Lions Selection Competition

First topic message reminder :

Sadly no prize - other than the "glory".

Rules relatively straightforward:

Warren Gatland (or more likely Andy Irvine) will be announcing the squad to tour Australia after the HEC/Amlin semi-finals. You have between now and midnight (board time) on Sunday 28th to name the players you believe he will take. You can amend your list at any time, up to that time. Please put the players you most expect to tour first (ie not in positional order) as the winner is the poster who names the most touring players before naming a wrong one. In event of a tie, well we count to the second non-tourist etc.

My entry will follow.

Edit:
Please note you can amend your teams to account for injuries - so long as this is done before Gatland announces his squad.

This is my draft squad of 42 which needs to be trimmed/ Amended over the weekend depending on Fitness/ Availability;

Props
Jones, Cole, Ross,
Best, Hibbart, Youngs
Healy, James , Corbisiero, Jenkins

Second Rows
AWJ, Gray, POC, Evans, Parling, Launchbury

Back Row
Tiperic, Warburton, Robshaw, O'Brien, Wood, Falatau, Morgan, Croft

Scrum Half
Youngs, Phillips, Laidlaw

Fly Half
Sexton, Farrell, Bigger

Centres
Roberts, Tuilagi, Twelvetrees, Davies, BOD

Back 3
North, Cuthbert, Wade, Halfpenny, Hogg, Kearney, Bowe

I will in order of certain to tour later..

37 touring squad, Gatland seems to want to take 2 FHs not 3.

1. Adam Jones
2. Dan Cole
3. Sam Warbuton
4. Mike Phillips
5. Ben Youngs
6. Toby Faletau
7. Owen Farrell
8. Jonathan Sexton
9. Manu Tuliangi
10. Rory Best
11. Cian Healy
12. Paul O'Connell
13. Brain O'Driscoll
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny
16. Justin Tipuric
17. Sean O'Brein
18. Stuart Hogg
19. Tim Visser
20. Tom Croft
21. Tom Youngs
22. Ryan Grant
23. Jamie Roberts
24. Jonathan Davies
25. Alex Cuthbert
26. Greg Laidlaw
27. Ian Evans
28. Gethin Jenkins
29. Tommy Bowe
31. Rob Kearney
32. Simon Zebo
33. Chris Robshaw
34. Jamie Heaslip
35. Geoff Parling
36. Brad Barritt
37. James Hook
38. Christian Wade

What if someone gets injured after they are selected but before the tour leaves and therefore dont travel. This always happens. Will they still count as a Lion?

606 - I appreciate you might want to get the Scottish representation up but you can't take MacVisser twice !

GunsGerms wrote:What if someone gets injured after they are selected but before the tour leaves and therefore dont travel. This always happens. Will they still count as a Lion?

the competition is purely looking at the squad that Gatland names next wednesday.
So if they are named they count, irrespective of if they tour.
If they are named pending a fitness test they count.
If they are named on standby, they do not count.

offload wrote:606 - I appreciate you might want to get the Scottish representation up but you can't take MacVisser twice !

LondonTiger wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:What if someone gets injured after they are selected but before the tour leaves and therefore dont travel. This always happens. Will they still count as a Lion?

the competition is purely looking at the squad that Gatland names next wednesday.
So if they are named they count, irrespective of if they tour.
If they are named pending a fitness test they count.
If they are named on standby, they do not count.

What if you spell their name wrong? For example I am certain that none of the following will be picked:

Brain O'Driscoll
Manu Tuliangi
Sean O'Brein
Justin Tiperic
Owen Farrel

Misspelt is fine - so long as it is obvious.

Saying Youngs without a first name only works if both brothers go.

01 Cian Healy
16 Ryan Grant
02 Rory Best
03 Dan Cole
17 Adam Jones
04 Richie Gray
18 Alun Wyn Jones
05 Geoff Parling
06 Sean O’Brien
07 Justin Tipuric
08 Toby Faletau
19 Sam Warburton
09 Ben Youngs
20 Mike Phillips
10 Owen Farrell
11 George North
12 Jamie Roberts
13 Brian O’Driscoll (c)
21 Matt Scott
22 Manu Tuilagi
14 Alex Cuthbert
15 Leigh Halfpenny

Ross Ford
Ian Evans
Ryan Jones
Gethin Jenkins
Joe Launchbury
Chris Robshaw
Jamie Heaslip
Tom Wood
Chris Robshaw
Johnathan Sexton
Greig Laidlaw
Tim Visser
Jonathan Davies
Tommy Bowe
Stuart Hogg
Sean Maitland - (will be flown over at some stage)

Adam Jones
Dan Cole
Mike Phillips
Ben Youngs
Toby Faletau
Jonathan Sexton
Manu Tuliangi
Rory Best
Cian Healy
Sam Warbuton
Paul O'Connell
George North
Leigh Halfpenny
Justin Tipuric
Sean O'Brein
Stuart Hogg
R Gray
Ryan Grant
Jamie Roberts
Jonathan Davies
Alex Cuthbert
Greg Laidlaw
Brain O'Driscoll......
Gethin Jenkins
Kelly Brown (Proper Capt)
Matt Scott
Rob Kearney
Chris Robshaw
Hines
Jamie Heaslip
Geoff Parling
Ross Ford
Brad Barritt
Owen Farrell
Simon Zebo
James Hook
Christian Wade

1.BOD
2.Tupiric
3.Warburton
4.Best
5.Healy
6.Cole
7.Adam Jones
8.Phillips
9.North
10.Halfpenny
11.Sexton
12.Hibbard
13.Robshaw
14.Jamie Roberts
15.Faletau
16.Cuthbert
17.Tuilagi
18.AWJ
19.Jenkins
20.Jonathan Davies
21.O'Brien
22.POC
23.Hogg
24.Farrell
25.Hogg
26.Zebo

ChequeredJersey wrote:This isn't who i wouod bring but who I think will go

1. Healy
2. Hibbard
3. Jones
4. Grant
5. Best
6. Cole
7. O'Connell
8. Launchbury
9. Evans
10. Ryan
11. Brown
12. Tipuric
13. Lydiate
14. SOB
15. Morgan
16. Warburton
17. Youngs
18. Phillips
19. Laidlaw
20. Sexton
21. Farrell
22. Biggar
23. Roberts
24. Tuilagi
25. O'Driscoll
26. Davies
27. Bowe
28. North
29. Halfpenny
30. Kearney
31. Hogg
32. Zebo

Don't we know at least it's going to be two at FH plus 'a utility'. So can't have Sexton (if fit) Biggar and Farrell. Don't need Farrell's boot so why pick him. Gats will man up to Andy Farrell

During Gatland's interview on Rugby HQ here Tim Horan asked him who is most likely to captain the Lions.

The answer was "BOD, Chris Robshaw and Warburton (in that order) are the ones who spring to mind."

So if anyone doesn't have Robshaw on their list...

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mention someone who is not on his shortlist of 28-30 players thus far.

Just over 48 hours to enter or amend your squads. Remember as soon as I encounter an incorrect name, I stop counting.

Jones A
BOD
Healy C
Philips M
Best R
Tipuric J
Sexton J
Roberts J
Tuilagi M
Kearney R
Hogg
Half L
Warburton S
Farrel O
JD2
Jones AW
Youngs T
Wood
Evans
Launchbury
Youngs B
North G
Cole D
Hibberd R
Faletau T
O'Connell P
Brown K
Cuthbert A
SOB
Jenkins G
Visser
Robshaw
Bowe
Parling
Laidlaw
Ford
ZEbo

Okayyyyyy...

1. Halfpenny (b3)
2. BOD (c)
3. North (b3)
4. Roberts (c)
5. Bowe (b3)
6. Sexton (fh)
7. Farrell (fh)
8. Phillips (sh)
9. Care (sh)
10. Laidlaw (sh)
11. Tuilagi (c)
12. Kearney (b3)
13. Falateu (br)
14. Warburton (br)
15. Tipuric (br)
16. AWJ (sr)
17. POC (sr)
18. Launchbury (sr)
19. K Brown (br)
20. SOB (br)
21. A Jones (p)
22. Cole (p)
23. Best (h)
24. Healy (p)
25. Jenkins (p)
26. T Youngs (h)
27. Hibbard (h)
28. Robshaw (br)
29. Gray (sr)
30. Hogg (b3)
31. Evans (sr)
32. Morgan (br)
33. Davies (c)
34. Cuthbert (b3)
35. Grant (p)
36. Henderson (br/sr)

5 props 3 hookers 5/6 second rows 7/8 back rows 3 scrum halfs 2 fly halfs 4 centres 6 back 3

14 welsh 9 Irish 8 English 5 scots

Fairly even squad methinks. Obvious Irish bias shines through but come on everyone's allowed a wee bit ain't they?

That's what I'm sticking to. See you Tuesday.

Couple of hours left to reflect on your picks. Will post results Tuesday evening.

Anyone see the Sindie today. A pair of bell ends, one of whom claims to have played against most of candidates - Keith Flatulentman or something and some other feckwit- had a go at picking a 34 for the Lions. Utter baws from start to finish. Well seen nobody buys that schieze paper - I found it in the pub - pristine and unopened.

Warbs
Adam Jones
Dan Cole
BOD
Roberts
1/2Penny
North
Sexton
Best
AWJ
OConnell
Tipuric
Faletau
Phillips
Ben Youngs
Robshaw
OBrien
Healy
Tuilagi
JD2
Cuthbert
Parling
Hibbard
Gethin
Farrell
Ian Evans
Bowe
Zebo
Ken Owens
Hogg
Beattie
Grant
Paul James
Care
Launchbury
Wood
um...er...utility back.. um...Twelvetrees

Tough not to pick R.Jones, K.Brown or Lydiate for the back row spots and suspect Gatland may go for Danny but that, for me, would be one recently injured player too many. Also feel Kearney may be selected ahead of Hogg at FB and dont rule out Hook instead of 36 as utility back. Also id take personally take Wilkinson or even Biggar ahead of Farrell but im pretty sure dad's boy will be on the plane. So there it is, my 37. Some good players left behind, especially in the back row, cant wait for the tour now.

1. Adam Jones
2. Dan Cole
3. Sam Warbuton
4. Mike Phillips
5. Ben Youngs
6. Toby Faletau
7. Johnny Wilkinson
8. Jonathan Sexton
9. Manu Tuliangi
10. Rory Best
11. Cian Healy
12. Paul O'Connell
13. Brain O'Driscoll
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny
16. Justin Tipuric
17. Sean O'Brian
18. Stuart Hogg
19. Tim Visser
20. Ben Morgan
21. Richard Hibbard
22. Kelly Brown
23. Jamie Roberts
24. Jonathan Davies
25. Alex Cuthbert
26. Greg Laidlaw
27. Ian Evans
28. Gethin Jenkins
29. Tommy Bowe
31. Rob Kearney
32. Simon Zebo
33. Chris Robshaw
34. Jamie Heaslip
35. Nathan Hines
36. Mike Brown
37. James Hook
38. Christian Wade

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Anyone see the Sindie today. A pair of bell ends, one of whom claims to have played against most of candidates - Keith Flatulentman or something and some other feckwit- had a go at picking a 34 for the Lions. Utter baws from start to finish. Well seen nobody buys that schieze paper - I found it in the pub - pristine and unopened.

Jesus Schitz, I just read it.

Honestly... like HONESTLY, words fail me. The biggest load of amateurish nonsense I've ever seen passed off as 'journalism'. These guys genuinely put Alex Corbisiero ahead of Ryan Grant and, if they'd had the chance, would have picked Sheridan as well.

They also picked David Wilson. I mean, seriously. A joke's a joke and all that, but David Wilson? Ahead of Ross and Murray?

The final kick in the nuts, that last drop of froth from the baying journalistic maw of Flatman and Godwin, is the impression one receives when reading the article that they would genuinely put Owen Farrell in to start ahead of Sexton. For proper serious, like.

For anyone else who wants to see the Bizarro-world Lions tour party (though I suppose a Bizarro tour would involve SH tourists arriving on elephants in December):
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/hugh-godwin-and-david-flatman-heres-our-lions-to-beat-the-aussies-8591333.html

Enjoy.

B91212 wrote:A. Jones
Warburton
Phillips
North
Halfpenny
Cole
Healy
Best
Sexton
Cuthbert
B. Youngs
Farrell
BOD
Tuilagi
O'Brien
Roberts
K. Brown
POC
Tupuric (19)
-------------------------------
Faletau
Hibbard
Kearney
Wyn-Jones
Lydiate
Grant
Laidlaw
Youngs. T
Murray
Launchberry
Grey
Evans. I
Hogg
Croft
Davies. J
Visser
Jenkins
Wood (37)

Missed the 12pm GST deadline LT so hoping for a special exception (it's after 8pm here still) but in case the rules must be adhered to then I have divided it up, the first 19 were selected before the weekend with the rest selected just now.

Just realised that I haven't selected Bowe like an idiot. think WG will take him (rightly so) but can't be bothered to change it yet again.

Adam Jones
Jonny Sexton
Justin Tipuric
Mike Phillips
Brian O'Driscoll
Richard Hibbard
Nathan Hines
Sean Maitland
Paul O'Connell
George North
Cian Healy
Toby Faletau
Jamie Roberts

Entried closed.

Thanks for all entries.

Sorry for the delay and holding you up on this as I was one of the last.

Apologies, I'm way behind the deadline, so no problem if my entry is too late!

1 Adam Jones
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Leigh Halfpenny
4 Mike Phillips
5 Jamie Roberts
6 George North
7 Sam Warburton
8 Justin Tipuric
9 Alun Wyn Jones
10 Toby Faletau
11 Gethin Jenkins
12 Dan Cole
13 Ben Youngs
14 Manu Tuilagi
15 Richie Gray
16 Stuart Hogg
17 Cian Healy
18 Rory Best
19 POC
20 SOB
21 Jonathan Sexton
22 BOD
23 Tommy Bowe
24 Ian Evans
25 Ryan Grant
26 Jamie Heaslip
27 Tom Youngs
28 Paul James
29 Jonathan Davies
30 Alex Cuthbert
31 James Hook
32 Owen Farrell
33 Sean Maitland
34 Geoff Parling
35 Tom Wood
36 Kelly Brown
37 Conor Murray

please sir, let me join in,its only monday night.... it wasnt fault, my dog ate my pants and my bus was late!

1. Adam Jones
2. Cian Healy
3. Dan Cole
4. Rory Best
5. Paul Oconnell
6. AWJ
7. Sam Warburton
8. Justin Tipuric
9. Toby Faletau
10. Mike Phillips
11. Ben Youngs
12. Jonny Sexton
13. Jamie Roberts
14. Manu Tuilagi
15. Bod
16. Jon Davies
17. George North
18. Alex Cuthbert
19. Leigh Halfpenny
20. Rob Kearney
21. Stuart Hogg
22. Gethin Jenkins
23. Richard Hibbard
24. Ian Evans
25. Jamie Heaslip
26. Sean O'Brien
27. Chris Robshaw
28. Tommy Bowe
29. Geoff Parling
30. Owen Farrell
31. Ritchie Grey
32. Tom Croft
33. Ryan Grant
34. Paul James
35. Tom Youngs
36. Tim Vissar
37. James Hook
38. Greg Laidlaw