Shanklin dislocates his shoulder

Stev_o

F*ck.

Tom Shanklin's Lions hopes lie in the balance after he dislocated his shoulder in the Blues' Magners League win over the Dragons on Wednesday.

Recovery time can be 4 to 12 weeks.

chupacabra

Christ, not Shanklin. Starting to drop too many players now(if quinlan loses out).

RuggieBear

oh dear.

next 12/13 in line?

Stev_o

RuggieBear wrote: »

oh dear.

next 12/13 in line?

Chances are it'll be between D'Arcy and Vesty. I can't think of any other 12 suitable to at least take the spot and i have no either whether you can say either of those two should start a test. Looking likely now that Flutey will be partnering BOD.

Tomtom364

Tbh i wouldnt be surprised if he still goes. It was popped straight back in. And he is a tough nut. We could see him in SA yet

Sparky14

Very unfortunate, he's a quality player. D'arcy has put in a very timely performance if Shanklin does miss out.

stephen_n

Really hope he's alright as he would be my starting 12 with BOD, presume Darcy would be next in line to go but hope it doesn't come to that!

copacetic

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Tbh i wouldnt be surprised if he still goes. It was popped straight back in. And he is a tough nut. We could see him in SA yet

maybe but would you take someone with a shoulder that had just recovered and put him in the centre? Chances are he'll get injured very quickly again if he does go as he is unlikely to be able to train properly for a month and the muscles protecting the shoulder will take a month after that to recover.

eagle eye

His shoulder popped out and went back in again, he may be alright. It happened during his Man of the Match performance in the Magner's League tie against Newport Gwent Dragons.

Hopefully he will be ok.

zAbbo

Backups have to be D'Arcy, James Hook and Max Evans.

D'Arcy I thought played his best game in years last weekend, and his familiarity with BOD could swing it.

Tough call, and even tougher break on Shanklin

[Jackass]

Gutted for Shanklin, he's been superb over the last couple of seasons especially.

Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

I'd say replacement would be Hook. It was a mistake naming only 2 out halfs, he can play centre as well, and with O'Gara going a bit off the boil in the last game it exposes how there is very little cover there, only Jones who is also a very good player, but an injury to either and Lions are in serious trouble with no cover.

anonymous_joe

Is he definitely out?

Would be really disappointed if he had no part to play, only O'Driscoll kept him from being the NH's best 13 this season.

Danakin

A big loss for the Lions if he does turn out to be out. Some hope here though:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/cardiff_blues/8037122.stm.

I think Flutey was likely to be the test 12 but Shanklin would have been my preference but I think McGeechan will use this as an opportunity to bring in a third out-half who can play centre which with Flood gone will definitely now be James Hook.

They really are dropping like flies though now-Bet McGeechan is praying Leinster especially get through the Heineken Cup final unscathed...The loss of O'Driscoll,Heaslip,Fitzgerald particularly would be awful after whats already gone.

redzerdrog

he is defo out was on sky sports news a while ago confirming it

gcgirl

Dropping like flys ant the word!! I'd like to see Darce Get the call !

Stealdo

Huge loss, as he's a really classy player, feel particularly sorry for him as it came in a meaningless ML game. Why were these guys playing 3 days after losing a HEC semi that went to extra time and pens?


I'd expect Darcy to be called in after his performance against Munster. Going on how the team was picked. Also - this makes the selection of Earls look a little riskier, when there were two of the lines really world class players at 13 Earls looked a good wild card, he'd now be second in line for the 13 shirt I think. (unless there's someone who's not coming to mind)
Darcy's versatility for 12/13 might see him in there.

copacetic

Stealdo wrote: »

Huge loss, as he's a really classy player, feel particularly sorry for him as it came in a meaningless ML game. Why were these guys playing 3 days after losing a HEC semi that went to extra time and pens?

Their coach said he would rest the lions players when were actually sure of Heineken Cup rugby next year. They weren't so it was far from a meaningless game for them.

bstoran

i know shanklin is a totally different player to cipriani, but considering theres only 2 out-halves in the squad, his versatility to play 10/12/15 and that dric has nailed down 13 with flutey and roberts on top of their games at 12, any chance of danny boy getting the nod?

How has he played in the prem the last few weeks?
geech must be tempted..

chupacabra

bstoran wrote: »

i know shanklin is a totally different player to cipriani, but considering theres only 2 out-halves in the squad, his versatility to play 10/12/15 and that dric has nailed down 13 with flutey and roberts on top of their games at 12, any chance of danny boy getting the nod?

How has he played in the prem the last few weeks?
geech must be tempted..

I would bring Hook over Cipriani any day of the week.

Stealdo

copacetic wrote: »

Their coach said he would rest the lions players when were actually sure of Heineken Cup rugby next year. They weren't so it was far from a meaningless game for them.

Well Connacht were never likely to catch them (I didn't realise they still could until I checked there) in fairness, and finishing ahead of the dragons only does away with the inconvenience of hammering a terrible Italian team before being in or not.

But meaningless or not I more meant the scheduling for the team as a whole rather than the Lions. Having this game scheduled 3 days after the HEC game seems nuts.

bstoran

chupacabra wrote: »

I would bring Hook over Cipriani any day of the week.

hook had the worst season ever and cant play centre so dont think so...

Stealdo

I'd be surprised if McGeechan takes a 10. It'd be the same thing as him saying I was wrong to only pick 2 to begin with. It's not like he picked someone in another position over any of the available 10's he could have picked 38 players if he wanted, nothing really stopping him. Also if he wanted to change his mind, he didn't need another player to get injured in order to add to the squad, if he wanted another 10 he could have added one.

Hook and Cipriani both cover the centre, so are possibilities but if it's like for like, Darcy offers a little versatility at both 12 and 13, Armitage is maybe an option, Evans maybe.

bstoran

I dont know why i just dont think darcys back to his best, or even lions standard..he hasnt stood out in matches, fair enough hes been solid but no cutting edge..
max evans is exciting and prob better than earls..
anyway its immaterial because its going to be flutey/roberts and Drico-mon, class midfield..

chupacabra

Definatley out now massive loss, could have done with his brick wall defense and incredible leg strength. Itll be Darce or Hook now. And bstoran Hook can play center, he has played a few games recently at 12 and he has been superb there.

sm.org

chupacabra wrote: »

Definatley out now massive loss, could have done with his brick wall defense and incredible leg strength. Itll be Darce or Hook now. And bstoran Hook can play center, he has played a few games recently at 12 and he has been superb there.

I cant think of which ones you're referring to , played most recently at 13 and was poor there too. A player really short of confidence at the mo.

jop

they did this on last tour with johnny and that was a diasater, hook aint a center

thomond2006

My pick for replacement would be Munster fan favourite, Charlie Hodgson.

sock puppet

chupacabra wrote: »

Definatley out now massive loss, could have done with his brick wall defense and incredible leg strength. Itll be Darce or Hook now. And bstoran Hook can play center, he has played a few games recently at 12 and he has been superb there.

He might go for Tindall:D

Stev_o

Where the hell is Hook coming to contention,he is a extremely talented player but is beyond a glory hunter. He can make breaks that are pure quality but is reluctant to pass even if it would put a man in for a try, he's much too busy trying to get camera time going over the white wash.

If they go for a universal back it'll be Vesty and if they want a straight replacement it'll be D'arcy. That said Shanklin is a massive MASSIVE loss to the Lions himself and BOD would of been the first names on the sheet.

jam_on_toast

disastrous loss. I would have started shanklin & BOD in the centre on current form.

mcgeechan will have to put in an experienced replacement as the centres are seriouly lacking now, flutey, roberts & earls have little or no SH international test match experience.

My pick would be tindall or d'arcy.

Digifriendly

jam_on_toast wrote: »

disastrous loss. I would have started shanklin & BOD in the centre on current form.

mcgeechan will have to put in an experienced replacement as the centres are seriouly lacking now, flutey, roberts & earls have little or no SH international test match experience.

My pick would be tindall or d'arcy.

Mike Tindall - was he not injured recently or am I doting?

sm.org

Digifriendly wrote: »

Mike Tindall - was he not injured recently or am I doting?

I really hope he is.

Darlie

If Cipriani or Hook were good enough they would have been brought as a third 10. Both of them are rubbish. Similarly, some pundits have mentioned Henson's name again. Ms. Church would offer more to the cause.
If Geech has full confidence in his back up centres he may go for versatility in the guise of Vesty, Armitage or even, perish the thought, Lewsey. If he wants a more orthodox centre, however, D'Arcy would have to be the front runner even though he hasn't set the place alight since his return.

bstoran

jam_on_toast wrote: »

roberts & earls have little or no SH international test match experience.

My pick would be tindall or d'arcy.

think your forgetting BOD had little experience for OZ 01 and other people in the past too, was it Guscott?or Gibbs maybe not sure...

Tindall and Darce would mean they man-mark and thereby nullify BODs threat because they offer no threat at 12...maybe thats whats needed against the physical Boks but thats crap like in fairness..

gearstick

a bit OT but have they named a replacement for o'leary?

Darlie

Not yet.

bstoran

Darlie wrote: »

or even, perish the thought, Lewsey

lewsey retired from rugby...

danthefan

bstoran wrote: »

lewsey retired from rugby...

He'd spoken about how he'd love to go on the Lions tour. McGeechan would have told him if he's on standby, if he is he'll keep his fitness up.

Judgement Day

Darlie wrote: »

If Cipriani or Hook were good enough they would have been brought as a third 10. Both of them are rubbish. Similarly, some pundits have mentioned Henson's name again. Ms. Church would offer more to the cause.
If Geech has full confidence in his back up centres he may go for versatility in the guise of Vesty, Armitage or even, perish the thought, Lewsey. If he wants a more orthodox centre, however, D'Arcy would have to be the front runner even though he hasn't set the place alight since his return.

Off topic here but I really think you do your arguement no good trotting crap about Ciprani and Hook being crap. James Hook in particular is a highly talented player who has been messed about by coaches and selectors see link here http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2009/04/30/hook-won-t-learn-from-being-moved-outside-91466-23507282/

by the same argument I suppose Jonny Wilkinson is also crap because he is injury prone?

brandon_flowers

http://www.keo.co.za/2009/05/13/catt-tipped-for-lions/

Please someone tell me its a joke!!

Podge_irl

brandon_flowers wrote: »

http://www.keo.co.za/2009/05/13/catt-tipped-for-lions/

Please someone tell me its a joke!!

Its just his coach putting him forward as a way of praising one of his players. Not a hope he'll actually go.

gearstick

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Please someone tell me its a joke!!

its not completely outside the realm of possibility. i mean in terms of experience/attitude/professionalism, he can bring a lot to the tour. id say there could major uproar if he was picked though.


Also seen as darcy was picked in the barbarians squad, does that mean he's out of contention for the lions completely?

http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_17196.php

Chucky the tree

gearstick wrote: »

Also seen as darcy was picked in the barbarians squad, does that mean he's out of contention for the lions completely?

http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_17196.php

No, he can just withdraw from it if picked. It's not a good sign though.

highgiant1985

if you read the piece you linked to it answers your question!

"
Of course D'Arcy's plans could yet change, as he is currently in contention to replace the injured Tom Shanklin in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa."