I'm not dreaming!

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/photos/sports-photos-slideshow/rugby-union-2013-british-irish-lions-tour-british-photo-061554912.html

That proves stage one of my dream is complete. 
Tomorrow will be stage two.
Stage 3 will depend on Williams having a blinder..

If North is injured. Could an on fire Williams make a freak test appearance? 

Think about it. We've seen the defensive frailties of Cuthbert and Maitland. Zebo is inexperienced and nobody has the skillset, sidestep, rugby brain and finishing of Williams.

You may think he's over the hill but Shane Williams is the master of proving people wrong. Only last year he scored two amazing tries to snatch the Pro 12 from Leinster. He can squeeze into corners that most big wingers would struggle to.

If the pack is brutal and Phillips, Sexton Davies and BOD are on fire, imagine the damage Williams, Halfpenny and Bowe could do. It's not a pipe dream this is real and it's falling into place for a fairytale.

Someone who has been playing division 2 rugby... in Japan will be off the pace and won't be tier 1 test match fit.... regardless of "being" fit.

Its like seeing Scott Gibbs in 01, Will Greenwood in 05 and Phil Vickery in 09.... shadows of their former self. He may do well in the dirt tracker match but if he got to the tests Williams would be beasted all day.

Isn't it already a done deal that Williams is just playing in the one game anyway to provide cover?

Still, I wouldn't want to stop t1000's tail from wagging like the excited puppy that he is

Wade?

Cuthbert, Maitland, Zebo, Hogg, Wade - they'll all play ahead of Williams who will be off once his little cameo is over.  On form he was very lucky to make the last Lions tour let alone this one.  We were very grateful to have a player like Williams in the Welsh team, but enough is enough.  This pony should be out to graze.

If North is still injured I would really like to see :

15. Halfpenny / Hogg
14. Hogg / Halfpenny
11. Zebo

North IMO has been excellent but Zebo looked really good in his 1st game. For me it is between Halfpenny and Vinapolo for player of the tour but I would really like to see what Hogg and Halfpenny could do attacking the line together rather than Hogg at 10.

Looking forward to see what Wade can do tomorrow, for me it isn't too late to put your hand up for the test start.

Sadly we haven't had a chance to test out that combination on tour yet.

T's like a kids on xmas morning and under the tree is the entire stock from toys r us....

Gatland said Williams is definitely only playing the Brumbies game didnt he? I'm sure he might get asked to stick around if there are further injuries however, I doubt he will be drafted into the test team otherwise.

By the way it looks like all possible wingers in the NH will be called up before Chris Ashton. What are the odds on Iuean Evans getting a call up before Ashton?

Feels sorry for Visser too. Id rather him than Maitland.

Vickery, Greenwood and Gibbs?

Excellent players yes but so is everyone on a lions tour. 

This is a different kind of class. Regardless where he's currently playing his work rate, desire to get the ball and ability to run AROUND people will be the same.

It doesn't matter if he hasn't been bashing into lumps for Wales or the Pro. He's just been boxing for goodness sake. Very few still playing can be comparable. 

You have...

International players
World class players
Then.. BOD, Carter, McCaw, Williams.

T1000........T1000........Wake up, there's a good boy.  Time for breakfast...........I won't call you again !

Jealousy is unreal. I'm giving you facts.

In the best scenario, it could be like George Smith when he returned to Brumbies right after the Japanese season ended.  He said he was not really in Super Rugby shape, but it didn't take too many matches for him to get back to a pretty decent level.  The advantage he had was that was right after the Japanese season had ended and was still match fit. 

Regardless, we will certainly have a chance to find out, eh?

are you living in 2007? If he still had it, he'd still be playing test rugby. He's been out of the game for 2 seasons... the fact that he's only there for 1 game suggests that Gatland only wants him for a emergency cover job... even Wade is not staying for just 1 game... suggesting they see Wade above Williams in the pecking order.

Had he not been on his way to AUS I doubt he would have been called.

Richard Hill, Will Greenwood, Scott Gibbs were all up there with your list at some point in their career. If you disagree you don't know much about rugby.

Williams retired to give others a chance and to spend more time with his cave folk in the Amman valley.

He still has it. Many on 606 will agree with me but be too worried about damaging their self pride to show it. 

Lets continue this debate at lunch time on Tuesday.

The only problem with the George Smith scenario is that whilst he was good, hes also 5 years younger than Williams... a big deal trust me for chaps in their 30s. SR packs are about 50kg less than test packs mind... it will make a big diff for guys in their 30s. The hits will be that much bigger.

fa0019 wrote:The only problem with the George Smith scenario is that whilst he was good, hes also 5 years younger than Williams... a big deal trust me for chaps in their 30s. SR packs are about 50kg less than test packs mind... it will make a big diff for guys in their 30s. The hits will be that much bigger.

agree. That's why I thought it the best scenario. I wanted to put a positive spin on this. Hopefully Williams can play well. That's all we need.

He was never a pace man anyhow... his step will still match that of Wade etc. I can see him grabbing a try sure.

The Lions tests are for those who've endured the slog, the rooming, the intense training, the strict diets, the controlled 'lights out' environment and for those who have put their bodies on the line both in the extensive training sessions and subsequent 'nothing' games.

If Williams has a great day (and of course he could well have a wonderful day.  He can do what he can do - score tries from nothing on.)  He should be lauded, have his name put in the reord books as another Lions run-out for him and hop on a plane or bus out of camp.

The whole idea of the Lions is that it's sacrifice endured for the lure of a prize at the end - the prize at the end is a test game or two.  That honour belongs to those who will still be fit enough to play in them and have done the long term dirt tracking.

I'd have my reservations about all the newbies, not just Williams, IF their positional long term alternatives are fit to play.

"I'd have my reservations about all the newbies, not just Williams, IF their positional long term alternatives are fit to play."

+1