Lions Squad

[Welshiespursboyo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8007666.stm


O'Connell handed Lions captaincy

O'Connell was part of the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand


Ireland's Paul O'Connell has been confirmed as British and Irish Lions captain for the three-Test summer tour to South Africa. The second row was one of 14 Ireland players included in head coach Ian McGeechan's 37-man squad on Tuesday.
The squad also includes 13 Welshmen, eight from England and two Scots.
But national captains Steve Borthwick of England, Wales' Ryan Jones and Scotland's Mike Blair were among those who were left out.
Brian O'Driscoll, who led Ireland to their second Six Nations Grand Slam, is the only captain to be included from the four home nations.
England second row Simon Shaw, 36, is the only player named in the squad who featured in the victorious tour to South Africa in 1997.
"Paul O'Connell has shown over his career that he is a natural leader both on and off the field," said McGeechan.
"He leads from the front on the field and as a quality international has the respect of his fellow players all over the world.
"As a member of the 2005 tour to New Zealand he played in five matches including three Tests so knows all about the ethos and challenges of Lions tours.
"I look forward to working with him and the entire squad over the coming months as we strive to develop a side that can add a successful chapter in the long history of the Lions."
Leicester and England loose forward Tom Croft, widely tipped to be included in the squad, misses out, along with international team-mate Danny Cipriani.
Wales fly-half James Hook was another notable exclusion, but there are surprise call-ups for Munster and Ireland pair Keith Earls and Alan Quinlan.
The Lions depart on 24 May and play Test matches in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
More to follow.

British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa (age-club-country):
Full-back
Lee Byrne (28) Ospreys and Wales
Rob Kearney (23) Leinster and Ireland

Wing
Shane Williams (32) Ospreys and Wales
Leigh Halfpenny (20) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Ugo Monye (26) Harlequins and England
Luke Fitzgerald (21) Leinster and Ireland
Tommy Bowe (25) Ospreys and Ireland
Centres
Tom Shanklin (29) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Jamie Roberts (22) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Brian O'Driscoll (30) Leinster and Ireland
Keith Earls (21) Munster and Ireland
Riki Flutey (29) Wasps and England
Fly-half
Stephen Jones (31) Llanelli Scarlets and Wales
Ronan O'Gara (32) Munster and Ireland
Scrum-half
Mike Phillips (26) Ospreys and Wales
Harry Ellis (26) Leicester and England
Tomas O'Leary (25) Munster and Ireland
Prop
Gethin Jenkins (28) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Adam Jones (28) Ospreys and Wales
Andrew Sheridan(29) Sale and England
Phil Vickery (33) Wasps and England
Euan Murray (28) Northampton and Scotland
Hooker
Jerry Flannery (30) Munster and Ireland
Lee Mears (30) Bath and England
Matthew Rees (28) Llanelli Scarlets and Wales

Lock
Paul O'Connell, capt (29) Munster and Ireland
Alun Wyn Jones (23) Ospreys and Wales
Donncha O'Callaghan (30) Munster and Ireland
Nathan Hines (32) Perpignan and Scotland
Simon Shaw (35) Wasps and England
Back-row
Andy Powell (27) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Jamie Heaslip (25) Leinster and Ireland
Alan Quinlan (34) Munster and Ireland
Martyn Williams (33) Cardiff Blues and Wales
David Wallace (32) Munster and Ireland
Joe Worsley (31) Wasps and England
Stephen Ferris (23) Ulster and Ireland

Tour fixtures:
30 May: Highveld XV; Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg
3 June: Golden Lions; Ellis Park, Johannesburg
6 June: Cheetahs; Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
10 June: Sharks; ABSA Park, Durban
13 June: Western Province; Newlands, Cape Town
16/17 June: Coastal XV; Port Elizabeth (Venue to be confirmed)
20 June: South Africa(first Test) ; ABSA Park, Durban
23 June: Emerging Springboks; Newlands, Cape Town
27 June: South Africa (second Test) ; Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4 July: South Africa (third Test) ; Ellis Park, Johannesburg

 

[werty]

A few surprise inclusions. Keith Earls, Joe Worsley, Alan Quinlan, Jamie Roberts, Tomas O'Leary and Ugo Monye the biggest surprises for me. A few good people left out too. No John Hayes, Godan D'arcy, Mike Blair, Declan Armitage, Ryan Jones, James Hook or Peter Stringer.

Delighted that O'Connell is the captain. What a man! Should be a very good captain.

Here's what I'd start with if I had to pick the team now:

15: Lee Byrne
14: Bowe
13: O'Driscoll
12: Shanklin
11: S. Williams
10: O'Gara
9: Phillips/Ellis(undecided ATM)
8: Heaslip
7: M. Williams
6: D. Wallace
5: O' Connell
4: AW. Jones
3: Sheridan
2: Mears
1: Jenkins

 

[spurs mental]

I'm sure D'Arcy would have gotten in with a full season under his belt, but because of his injury he was never really going to be included. I'm a little disappointed that Stringer didn't get the call, he was really impressive when he came on in the 6 nations, especially against Wales in the last game.

14 Irish though!! Phwoar!!

 

[riversmonkey]

Tom Croft is extremely unlucky, the guy has had a great season both at club and international level.

I'm sure they'll be a few injuries before now and the tour, so he could still make it on the plane.

My starting fifteen:
15. Lee Byrne
14, Tommy Bowe
13. Brian O'Driscoll
12. Riki Flutey
11. Shane Williams
10. Stephen Jones
9. Tomas O'Leary
8. Stephen Ferris
7. Martyn Williams
6. Joe Worsley
5. Paul O'Connell
4. Nathan Hines
3. Gethin Jenkins
2. Lee Mears
1. Euan Murray

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

14 Irish
13 Welsh
8 English
2 Scots

 

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

14 Irish
13 Welsh
7 English
2 Scots

+

1 New Zealand

 

[spurs mental]

Rob Kearney has the mumps, and Tomas O'Leary is out of the tour with injury now. Gotta feel for O'Leary.

 

[werty]

Not the most convincing today, were they? A few good performances from O'Gara, Bowe and, in particular, Byrne. Earls had a shocker.

 

[riversmonkey]

True, but you learn more from a game like that then winning the tour opener by a thirty point margin.

 

[chrissivad]

Lions Vs Kings just starting on SS2

 

[werty]

Here's the team. No real surprises I guess

15 Byrne
14 Bowe
13 O'Driscoll
12 Roberts
11 Monye
10 Jones
9 Philips
8 Heaslip
7 Wallace
6 Croft
5 O'Connell
4 AW Jones
3 Vickery
2 Mears
1 Jenkins

 

[riversmonkey]

That Bench looks very weak. Where are the game changers? Martyn Williams perhaps, but that's it.

 

[nightgoat]

O'Gara could be... It's a shame James Hook isn't involved as he'd be very useful off the bench... Surprising Sheridan doesn't even get a place on the bench... The backs look very strong, though, the centre partnership between Roberts and O'Driscoll in particular, and Lee Byrne's arguably been the player of the tour so far...

 

[talkshowhost86]

Glad to see Ugo in there ahead of Fitzgerald. Reckon he might give the Boks a surprise or two.

 

[tototoner]

5 Lions changes for Saturday

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan has made five changes for Saturday's second Test against world champions South Africa in Pretoria.
Full-back Rob Kearney, wing Luke Fitzgerald, hooker Matthew Rees, prop Adam Jones and lock Simon Shaw all gain call-ups for a game the Lions must win to retain any chance of taking the three-Test series.
Kearney replaces Lee Byrne, who has been struggling with a foot injury, while Kearney's fellow Ireland Grand Slam winner Fitzgerald takes over from Ugo Monye.
Monye blew two gilt-edged try chances during a 26-21 first Test defeat in Durban last Saturday.
And McGeechan has responded to South Africa's scrummaging demolition job five days ago by changing two thirds of the front-row.
Ospreys tighthead Jones now has the task of coping with Springboks scrum destroyer Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira, taking over from England World Cup winner Phil Vickery, with Rees packing down instead of Lee Mears alongside Jones and Gethin Jenkins.
It is the first time the Lions have started an official Test match with an all-Wales front-row since 1955.
The fifth change sees Wasps and England lock Simon Shaw preferred to Alun-Wyn Jones.
Shaw, 35, first toured with the Lions in South Africa 12 years ago, although Saturday will be his Test debut.
McGeechan's second Test line-up comprises seven Irishmen, six Welshmen and just two from England - Shaw and flanker Tom Croft.
Team: R Kearney (Leinster and Ireland); T Bowe (Ospreys and Ireland), B O'Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues and Wales), L Fitzgerald (Leinster and Ireland); S Jones (Scarlets and Wales), M Phillips (Ospreys and Wales); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues and Wales), M Rees (Scarlets and Wales), A Jones (Ospreys and Wales), S Shaw (Wasps and England), P O'Connell (Munster and Ireland, capt), T Croft (Leicester and England), D Wallace (Munster and Ireland), J Heaslip (Leinster and Ireland).
Replacements: R Ford (Edinburgh and Scotland), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks and England), A-W Jones (Ospreys and Wales), M Williams (Cardiff Blues and Wales), H Ellis (Leicester and England), R O'Gara (Munster and Ireland), S Williams (Ospreys and Wales).

 

[werty]

No suprises really with the changes. Martin Williams is a tad unlucky not to be included, but it was a coin toss over him and Wallace.

What's everyones predicitons? I think we can win it. The line-out and scrum can't be as bad as last week. They missed alot of opportunuties as well last week. I've a feeling O'Driscoll is going to have a great game.

COME ON LIONS!!

 

[chrissivad]

almost forgot about this!

i think it will be a better performance than last week but still a loss for us.

 

[chrissivad]

well its a heated start :lol:

lack of o2?

 

[werty]

Devasted :-(

Great first half but the injuries took their toll in the end I guess. I don't know what O'Gara was thinking. I knew he'd do it though. T'was a great kick by Steyn though to be fair. The Lions should have gone to the corner at the end. I would have prefered to lose going for the win than drawing.

Kearney was my man of the match. He was excellent, especially under the high ball. O'Driscoll and Roberts were very good as well, as were the two props Jenkins and Jones. Pity all four had to go off injured. As soon as the props went off South Africa took over. Shaw had a great game as well.

Gutted

 

[nightgoat]

Burger was very, very lucky to only go off for 10 minutes... Although you don't want to see a 14 against 15 contest for 79 minutes, I suspect if that had been the case the Lions would have won - Pietersen's try came straight after he came back on...

And it was Stuart Dickinson as video ref who didn't give Cueto's try that should have been in the 2007 World Cup Final as well...

I think it would have been OK if only Jenkins had gone off, but loosing both props and having uncontested scrums for half an hour took away an important area of our game...