Who SHOULD be the Lions 10's?

First topic message reminder :

It should be the current best 3. In my opinion these are:

Wilkinson
Sexton
Biggar

Anyone agree / disagree?

Sexton, Farrell & Biggar should have gone for me (6nations form for Biggar had me pick him over Wilkinson - especially at the time the squad was announced).

Wilkinson will most likely be the 'injury' replacement that gets the call up late and joins the party out there.

The only alternative I'd look to outside of those 4 would be Madigan as a bolter, he seems to have something about him, if he keeps progressing he could be potentially electric over the next couple of years.


Considering what we have, I'd have sexton start currently, Farrell's had a very good year, but he's looking a little lacking lately, whether that be down to fatigue or whatever, hes not firing aswell as he can. That by default gives it to Sexton imo. Sexton definitely has more experience and more strings to his bow and if both fit and on form, he'd still start for me.

That said, I think people are forgetting the sort of year Farrell's had, for someone his age (especially) hes been top notch and deserves his call up.

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For anyone who still thinks Wilkinson rules himself out, confirmation that he's keen to go:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22604327

The press corps still seems to think he'll be called up. However, it's always possible that Gatland had the idea that Wilkinson would be a good man to set a professional example right at the start of the tour. Without that bonus, he might reconsider Wilkinson's merits if the Lions tour group doesn't suffer any immediate injuries.

Ah, what do I know?

Rugby Fan wrote:For anyone who still thinks Wilkinson rules himself out, confirmation that he's keen to go:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22604327

The press corps still seems to think he'll be called up. However, it's always possible that Gatland had the idea that Wilkinson would be a good man to set a professional example right at the start of the tour. Without that bonus, he might reconsider Wilkinson's merits if the Lions tour group doesn't suffer any immediate injuries.

Ah, what do I know?

Hmm I think the lions have perfect examples of professionalism in their captain and their more experienced members like BOD, POC, Gethin, Adam Jones, Jamie Heaslip and those guys all do more than try to assertion an 80% accuracy rate at goal, they win games.

maestegmafia wrote:Hmm I think the lions have perfect examples of professionalism in their captain and their more experienced members like BOD, POC, Gethin, Adam Jones, Jamie Heaslip

No-one doubts that. What's also not in doubt is that everyone who plays with Wilkinson comes away with great respect for his total commitment. If his attitude was so common, players wouldn't mention it so much, and Sexton wouldn't have said he'd like to see it in action.

On the one hand, I feel sorry for Wilkinson because he doesn't seek the limelight. He just gets on with training and playing rugby and you get the feeling he'd be happier without all the media attention. That said, part of me hopes he doesn't tour with the Lions. You know what Sky are like. If he makes the Test side, it'll be all about Jonny; if he doesn't make the Test side, it'll be all about Jonny.

should have been sexton Wilkinson and dragonborn

‘The truth is Jonny wasn’t up for it. Had he said, “I’m your man, I’m desperate to play for the Lions, don’t worry about the French (league) final”, I think that Jonny would have been on the trip. But he didn’t say that. The fact is he’s more or less ruled himself out. I personally feel very passionate that if you want to play for the Lions you prove to us that you want to play for the Lions. Four years ago Nathan Hines was so determined to go he just walked out on Perpignan. That's the attitude we're looking for.’

A good example of how the competing calendar screws things up. Irvine's attitude is wrong here - suggesting that players should be admired if they walk out on their professional commitments is silly. Whether or not Wilkinson feels he is fit enough he has too much integrity to just walk out. You can't have an amateurish philosophy running professional sport.

Rugby Fan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Hmm I think the lions have perfect examples of professionalism in their captain and their more experienced members like BOD, POC, Gethin, Adam Jones, Jamie Heaslip

No-one doubts that. What's also not in doubt is that everyone who plays with Wilkinson comes away with great respect for his total commitment. If his attitude was so common, players wouldn't mention it so much, and Sexton wouldn't have said he'd like to see it in action.

No doubt.

The same has been said many times about the previously mentioned players. I'd say JW has the star factor, he is more regularly the media darling than the reason a team he plays for wins.

This is beginning to smell like a Gatland mind game exercise.

As long as Wilko comes through the HC and top14 uninjured then I think Gatland was always going to want Wilko out there, he just didn't want a media storm around the whole Wilkinson issue, oops! Too late.

t1000advancedprototype wrote:It should be the current best 3. In my opinion these are:

Wilkinson
Sexton
Biggar

Anyone agree / disagree?

Gatland disagrees

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

t1000advancedprototype wrote:It should be the current best 3. In my opinion these are:

Wilkinson
Sexton
Biggar

Anyone agree / disagree?

Gatland disagrees

I do too..

Jonny Sexton, Dan Biggar, Toby Flood or Charlie Hodgson are the best available two or three from those four would be the best solution.

Burns (Turncoat ) is better than Farrell.

i agree jonny and sexton are the form 10s, then it is farrell/biggar and obvious who will take that spot. but jonny's form isn't the issue - he says his priority is his club and his body just can't take the tour, but i think he is the perfect test bench option behind sexton with farrell playing midweek and benching the tests if required.

100%beefy wrote:i agree jonny and sexton are the form 10s, then it is farrell/biggar and obvious who will take that spot. but jonny's form isn't the issue - he says his priority is his club and his body just can't take the tour, but i think he is the perfect test bench option behind sexton with farrell playing midweek and benching the tests if required.

Agree totally