline a Lions team will have. For Wales - fine, slow bish bosh bash - fine - but speedy and creative backline - need someone with a better pass.

fa0019 wrote:I read that Corbisiero put in the most tackles in last years 6N.. I think it was in the competition but it could have been for ENG mind. Gets through a lot of work.

Grant is right up there though.

Healy's jersey isn't certain.... he's got to show and prove in the big matches he can keep his head. Everyone knew last weeks match was the big one of the championship and he and the other senior players in Ireland let themselves down.

Tim Payne toured with the Lions?! How the f___ did that happen?

100%beefy wrote:

BlueNote wrote:I can't see how you wouldn't pick BOD if he is fit and in reasonable form.

As regards 'you don't need 1/2p if you have Farrell', that's failing to take into account 1/2p's range.

#

true but he was bloody awful against England...i understand he was in labour the night before and frankly wonder if he should not have been benched

Too true about 1/2 but range won't get you picked. Its his defensive skill and kicking in general.

And his ability to cover wing and score, and even occasionally set up, tries. His dummy in the Ireland game was class

fa0019 wrote:Yeah if Beattie continues to shine he will be the dark horse and could take the jersey from the "favourites" hands.

Might be a bit radical, but on current form, he'd be my starting Lions 8

nobbled wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Going by form over the past year or so and picking from your own national team, whom do you think is assured to start for the Lions and be on the bench?

I'll start with mine:

Ryan Jones: On form he keeps Lydiate off the plane. He's had a few dips in form in his time but right now he's on good form. He covers the back 5 but he is probably best at 6 or 8. It also gives the Lions another leadership option.

Leigh Halfpenny: This young man is class. Since the last 6 Nations he's been outstanding in every single game he has played for Wales. Unfortunately he found himself on the losing side too often post 2012 6 Nations. Had he not he would have been MOTM in every single game. He could well be the first choice kicker also. The question is should he be at wing or full-back; I'd say he's the best in his position so why move him over? We could try Hogg on the wing instead.

Mike Phillips: The best scrum-half in the NH for the past two seasons. He acts as another game manager from no.9 and is a constant and unpredictable threat to the opposition. I don't need to say much more .

Some of the following could also be involved in the Lions 23: Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric, Jonothan Davies, George North; but they are not yet cert's in my view.

Jones at 8 a good shout. Halfpenny is class - either at wing or fullback. Phillips I just don't rate with the backline a Lions team will have. For Wales - fine, slow bish bosh bash - fine - but speedy and creative backline - need someone with a better pass.

Jones has just got better and better...since he lost the captaincy and it makes me nervous but i think he is a more mature player now and tbh we are short of leaders, Sam is not the right man for the job.....don't think Ryan is a Lions 8 though, prefer one of Heaslip, Morgan and Faletau with Denton an outside bet for touring....I completely agree about Philipps and even when Williams came on last weekend the difference in tempo was palpable...Care for me but I think Youngs will get it

fa, all I said was that it doesn't make sense to disregard 1/2ps kicking just because you also have a good kicker at F/H.

However: it's not a question of 5m, he is consistent at prodigious distances. It gives the other team something to think about around halfway.

Overall, he merits a place in the back 3 for a whole heap of reasons; I'd probably put him on the wing.

BlueNote

In terms of the wing I think he has a lot going for him... I say perhaps Ashton is quicker but otherwise Halfpenny has the gas on all the rest.

I'd prefer him on the wing as I think he's the type of player who the Lions need.... we won't beat AUS by smashing them to pieces, they just soak up pressure like no other.

If it was against SA i'd have North on the left and if fit Bowe on the right. But against AUS I think we need different types of wings. Zebo or Halfpenny on the left, Ashton on the right for me would give us the best chance of winning IMO.

bluestonevedder wrote:I thought Sheridan was great on that tour to be honest. It was one of the few times I remember him actually using his size to intimidate.

Like most people have said, he had all the physcial attributes, but wasn't nasty enough. Imagine if he had Schalk Burger or Botha's mentality?

Yeah remember the time he tried to take a pop at Julian White , missed , and then got floored clean for his trouble?
I wouldnt want him enforcing my back in the next tour of Oscar Pretoria

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:I thought Sheridan was great on that tour to be honest. It was one of the few times I remember him actually using his size to intimidate.

Like most people have said, he had all the physcial attributes, but wasn't nasty enough. Imagine if he had Schalk Burger or Botha's mentality?

Yeah remember the time he tried to take a pop at Julian White , missed , and then got floored clean for his trouble?
I wouldnt want him enforcing my back in the next tour of Oscar Pretoria

God yeh, that was embarrassing, although White was/is a seriously hard man. Was it Malcolm O'Kelly he famously got in a fight with?

I hear that one day in training while he was still a centre, Tom Youngs got in a fight with White, and that was one of the driving factors behind Meyer switching him to hooker.

bluestonevedder wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:I thought Sheridan was great on that tour to be honest. It was one of the few times I remember him actually using his size to intimidate.

Like most people have said, he had all the physcial attributes, but wasn't nasty enough. Imagine if he had Schalk Burger or Botha's mentality?

Yeah remember the time he tried to take a pop at Julian White , missed , and then got floored clean for his trouble?
I wouldnt want him enforcing my back in the next tour of Oscar Pretoria

God yeh, that was embarrassing, although White was/is a seriously hard man. Was it Malcolm O'Kelly he famously got in a fight with?

I hear that one day in training while he was still a centre, Tom Youngs got in a fight with White, and that was one of the driving factors behind Meyer switching him to hooker.

Fight? Unprovoked sustained attack you mean. Be careful where you guys trow stones in that shiny house of yours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdNObgWW3jY

Subs right, thats not a fight thats a thug losing the plot and trying to execute someone whos not looking at him.

Good part about that is White has rained 5/6 blows including a haymaker to the chin and O kelly has barely registered tham connecting, White is very reluctant to throw any more face to face!!

Ive seen so many players see red and just can't help themselves but to keep going, unless they see they aren't making a dent and stop... very quickly!

thebluesmancometh wrote:Subs right, thats not a fight thats a thug losing the plot and trying to execute someone whos not looking at him.

Good part about that is White has rained 5/6 blows including a haymaker to the chin and O kelly has barely registered tham connecting, White is very reluctant to throw any more face to face!!

Ive seen so many players see red and just can't help themselves but to keep going, unless they see they aren't making a dent and stop... very quickly!

Yeah i thought that, O'Kelly took it like an absolute boss. That's hardness.

Hood

He might not be particularly tough, but he showed a massive more amount of class for sure!