Gareth Delve - Lions shout?

First topic message reminder :

The Super season is just about to start, Rebles v Force the two youngsters of the league. Gareth Delve now captain of the Rebels and they, I believe will be a lot better than their first two seasons. Delve was cracking last year, I again believe he will be far better this season. Should he be given a chance in the Lions squad? Personally he should be given a chance in the Welsh team to be honest.

The Great Aukster wrote:If Delve could have made it in England he wouldn't have gone to Oz. Gatland is more likely to pick (former Lion) Andy Powell ahead of of him, but don't put the house on it. The comedy value would be almost worth it.

Are you suggesting Delve didn't have any offers to play in England and Wales? Are you certain? Not from Cardiff? Are you absolutely sure Delve moved to Australia because he was forced to? Could it be possible that Delve chose to play in Australia? A new franchise offering big money? New opportunity? Great Lifestyle? Short career? Don't cry!! (again!!!)

Norfolklass wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:If Delve could have made it in England he wouldn't have gone to Oz. Gatland is more likely to pick (former Lion) Andy Powell ahead of of him, but don't put the house on it. The comedy value would be almost worth it.

Are you suggesting Delve didn't have any offers to play in England and Wales? Are you certain? Not from Cardiff? Are you absolutely sure Delve moved to Australia because he was forced to? Could it be possible that Delve chose to play in Australia? A new franchise offering big money? New opportunity? Great Lifestyle? Short career? Don't cry!! (again!!!)

Cardiff - thought they were having enough trouble keeping the players they have rather than attract new ones?

Every professional sportsman has to make the most of a relatively short career, but Delve was under no illusions that by going to Oz he was ending any chance of playing for Wales. If players aren't getting on the International gravy train with endorsements they may as well go for the big cheque.

Well if 2 cap Twelvetrees is an option surely Delve must be one.

The Great Aukster wrote:

Norfolklass wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:If Delve could have made it in England he wouldn't have gone to Oz. Gatland is more likely to pick (former Lion) Andy Powell ahead of of him, but don't put the house on it. The comedy value would be almost worth it.

Are you suggesting Delve didn't have any offers to play in England and Wales? Are you certain? Not from Cardiff? Are you absolutely sure Delve moved to Australia because he was forced to? Could it be possible that Delve chose to play in Australia? A new franchise offering big money? New opportunity? Great Lifestyle? Short career? Don't cry!! (again!!!)

Cardiff - thought they were having enough trouble keeping the players they have rather than attract new ones?

Every professional sportsman has to make the most of a relatively short career, but Delve was under no illusions that by going to Oz he was ending any chance of playing for Wales. If players aren't getting on the International gravy train with endorsements they may as well go for the big cheque.

,,
Delve played on Wales' tour of Australia proving he still has international ambitions again exposing your ignorance about the player. You made big assumptions about the player's motivations, and you are wrong. I wouldn't question your expertise about Chelsea, but you're wrong on this occasion.

Norfolklass wrote:Delve played on Wales' tour of Australia proving he still has international ambitions again exposing your ignorance about the player. You made big assumptions about the player's motivations, and you are wrong. I wouldn't question your expertise about Chelsea, but you're wrong on this occasion.

Assumptions no, observations yes. If your country calls you, are you going to say no - that's a bit different from having International ambitions. Was he such a resounding success that Howley just couldn't overlook him for the 6N squad... . If he really had International ambitions he would be playing in Wales, England or even France where he would stand a chance of being selected, but considering he has only a handful of Test caps for a thirty year old, he's probably better in Melbourne.

Aukster, Delve played in England for years, and played well, and was largely ignored by the Welsh coaches. Before his move to the rebels its pretty well documented he offered his services to the Cardiff Blues after being included in the previous 6nations squad and getting some game time (Xaiver Rush had just retired from memeory/ he was over the hill t least). He always harboured international ambitions and he thought this was the start of them coming to flower. The Blues were in a bad place (they still are but they're improving) and they couldnt reach and agreement (Bluesman has ellaborated on it a bit more but I'm not certain on the facts of the negotations). Then the Rebels offered him a fair whack (and who doesnt want the chance to go and live in Australia) and surprise ruprise hes going from stregth to stregth out there.

A talented number 8 and leader missed by the Blues & Wales if you ask me, sadly, we'll never know how we would of done at international level with a decent run.

The Irony is that Wales gave Andy Powell such a chance when Delve was there doing it for years - I sense some kind of clash somewhere which hasn't helped but that's up to the coach to sort. We have inferior players to Delve having many many caps including Popham, Powell and now Turnbull and McCusker, some may even want to put Johntathan Davies in there from the back row

Very difficult to see that he'll be included now - it must mean something that Cips was sufficiently worried about his visibility to Gatland that he moved all the way back to Sale.

We're pretty well covered for specialist 8s, as has been said above - Morgan, Beattie, Heaslip and Faletau have all been playing quite well. There's also a glut of blindsides that can do a good stint at 8 - O'Brien, Denton and Brown are the obvious examples.