E17yid
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You just know that some of the club sides will be up in our 10s faces in the pre test matches
Rugby 6 Nations 2013
- Thread starter Azazello
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You just know that some of the club sides will be up in our 10s faces in the pre test matches
absolute bobbins
Am Yisrael Chai
- Feb 12, 2013
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If I was the head coach for Australia I would be targeting Farrell and Sexton in the first test Courtney Lawes style
- Oct 2, 2004
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The squad looks very unbalanced to me.
Also what did Harlequins do to Gatland to make him pick none of their players? Robshaw not being included is just ridiculous, and Care is surely ahead of Murray.
Looks like it'll be Wales plus Sexton and Tuilagi.
Also what did Harlequins do to Gatland to make him pick none of their players? Robshaw not being included is just ridiculous, and Care is surely ahead of Murray.
Looks like it'll be Wales plus Sexton and Tuilagi.
tototoner
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- Mar 21, 2004
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Lions squad for 2013 tour
Backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland), George North (Wales), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Manu Tuilagi (England), Owen Farrell (England), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).
Forwards: Dan Cole (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Matt Stevens (England), Mako Vunipola (England), Dylan Hartley (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England), Ian Evans (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England), Tom Croft (England), Toby Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sam Warburton (Wales).
Backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland), George North (Wales), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Manu Tuilagi (England), Owen Farrell (England), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).
Forwards: Dan Cole (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Matt Stevens (England), Mako Vunipola (England), Dylan Hartley (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England), Ian Evans (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England), Tom Croft (England), Toby Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sam Warburton (Wales).
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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My thoughts on squad:
Halfpenny - Probably one of the first names inked in. Can play wing as well which allows room to pick the other two FB's.
Kearney - Class player, maybe more a pick on reputation than form though.
Hogg - Could suit the hard grounds with his running game. Can play 13 as well.
North - No complaints.
Cuthbert - Ditto.
Bowe - If fit then no complaints.
Maitland - Interesting choice. Serious gas though and knows where the try line is.
J. Davies - He would be in my squad, but not at his best recently.
O' Driscoll - If he makes it through the warm up matches I will be amazed.
Tuilagi - Think he may play at 12.
Roberts - Very contentious. Picked on what he did 2+ years ago.
Sexton - Best 10 there is to choose from.
Farrell - Will kick goals and defend well. Dependable compared to other options.
Phillips - Predictable.
Youngs - Good option and a complete difference to Phillips.
Murray - Average from what I have seen. Would have picked Laidlaw to cover SH/FH.
Healy - No complaints.
Jenkins - Ditto.
Cole - Ditto.
A. Jones - Same.
M. Vunipola - I don't think he is ready.
Stevens - Is this a joke? Doing well enough for Sarries, but a penalty machine!
Hibbard - Was always going to get picked, I don't rate him that highly though.
Hartley - Lucky boy to get in.
Youngs - As 3rd choice and for his work in the loose fair enough call.
Gray - If fit no qualms.
Evans - Ok. Gatland picking what he knows.
AW Jones - Not world class as some would have you make out, not even Wales best second row in my opinion. Always going to get picked though.
Parling - Deserves call up. Will work as hard as anyone. Don't think he will play though.
O'Connell - Purely picked on reputation. Shouldn't be going.
Croft - Theoretically with his running game could be awesome. Another contentious pick for me though after his lay-off.
Lydiate - Lucky boy for me having not played majority of the season.
Tipuric - Should start at 7 in the tests.
Warburton - He's only just about played well enough to get back in contention for the squads. Captain though? LOL.
O'Brien - What's he actually done in the last year or so.
Falatau - No complaints.
Heaslip - Another reputation pick.
Guys who straight away stand out to me as should have been in squad are Rory Best, Launchbury, Tom Wood, Laidlaw, Robshaw and Wilkinson. Mostly English guys there as I see more of them, but I guess some of you can offer other names who have been unlucky.
Halfpenny - Probably one of the first names inked in. Can play wing as well which allows room to pick the other two FB's.
Kearney - Class player, maybe more a pick on reputation than form though.
Hogg - Could suit the hard grounds with his running game. Can play 13 as well.
North - No complaints.
Cuthbert - Ditto.
Bowe - If fit then no complaints.
Maitland - Interesting choice. Serious gas though and knows where the try line is.
J. Davies - He would be in my squad, but not at his best recently.
O' Driscoll - If he makes it through the warm up matches I will be amazed.
Tuilagi - Think he may play at 12.
Roberts - Very contentious. Picked on what he did 2+ years ago.
Sexton - Best 10 there is to choose from.
Farrell - Will kick goals and defend well. Dependable compared to other options.
Phillips - Predictable.
Youngs - Good option and a complete difference to Phillips.
Murray - Average from what I have seen. Would have picked Laidlaw to cover SH/FH.
Healy - No complaints.
Jenkins - Ditto.
Cole - Ditto.
A. Jones - Same.
M. Vunipola - I don't think he is ready.
Stevens - Is this a joke? Doing well enough for Sarries, but a penalty machine!
Hibbard - Was always going to get picked, I don't rate him that highly though.
Hartley - Lucky boy to get in.
Youngs - As 3rd choice and for his work in the loose fair enough call.
Gray - If fit no qualms.
Evans - Ok. Gatland picking what he knows.
AW Jones - Not world class as some would have you make out, not even Wales best second row in my opinion. Always going to get picked though.
Parling - Deserves call up. Will work as hard as anyone. Don't think he will play though.
O'Connell - Purely picked on reputation. Shouldn't be going.
Croft - Theoretically with his running game could be awesome. Another contentious pick for me though after his lay-off.
Lydiate - Lucky boy for me having not played majority of the season.
Tipuric - Should start at 7 in the tests.
Warburton - He's only just about played well enough to get back in contention for the squads. Captain though? LOL.
O'Brien - What's he actually done in the last year or so.
Falatau - No complaints.
Heaslip - Another reputation pick.
Guys who straight away stand out to me as should have been in squad are Rory Best, Launchbury, Tom Wood, Laidlaw, Robshaw and Wilkinson. Mostly English guys there as I see more of them, but I guess some of you can offer other names who have been unlucky.
- Oct 2, 2004
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It does look a bit like a squad that would have been excellent two years ago. Maybe Gatland is going to attempt some sort of time warp.
Some strange ones there! I was hoping for a few left field selections, players with a bit of invention maybe, Madigan, Wade, possibly even Eastmond, but no, it's Gatland, the backs have to be minimum 16st ( wonder how close Banahan got!? ) and the left field selection is Matt effing Stevens!!?
Connor Murray? Per lease.
Rory Best has been screwed, as has Robshaw. Tipuric I like but he is flavour of the month, as Lydiate was a year ago, could backfire. Croft can consider himself lucky.
Favouritism showing with a few selections. Playing in France clearly isn't an issue when you have the right sounding name it seems. Jenkins makes it, Sheridan who keeps Jenkins out of club rugby and has forced him to move back home, doesn't. Sheridan is also best known for his domination of Aussie scrums.
Phillips travels, Hines doesn't. Hines should be starting.
Ah well. Not overly surprised. Warburton as skip is disappointing. People say he led Wales to a semi final. In reality he alone cost them a final appearance. Then you have the six nations silliness from this year. Still, I like the man and hope he does a good job.
Matt effing Stevens! Lol
Connor Murray? Per lease.
Rory Best has been screwed, as has Robshaw. Tipuric I like but he is flavour of the month, as Lydiate was a year ago, could backfire. Croft can consider himself lucky.
Favouritism showing with a few selections. Playing in France clearly isn't an issue when you have the right sounding name it seems. Jenkins makes it, Sheridan who keeps Jenkins out of club rugby and has forced him to move back home, doesn't. Sheridan is also best known for his domination of Aussie scrums.
Phillips travels, Hines doesn't. Hines should be starting.
Ah well. Not overly surprised. Warburton as skip is disappointing. People say he led Wales to a semi final. In reality he alone cost them a final appearance. Then you have the six nations silliness from this year. Still, I like the man and hope he does a good job.
Matt effing Stevens! Lol
E17yid
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nightgoat
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Turns out Gatland was a man of his words about Robshaw - he was never going to pick him despite him being the most consistent seven in the Six Nations.
Some very uninspiring choices in that squad. Philips and Murray at scrum half have never impressed me whereas Laidlaw had a very good Six Nations. Danny Care has far more invention than Philips or Murray ever will.
Not at all surprised Ashton is out (although if he was Welsh his reputation would have got him in the squad). Not convinced about Maitland. Stevens, wtf?
It shows how the northern hemisphere are overloaded in certain positions but really lacking in others when Alex Goode and Tom Wood are both missing out.
Some very uninspiring choices in that squad. Philips and Murray at scrum half have never impressed me whereas Laidlaw had a very good Six Nations. Danny Care has far more invention than Philips or Murray ever will.
Not at all surprised Ashton is out (although if he was Welsh his reputation would have got him in the squad). Not convinced about Maitland. Stevens, wtf?
It shows how the northern hemisphere are overloaded in certain positions but really lacking in others when Alex Goode and Tom Wood are both missing out.
Arnoldtoo
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- May 18, 2006
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I think it's maybe a bit early for Launchbury, given the alternatives available. And Wilko I suspect will be on the 'reserves' list and get a call up when Sexton gets injured. Best & Robshaw I certainly agree with you.
E17yid
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It was always going to be Philips. Quite right too.
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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I think Launchbury is a star, I would already say he is in top 5 locks that we could choose from the player pool.
The one I feel for most is Tom Wood. The guy is seriously good and was probably the best player for us against Oz and NZ in the autumn, but has been stitched up a bit by getting shunted to 8 for the 6 Nations.
If you asked me for a list of English players who I thought should be in the Lions squad then those two would probably be in my top three.
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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- I agree about Laidlaw, especially when only picking two 10's.
- Danny Care is a headless chicken.
- Maitland is a good finisher with a lot of pace. I can see why he has been picked, not exactly blessed for wingers.
- Goode is good at what he does but not good(e) enough for Lions selection.
- Wood should have gone.
Spurs_Bear
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I think it's a very 'safe' but pretty unimaginative squad to be honest. Absolute lunacy about Stevens, as already mentioned re the penalty count.
Did think it was odd to only go with 2 x Fly Half but makes a bit more sense now that the news about Wilkinson turning it down but potentially being an injury replacement has surfaced.
Did think it was odd to only go with 2 x Fly Half but makes a bit more sense now that the news about Wilkinson turning it down but potentially being an injury replacement has surfaced.
werty
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- Aug 8, 2005
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I'll just comment on the Irish players because I know them a lot more about them than I know about the other players (I haven't even heard of two of the three Scots 
). Didn't think Murray would make it. Very good in defense, but his passing is erratic and his decision making isn't the best. Surprised Bowe made it because, while he is excellent, he doesn't have much form and there's a lot of competition on the wing. I probably would have taken O'Mahoney over Heaslip too (I know they play in different positions, but there's enough flexibility in the back row to make it work). Best is the biggest snub and I had him penciled in as the hooker before the squad was announced and I would have made O'Connell captain too. I'm not sure if Mike Ross is screwed or not because I don't know the qualities of the other tight-heads, but he has kept the Irish scrum functioning over the years so I'm disappointed for him.
). Didn't think Murray would make it. Very good in defense, but his passing is erratic and his decision making isn't the best. Surprised Bowe made it because, while he is excellent, he doesn't have much form and there's a lot of competition on the wing. I probably would have taken O'Mahoney over Heaslip too (I know they play in different positions, but there's enough flexibility in the back row to make it work). Best is the biggest snub and I had him penciled in as the hooker before the squad was announced and I would have made O'Connell captain too. I'm not sure if Mike Ross is screwed or not because I don't know the qualities of the other tight-heads, but he has kept the Irish scrum functioning over the years so I'm disappointed for him.
NP4_Yid
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- Jun 18, 2008
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Well gentlemen - for what its worth I largely agree with mpickard's thoughts on the squad.
Biggest surprise for me is no Best.
Warburton as captain is another contentious one. But then who else? O'Driscoll maybe?
Not surprised with no Wilkinson (ageing, injury prone, not able to be released for the squad on time, oh and he ruled himself out apparently) but only 2 outside halves? I would have gone with Hook as a 3rd OH/utility back.
Regarding Robshaw I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other but your very own Jerry Guscott thought he didn't deserve to go http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22340803
Biggest surprise for me is no Best.
Warburton as captain is another contentious one. But then who else? O'Driscoll maybe?
Not surprised with no Wilkinson (ageing, injury prone, not able to be released for the squad on time, oh and he ruled himself out apparently) but only 2 outside halves? I would have gone with Hook as a 3rd OH/utility back.
Regarding Robshaw I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other but your very own Jerry Guscott thought he didn't deserve to go http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22340803
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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O'Connell shouldn't be anywhere near the squad in my opinion. I think a lot of the Irish picks are sympathy ones based on reputation, then you have people like Best and good shout with O'Mahony missing out who should be there.
- Oct 2, 2004
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From the looks of the squad all we need the Fly Half to do is just give it to the big blokes, get the kicking right and hope for the best.
Reckon it'll be a very boring team to watch, albeit potentially effective. We certainly won't be seeing an expansive approach in the backs, although I'm not really sure we had the players to do that anyway.
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