Lions: If BOD is not nominated as captain, will he tour?

First topic message reminder :

I'm not sure that BOD has it in him to be a potential bench warmer or worse, a dirt tracker.

Still early doors with three games to play in the 6Ns before Warren makes his call but current odds are favouring Robshaw http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/lions-tour/british-and-irish-lions-tour/to-be-named-captain . Still very early doors.

But I don't see BOD touring if he's not skipper.

fa0019 wrote:GunsGerms

The boks will never have the indignity to complain over the lack of action placed on a opposition player (who was out of the tour due to the tackle anyhow).

Justice4 was about their own man's ill-treatment.

It was a little bit dramatic though dont you think?

True... a bit of the boy who cried wolf in their complaint.

All in all I think he's been pretty lucky with bans.

How can BOD tour AND be Pope...ridiculous

100%beefy wrote:How can BOD tour AND be Pope...ridiculous

Is BOD going to be carried in a chair without his pants???

OzT wrote:

100%beefy wrote:How can BOD tour AND be Pope...ridiculous

Is BOD going to be carried in a chair without his pants???

No but he will be carried on Cian healy and Rory Best's shoulders when he scores the winning try in the series decider in his swansong international test.

Visions of Bodhists wandering around in their green robes, asking for their prayer glasses to be refilled with black stuff...

George Carlin wrote:I think that the Lions captain almost certainly will have to be someone who is already captaining their national side.

I think that would be a huge mistake as none of the 4 are certain to be in the best 15

I'm pretty sure Martin Johnson captained the Lions before he captained England.

If its good enough for the great Mike Gibson to be dirt tracker at the end of his career, its good enough for BOD, but somehow I dont think BOD thinks hes that precious. The great ones usually do the right thing.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I'm pretty sure Martin Johnson captained the Lions before he captained England.

He did and Paul O'Connell was lions captain despite not being Ireland captain.

Taylorman wrote:If its good enough for the great Mike Gibson to be dirt tracker at the end of his career, its good enough for BOD, but somehow I dont think BOD thinks hes that precious. The great ones usually do the right thing.

I hope so Mr Taylor. Why do I have the feeling that Drico is just a bit too arr... arrog... (sorry it doesn't parse into Irish English) proud to be a dirt-tracker?

I'd take him, I'd also make him Captain.

VictorU3 wrote:I'd take him, I'd also make him Captain.

I'd take him and make him Captain Victor. I just wouldn't guarantee him a test place.

If he is selected he will go regardless of the captaincy.

I am amazed anyone is any doubt to be honest.

BOD doesn't strike me as the sort who would kick up a huge fuss if not picked as a starter, let alone captain. Am I wrong?

BOD is likely to be on tour as one of the current top 13s in the 6 nations.

Personally I think it's shoot out between BOD and Tuilagi for the 13 shirt.

greytiger wrote:I'm not sure that BOD has it in him to be a potential bench warmer or worse, a dirt tracker.

Still early doors with three games to play in the 6Ns before Warren makes his call but current odds are favouring Robshaw http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/lions-tour/british-and-irish-lions-tour/to-be-named-captain . Still very early doors.

But I don't see BOD touring if he's not skipper.

Will Robshaw be favourite if England lose to France and Wales (two sides we are told they should beat easily). He is playing well in a side playing well. Is he a good captain? Not so sure

beshocked wrote:BOD doesn't strike me as the sort who would kick up a huge fuss if not picked as a starter, let alone captain. Am I wrong?

Well he's said publicly that he wasn't happy with the Ireland captaincy being given to Jamie Heaslip.

geoff998rugby wrote:If he is selected he will go regardless of the captaincy.

I am amazed anyone is any doubt to be honest.

I suspect the proof will only be found in the pudding. If BOD gets through the 6Ns unscathed (the Skipper will be announced shortly afterwards), and if A.N.Other is nominated, then we'll see a. whether he accepts the call and b. how he conducts himself on tour as a senior player.

The parallels between this tour and 1983 are fairly obvious. Of course BOD may play out of his skin so all my fretting may have been in vain.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

beshocked wrote:BOD doesn't strike me as the sort who would kick up a huge fuss if not picked as a starter, let alone captain. Am I wrong?

Well he's said publicly that he wasn't happy with the Ireland captaincy being given to Jamie Heaslip.

Well of course he did what would you expect him to say? He also said the same when Gatland selected O'Connell to captain on the last tour.

On both occaisions he gave his full backing to the captain and his utmost as a player, which is exactly what you'd want and expect.

He could just have said that he was fully supportive of Heaslip and not mentioned his disappointment. Bland answers are all the rage these days.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:He could just have said that he was fully supportive of Heaslip and not mentioned his disappointment. Bland answers are all the rage these days.

What is the issue with saying youre dissapointed. I think I would always prefer to know someone cares by showing their disapointement rather than bouncing merrily on like a wall flower. Provided you arent a complete moany Michael about it.

Drico said he was disapointed then moved on by the next day. Issue over.

It suggests he expected to walk back into the captaincy role.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It suggests he expected to walk back into the captaincy role.

Well he was captain. I think that it is fair enough to assume you are captain until you are told you are not.

Shouldn't he have been looking at regaining his place in the squad, and seeing the captaincy as a bonus?

"Will Robshaw be favourite if England lose to France and Wales (two sides we are told they should beat easily). He is playing well in a side playing well. Is he a good captain? Not so sure"

Who's saying that?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Shouldn't he have been looking at regaining his place in the squad, and seeing the captaincy as a bonus?

No of course not. When you reach the highest level, why set your sights any lower than the level you know you are capable of. Thats why he is a champion because he aims much higher than everyone else.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It suggests he expected to walk back into the captaincy role.

It suggests he believes that he is still the best man for the job, which is a reasonable enough thing to believe. He arcticulated this in a reasonable and respectful way, offering Jamie his full support, so I'm not sure what the issue is.

The issue is the one raised by the OP. As a former Lions captain, will he be also be expecting to walk back into the captaincy role.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:The issue is the one raised by the OP. As a former Lions captain, will he be also be expecting to walk back into the captaincy role.

The OP is a wum though obviously.

Why would any former Lions captain "expect" to be picked as captain again? It is ludicrous to suggest that Drico has this mind set and Lions captaincy is completly different to captaining your country especially given that in recent years no one has captained the Lions twice and given that there are such big gaps between tours.

He may believe he is a contender, as do I but like everyone else he will have to prove his worth in the lead up to the tour. I think he is going about it the right way. His head seems to be in the right place, he is comitted as ever, he seems to have slimmed down slightly and has put in some really good performances.

You say he's not thinking about it, but he's giving plenty of interviews dressed in Lions garb. I'm not aware any other players have been doing that.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You say he's not thinking about it, but he's giving plenty of interviews dressed in Lions garb. I'm not aware any other players have been doing that.

You said "expecting" not "thinking of". Ive no doubt he would love to be captain and has thought about it.

You only do Lions interviews in Lions gear if you are asked/told to do that. Its not like he went down to the local sports shop and bought the latest Lions gear just to wear it in interviews.

Well I don't know whether he was asked to wear the Lions gear or not, but I haven't seen any other players being interviewed in Lions gear.

The OP is a wum though obviously.

Guns,The OP is most certainly not a wum. It's a serious question.

No tourist should do so on past reputation or achievements (as the English army of 2004).

No-one (imo) who is selected as captain should be guaranteed a test start.

That's what the OP is about in essence. Only it was specifically targeted at BOD as he seems to be the most likely to be cast in stardom for past glories.

Do I think BOD is arrogant or petulant enough to refuse to tour if not given the captaincy? No. I have not been given that impression. To be honest I don't think most players would refuse to tour.

BOD knows there are tough decisions to be made. Also he must he must acknowledge he is no longer in his prime, he cannot command a starting place/captaincy based on his reputation alone. BOD is still a very good player so might well be a contender though.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Well I don't know whether he was asked to wear the Lions gear or not, but I haven't seen any other players being interviewed in Lions gear.

I have. Jason Robinson has for example. They are only going to interview past Lions in Lions gear for obvious reasons.

...Gavin hastings too.

Fair enough, I hadn't seen either of those interviewed. Then again, neither of those is a candidate for the captaincy of the 2013 side.

greytiger wrote:

The OP is a wum though obviously.

Guns,The OP is most certainly not a wum. It's a serious question.

No tourist should do so on past reputation or achievements (as the English army of 2004).

No-one (imo) who is selected as captain should be guaranteed a test start.

That's what the OP is about in essence. Only it was specifically targeted at BOD as he seems to be the most likely to be cast in stardom for past glories.

You know you are a WUM. There may be a serious, valid question in there somewhere but your intention is to wind people up as well and you know it. Youre not fooling anyone.

beshocked wrote:Do I think BOD is arrogant or petulant enough to refuse to tour if not given the captaincy? No. I have not been given that impression. To be honest I don't think most players would refuse to tour.

BOD knows there are tough decisions to be made. Also he must he must acknowledge he is no longer in his prime, he cannot command a starting place/captaincy based on his reputation alone. BOD is still a very good player so might well be a contender though.

Correct. It's not to be confused with any concurrent Papal election.
Even though there'll be parallel infallibility issues.

GunsGerms wrote:

greytiger wrote:

The OP is a wum though obviously.

Guns,The OP is most certainly not a wum. It's a serious question.

No tourist should do so on past reputation or achievements (as the English army of 2004).

No-one (imo) who is selected as captain should be guaranteed a test start.

That's what the OP is about in essence. Only it was specifically targeted at BOD as he seems to be the most likely to be cast in stardom for past glories.

You know you are a WUM. There may be a serious, valid question in there somewhere but your intention is to wind people up as well and you know it. Youre not fooling anyone.

Sounds like you are the type who's opposed to investigative journalism, open debate or free thinking Guns.
The Cambridge Union is having Marine Le Pen as a guest this afternoon. (fascist bar stewards?)

VictorU3 wrote:"Will Robshaw be favourite if England lose to France and Wales (two sides we are told they should beat easily). He is playing well in a side playing well. Is he a good captain? Not so sure"

Who's saying that?

Bookies for a start, and all the talk of Grand Slam on here from English fans clearly implies as much.

dragonbreath wrote:

VictorU3 wrote:"Will Robshaw be favourite if England lose to France and Wales (two sides we are told they should beat easily). He is playing well in a side playing well. Is he a good captain? Not so sure"

Who's saying that?

Bookies for a start, and all the talk of Grand Slam on here from English fans clearly implies as much.

http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/six-nations/england-v-france/winner

The Bookies!
What do they know about rugby with the patetic odds they give us fans?

I'm English and a rugby fan and I’m not confident of two easy wins against France + Wales I've been around too long to think like that.

Italy fair enough I'm confident about that one (English arrogances showing through again) no disrespect to Italy as I'm sure one day they will beat us but I can't see it this year.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Fair enough, I hadn't seen either of those interviewed. Then again, neither of those is a candidate for the captaincy of the 2013 side.

http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/02/2987/hsbc-lions-monthly-episode-2

http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/01/2953/inaugural-hsbc-lions-monthly-episode-1

greytiger wrote:Sounds like you are the type who's opposed to investigative journalism, open debate or free thinking Guns.

No but I find tabloid journalism to be fairly boring and a waste of my time.

greytiger wrote:

dragonbreath wrote:

VictorU3 wrote:"Will Robshaw be favourite if England lose to France and Wales (two sides we are told they should beat easily). He is playing well in a side playing well. Is he a good captain? Not so sure"

Who's saying that?

Bookies for a start, and all the talk of Grand Slam on here from English fans clearly implies as much.

http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/six-nations/england-v-france/winner

Sorry Grey don't quite follow your point. Now while I admit that I don't even know how to place a bet the link you provided seems to back up my point that England are pretty strong favourites?

GunsGerms wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Fair enough, I hadn't seen either of those interviewed. Then again, neither of those is a candidate for the captaincy of the 2013 side.

http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/02/2987/hsbc-lions-monthly-episode-2

http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/01/2953/inaugural-hsbc-lions-monthly-episode-1

BOD's inteview was with Jiffy on the BBC and he was talking about Ireland as much as he was talking about the Lions. Genuinely, I'm not convinced he was told to wear the Lions stuff.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Fair enough, I hadn't seen either of those interviewed. Then again, neither of those is a candidate for the captaincy of the 2013 side.

http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/02/2987/hsbc-lions-monthly-episode-2

http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/01/2953/inaugural-hsbc-lions-monthly-episode-1

BOD's inteview was with Jiffy on the BBC and he was talking about Ireland as much as he was talking about the Lions. Genuinely, I'm not convinced he was told to wear the Lions stuff.

Once you have earned your stripes as a Lion, or should that be a tiger, anyway he has been a Lion three times does that not mean he can wear Lions gear when he sees fit? I occasionaly wear a Lions jersey but I dont expect a call from Gatland nor have I ever represented the Lions in the past.

Could you be over analysing things a bit?

BOD is a HSBC ambassador. He has to wear the kit.

Yes, I could be over-analysing things. But considering that the interview was conducted in the run-up to the Six Nations, I was surprised he was wearing a Lions tracksuit rather than an Ireland one.