Who changed your mind against the Waratahs?

So last week  pete (buachaill on eirne) ran a series of polls asking who everyone would select for the first test.

My side was...

Hogg, Halfpenny, O'Driscoll, Tuilagi, North, Sexton, Phillps;
Corbisiero, Hibbard, Jones, Gray, O'Connell, Croft, Warburton, Faletau.

Reps: Youngs, Vunipola, Cole, Parling, O'Brien, Youngs, Farrell, Roberts


Now there was no part of me that believed that this would be the side that Gatland will select, and one thing is clear in terms of who he will pick, and that is that options are getting limited, as evidenced by recent call ups.  

After yesterdays game though, there are five players who have made me question my selection.  The first two are Tom Youngs and Richard Hibbard. I thought Youngs simply look the far better player.  He has done everything that has been asked of him, and despite my reservations about his size and technical set piece skills, he did his chances no harm at all.  Having said that, I think I would still stick with Hibbard starting, but if he fails to step up in the first test, he would lose the jersey for test number 2.

The next guy I thought was excellent was Alun-Wyn Jones.  Much maligned by many outside of Wales, he's never been as poor as his detractors make out, and he looked like a man with a point to prove.  Perhaps, having shared in some criticism from the first test scrum mauling in 2009, he really wants to make his mark.  If I was picking the side, he just ousted Geoff Parling from my first test bench.  Tough on the Englishman, who has played well also, but lock appears to be a position of strength for us this time around.

Fourth guy was Jamie Heaslip.  I initially went with Faletau, simply because I felt he balanced my back row better, but I actually thought the trio of Croft, Warburton and Heaslip worked ok yesterday, and he did enough to displace Faletau in what was always a close contest between the two of them.

And lastly JD2.  He was excellent.   I am a big fan, and yesterday he showed why.  I think he has to be included on that showing, and I want him at 13.  My solution would be to move O'Driscoll in to 12, and Manu goes to the bench at the expense of Roberts.  I know this will never happen as Gatland loves a big crash ball 12, but I genuinely think this would be the Lions best option.

So my team has changed now to...

Hogg, Halfpenny, Davies, O'Driscoll, North, Sexton, Phillps;
Corbisiero, Hibbard, Jones, Gray, O'Connell, Croft, Warburton, Heaslip.

Reps: Youngs, Vunipola, Cole, AW Jones, O'Brien, Youngs, Farrell, Tuilagi.


Three changes.  I wonder if Tuesdays game against the Brumbies will change my mind further?

Has anyone else changed their view?  Who stood out for you against the Waratahs?

My team would have been:

Halfpenny, Maitland, BOD, Manu, North, Sexton, Youngs
Corbisiero, Youngs, Jones, Gray, POC, Croft, Warburton, Heaslip.


After yesterday I would replace Maitland, Manu and Gray with Zebo, JD2 and AWJ. If North is not fit to play then I would probably add Cuthbert, with Maitland dropping way out of the reckoning for me.

Mine would've been

1/2P, Maitland, BOD, Doc, North, Sexton, Phillips, Mako, Hibbard, Jones, Gray, POC, SOB, Warburton, Heaslip

Corbs, Youngs, Cole, Parling, Croft, Youngs, Tuilagi, Hogg

Now I think I would go for

1/2P, Cuthbert, BOD, Daveeeeees (Miles Harrison), North, Sexton, Phillips, Corbs, Youngs, Jones, AWJ, POC, Croft, Warburton, Heaslip

Mako, Hibbard, Cole, Gray, SOB, Youngs, Farrell, Hogg.

I would have a worry about Cuthbert's defence and wouldn't be overly convinced by Croft doing too much dog work and thus leaving Sam on his own a bit, but attack wise they offer a lot. Youngs had a good game at hooker, but needs to offer a back of the line throw to keep the Australians guessing a bit. Mako I think might be better off the bench now to tear into the Aussies when their lungs are burning. Lock is a tough choice and it's harsh on Parling, but I'd like Gray in the 23.

I'm surprised you'd still have Hogg at 15 over 1/2P mind Ozzy. I think 1/2P rather dispelled some myths about his attacking ability yesterday.

I've no issues with his attacking ability Rev, but I am happier with his all round game on the wing where I would have concerns about both Cuthbert and Maitland in defence.

We do need to attribute some weight to the fact that the Tahs side was probably the best we've faced on tour so far. The big shame is that Gats has put together a scratch backline against the possibly the fastest Aussie back three in Super rugby (Mogg, Speight and Rathbone) on Tuesday.

The Lions team he's named really should get huge amounts of credit if they manage to pull off a victory. Will they get the credit? Probably not.

My team would have been

Halfpenny
North
BOD
DOC
Zebo

Sexton
Phillips

Mako
Hibbard
A Jones
Gray
POC
Lydiate
Faletau
Warburton

Now it would be (fitness dependant)

Halfpenny
North
BOD
JD (even if Doc is fit)
Zebo

Sexton
Phillips

Mako
Youngs
A Jones
AWJ
POC
Croft
Faletau
Warburton

George Carlin wrote:We do need to attribute some weight to the fact that the Tahs side was probably the best we've faced on tour so far. The big shame is that Gats has put together a scratch backline against the possibly the fastest Aussie back three in Super rugby (Mogg, Speight and Rathbone) on Tuesday.

The Lions team he's named really should get huge amounts of credit if they manage to pull off a victory. Will they get the credit? Probably not.

I bet Gatland probably doesn't even want to bother with this match. I see nothing good coming out of it.

Risca Rev wrote:Mine would've been

1/2P, Maitland, BOD, Doc, North, Sexton, Phillips, Mako, Hibbard, Jones, Gray, POC, SOB, Warburton, Heaslip

Corbs, Youngs, Cole, Parling, Croft, Youngs, Tuilagi, Hogg

Now I think I would go for

1/2P, Cuthbert, BOD, Daveeeeees (Miles Harrison), North, Sexton, Phillips, Corbs, Youngs, Jones, AWJ, POC, Croft, Warburton, Heaslip

Mako, Hibbard, Cole, Gray, SOB, Youngs, Farrell, Hogg.

I would have a worry about Cuthbert's defence and wouldn't be overly convinced by Croft doing too much dog work and thus leaving Sam on his own a bit, but attack wise they offer a lot. Youngs had a good game at hooker, but needs to offer a back of the line throw to keep the Australians guessing a bit. Mako I think might be better off the bench now to tear into the Aussies when their lungs are burning. Lock is a tough choice and it's harsh on Parling, but I'd like Gray in the 23.

I'm surprised you'd still have Hogg at 15 over 1/2P mind Ozzy. I think 1/2P rather dispelled some myths about his attacking ability yesterday.

Dispite what Barnes said, there were throws to the back when T. Youngs was on.

Regarding the other, i certainly agree AWJ should be promoted to a starter he had an outstanding game. Also Davies was overall brilliant, although his mistake did concede a try.

Halfpenny
North
BOD
Tuilagi
Cuthbert (Bowe when he returns)
Sexton
Phillips

Vunipola
Youngs
A Jones
POC
AW Jones
SOB
Warburton
Heaslip

Davies unlucky, Alun Wyn Jones, Warburton and Youngs force their way on to the team thanks to the last match. I think the bench is still wide open to the ones playing in the brumbies match.