Centre problems for the Lions

Does anyone see any glimmer of hope for the lions in their possible centre pairings?
Looking back on the Wales v. England game the best piece of centre play was the run, dummy and offload by Tipuric for Cuthbert's 2nd try.
Who does anyone realistically see as the 1st choice pairing?

I support England. I'd just pick the welsh centres.

9 - Phillips
10 - Sexton
11 - Cuthbert
12 - BOD
13 - Roberts
14 - North
15 - 1/2P

A lot of people put BOD at 12, but is he as effective there? No one questions his ability, but are there better 12 options? Didn't Jonathan Davies used to play 12, or am I just making that up?

I think that JD2 and Matt Scott would be interesting, Roberts is getting back to his destructive best, BOD was looking tired and battered, but I would imagine if he is fit, he is invaluable.

BOD is in the middle of a poor Irish team - Form is temporary the rest is history, we have strong centres to choose from - I don't see a problem

I'm just a bit worried that it took a 7 (a superb player however and surely nailed on for a squad place at least) to show everyone what centres should be doing in their game. possibly the best "centre's" move of the 6N!

JD2 and Scott would be really interesting actually. Both abrasive, and JD2 has got that real turn of speed.

People keep putting Farrell head of sexton but with Farrell at 10 it don't matter who is in centre because he's no where bear as good as sexton playing 10 and bringing players into the game

Aelandor wrote:I'm just a bit worried that it took a 7 (a superb player however and surely nailed on for a squad place at least) to show everyone what centres should be doing in their game. possibly the best "centre's" move of the 6N!

JD2 showed Tipuric how to do that when he set up Cuthbert for the first try...!

welshboii15 wrote:People keep putting Farrell head of sexton but with Farrell at 10 it don't matter who is in centre because he's no where bear as good as sexton playing 10 and bringing players into the game

I can't see Farrell going. He hasn't done enough. He is a great goal kicker but he isn't a good enough flyhalf. One of the other English lads might go ahead of him.

I think Twelvetress is more talented that Barritt and Tuilagi. It's a shame we didn't get to see more of him in this tournament, but surely he still has a chance of going on tour. JD2 after being very good for us on a consistent basis has been too average in this tournament. Roberts is ahead of him in the Lions centre pecking order.

I keep forgetting about Sexton - Apologies

I think a back line of 9Phillips 10sexton 11nortg 12twelvetrees 13roberts/JD2 14Cuthbert 15halfpenny
Is a solid creative skill full power full and fast and in my eyes that's what you need to beat Australia

I am still under the impression that BOD will not on the Lions tour. Either he will choose himself not too go, or he wont get selected. Did he not say that this would be his last game for Ireland at the week end?

I think one of the centres will be Manu Tualagi and possibly JD2.
With (Jamie Roberts Brad Barret) has back up. Is their a possibility Darcy might selected?

I just don't think manu is right for a starting player, you need a solid pack and a creative back line. Manu has as much creativity as Adam Jones very little IMO that's why I went with Roberts good on crash ball, fast, can kick, good under high ball and can pass I think that mixed with twelvetrees is the best the lions can offer

majesticimperialman wrote:Did he not say that this would be his last game for Ireland at the week end?

No...

majesticimperialman wrote:I am still under the impression that BOD will not on the Lions tour. Either he will choose himself not too go, or he wont get selected. Did he not say that this would be his last game for Ireland at the week end?

I think one of the centres will be Manu Tualagi and possibly JD2.
With (Jamie Roberts Brad Barret) has back up. Is their a possibility Darcy might selected?

As Notch said no, it's just general consensus that it's probably BOD's last tournament.

I doubt he'll choose not to go himself and I think he will go. I am not sure Tuilagi will start for the Lions now. He was pretty quiet on Saturday and that blown overlap may not do him any favours in the selectors eyes.

Who of the centres really shone?

Nobody really. They've all shown to have issues in the tournament (Davies' two passes into touch v Ireland etc).

Maybe we need to investigate whether Fofana has a second passport (British)

That was my thought rev. matt Scott had a decent tournament but too little too late and he remains inexperienced. Barrit was good in touches. a couple of moments from BOD. Not a lot to get excited about

My thoughts are that young Tuilagi is a lad who has dropped out of the reckoning massively on the last two weeks. He didn't have a good six nations and the finale showed him up as a player who has great pace and power but nothing else.

I certainly wouldnt take him as a centre, in my opinion he is a much better winger and could solve a lot of England issues if he was played wider, with Twelvetrees and Barritt given time to play together inside him.

If he was to go to Australia, I would take him as a back up winger. I think he could be the next Tuigamala.

In the centres we need players who can create and who don't feel the pressure in Big games, players who thrive on it.

BOD is definitely in my squad. Tuilagi is competing against Cuthbert, North, Gilroy, Visser and Maitland.

Dan Biggar has outplayed all other 10's this tournament.

Roberts gets in because he organises the Welsh defensive line.

I'd probably give Bod the start provided no one else puts their hand up later in the season.

I think Matt Scott has had a really good campaign, BOD has been good throughout, but both really havent done enough up to now to warrent a first team berth

I think the choice has to be between Roberts / Tualagi Davies. Personally I would say Jon Davies is a better 12 than 13 and out of the three he should be the shoe-in player

12 Davies
13 Tualagi

Would be my preferred choice up to Saturday 5 mins before the match started but Roberts had an awesome match so I wouldnt mind

12 Roberts
13 Davies or Tualagi

I do not think that there were any centres who played well or even decently throughout the tournament.

So I suspect that Gatland will not have had his pre tournament thoughts changed as to whom he will select for the tour. This is probably good news for BOD & Roberts who he was almost certain to take, and quite possibly Tuilagi as well.

I'd go with

12. B.O'D
13. Tuilagi

What I think Gats will do

12. Roberts
13. B.O'D

Roberts has been completely solid done nothing wrong and alot more right. Tuilagi will be lucky to tour apart from Ashton he's the next to leave the backline

Ashton still may go, but honestly there is no one else, even visser to me looks all hype. You coul ddo worse than North and Cuthbert on the wings bu ti want some real pace.

I always liked idea of JD and Tuilagi but Tuilagi has gone off boil a bit. BOD and Roberts are a proven combo for the Lions so that would be tempting but again neither have been on top form all season

100%beefy wrote:Ashton still may go, but honestly there is no one else, even visser to me looks all hype. You coul ddo worse than North and Cuthbert on the wings bu ti want some real pace.

How much more pace can you get??? Cuthbert gets slammed for his pace yet he beat Brown in one of the most even footraces you'll see over only 15metres or so, he is seriously quick, it's his acceteration and agility thats lacking!!

My thoughts are that young Tuilagi is a lad who has dropped out of the reckoning massively on the last two weeks. He didn't have a good six nations and the finale showed him up as a player who has great pace and power but nothing else.

Remember he missed the first two games because of an injury. I don't think he was fully fit. JD2 had a poor game in a good Welsh backline and BOD got himself sin binned in a mediocare display for Ireland. Three classy players but none really showing their best.

By his previous standards, I thought Jamie Roberts had a quiet 6N. I agree with the consencus that nobody played well the whole time but would add that all centres (Sean Lamont apart) showed evidence of why they could be on the plane.
At the end of the day, I think Gatland will go for the Welsh duo

Tuilagi is genuinely world class and is still only 21! Listen to what other professionals say about him! He has to at least tour!

I know I'd have him at 13 with a really creative 12 who can open up the field for him! We don't seem to have one though so if whack him on the wing where he played all his age grade rugby

Phillips
Sexton
Roberts
BOD
Tuilagi
North
Foden

Tiger/Chief wrote:Tuilagi is genuinely world class and is still only 21! Listen to what other professionals say about him! He has to at least tour!

I know I'd have him at 13 with a really creative 12 who can open up the field for him! We don't seem to have one though so if whack him on the wing where he played all his age grade rugby

Phillips
Sexton
Roberts
BOD
Tuilagi
North
Foden

Tiger - I would get your spell-check on your PC reinstalled - when you typed Halfpenny/Hogg for full-back, your PC didn't pick up that had mistakenly typed Foden

Haha I'm on the phone but Id take Foden over Hogg any day! England have really missed his pace and attacking instinct!

I'd take Kearney Halfpenny and Foden cos the latter 2 on the bench cover wing

Foden was bloody awful in the Heino at Glasgow

Foden is not the same player as a couple of years ago. He's running out of time to show his form has returned. Currently Halfpenny is miles ahead of the rest of the field.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

My thoughts are that young Tuilagi is a lad who has dropped out of the reckoning massively on the last two weeks. He didn't have a good six nations and the finale showed him up as a player who has great pace and power but nothing else.

Remember he missed the first two games because of an injury. I don't think he was fully fit. JD2 had a poor game in a good Welsh backline and BOD got himself sin binned in a mediocare display for Ireland. Three classy players but none really showing their best.

Tuilagi is great on the front foot in space and carries well but creates little and though i think we will see much more of him he is currently well and truly off the boil

If BOD is fit, and i mean fit not carrying 3/4 knocks, then he shoudl start in the Tests, it was his genius pass and leadership that was the only difference between Wales and a 4th Slam.

BOD outplayed Davies, Tuilagi outplayed BOD and Davies outplayed Tuilagi.

Therefore I'd go for Marshall and Hogg.

rodders wrote:BOD outplayed Davies, Tuilagi outplayed BOD and Davies outplayed Tuilagi.

Therefore I'd go for Marshall and Hogg.

Tuilagi was only on the pitch for the last twenty minutes vs Ireland. He certainly did not out play anyone.

rodders wrote:BOD outplayed Davies, Tuilagi outplayed BOD and Davies outplayed Tuilagi.

Therefore I'd go for Marshall and Hogg.

Tiger/Chief wrote:Tuilagi is genuinely world class and is still only 21! Listen to what other professionals say about him! He has to at least tour!

I know I'd have him at 13 with a really creative 12 who can open up the field for him! We don't seem to have one though so if whack him on the wing where he played all his age grade rugby

Phillips
Sexton
Roberts
BOD
Tuilagi
North
Foden

This is where I seriously disagree. Tuilagi may have the ability to be a world class finisher but definitely never a world class centre.

Take his huge opportunity vs Wales last Saturday. A massive defensive mistake good back line organisation and quick ball to England and its on, but Tuilagi knocks on a perfectly good pass because he's not watching the ball.

Conrad Smith and Brian O'Driscoll are World Class centres. They would not have dropped that ball.

Take him as a winger, nothing else.

But is he better or potentially better than the other wingers that will be available to the Lions selectors?

bedfordwelsh wrote:But is he better or potentially better than the other wingers that will be available to the Lions selectors?

Tough call.

Tuilagi certainly showed in the last two matches, and in the Autumn that he struggles at centre in a tight game. Played very well against the Kiwis but i am dubious to count that match... More so post six nations than before.

We need more intelligent players then Tuilagi, I hope that the selectors are looking at some alternatives. Matt Scott and Luke Marshall would go as centres before Tuilagi if it were my own choice.

For the lions maybe he would be a great winger to cover bench duty? He can play centre or wing, he is devastating if the game opens up.

12 Twelvetrees
13 Davies, Roberts, BOD, Tuilagi or Marshall

Glas a du wrote:12 Twelvetrees
13 Davies, Roberts, BOD, Tuilagi or Marshall

I really liked the look of Twelvetrees but England didn't really give him an opportunity to show what he can do. I thought after the impact he made vs Scotland that he had done enough to secure the 12 shirt and that would have likely made him a prime contender for the Lions. But he was subbed vs Ireland and not really used again.

His impact showed in the better back line play vs Scotland, he creates for himself and those around him and is a talented footballer, but I would be surprised if he made it on this tour with so little experience.

Marshall and Scott had full games and really impressed showing their club form at international level. They look great options for the future for their nations and could well be the type of players who could do well in Australia.

I think the Post 6 N Lions squad selection thread I chose to take JD2, Roberts, BOD, Scott and Marshall and only two flyhalfs. I think I will stick with that decision.

I look at how BOD has deteriorated as the 6N has gone on and just thought... how is he going to play 3-4 warm up games with the lions and then go into tests? Can he play 7 Lions fixtures in the summer???

He's had Sexton and D'arcy taken away from him sure but at the same time... this wouldn't have impacted BOD of yesteryear.

I would seriously think about taking Twelvetrees.... he's the only genuine second five-eigth playing in test squads at the moment. He gives you options, a plan B.

Well, so does Scott, but Twelevetrees is the better of them I think.