darcy to Lions Squad

budhabob

Apparently Darcy has been called up to the lions squad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/

Yellow Bar at the top of the page

ongarite

Damn just beaten to it.
Who is injured for him to be called up this sudden into the tour?

How was he for the Barbarians last weekend against England?

budhabob

ongarite wrote: »

Damn just beaten to it.
Who is injured for him to be called up this sudden into the tour?

How was he for the Barbarians last weekend against England?

no idea who he is replacing, and i thought he played fairly well. Broke alot of tackles.

Wreck

About time, it's pretty unbelivable he wasn't in the original squad.

krahsrekop

i would reckon it riki flutey he was sent for a scan on an injured knee must be more serious than first thought

Chopper888

Just heard it announced on Sky Sports News. This is great news for him after recovering from a serious arm injury.

beezer84

He was excellent against England, am just surprised it took so long for it to come. I assume there are no injuries and it is more or less a straight swap for Shanklin. Either way I am delighted for D'arcy

copacetic

they say fluytey could be out for a week, so roberts would have had to play 4 games in a row, or throw hook in at centre..

Noopti

I can't see anything on the BBC Sport website about it....maybe I am going blind! :P

budhabob

Noopti wrote: »

I can't see anything on the BBC Sport website about it....maybe I am going blind! :P

its just a yellow banner, no article as of yet.

copacetic

SSN have confirmed it and are discussing it.

budhabob

ya, confirmed there too.
http://www.skysports.com/lions-09/story/0,25921,16057_5361028,00.html

tomred1

great news for him

Stealdo

D'Arcy had an ok first half for the Barbarians and a pretty good second half. Broke a couple of (pretty week) tackles to set up one try and took his own well. Pleased for him to be called up and it bolsters the Irish representation again a little which had started to look slightly sparse. Hopefully will allow him to put the whole 2005 thing to bed and given a fair go I'd say he has a shot at a test spot.

As an aside - is anyone else concerned now with the level of organisation that seems to be there? The whole Shanklin injury, no one called up, Halfpenny half injured, an OH (maybe centre) called up, not flutey possibly out for a week and they have to bring out cover for him. The whole thing seems to be very hit and miss in terms of what they need, this is the second person called into the squad because a guy is out for a couple of warm up games. Did Earls performance in the first game affect this decision? (not wanting to single him out too much, but Roberts was good)

CatFromHue

wow, i really thought turning that game in 05 was being held against him!

I wonder where abouts in the world he is though. if the barbarians are playing australia this weekend is he in that squad and so on his way to australia now! or is it a different squad for that game does anyone know?

The only point I can make about the call ups, or replacements is that the management have been very slow to call any one so maybe they are waiting to see how things turn out and are considering all options beforehand.

bigbadben

Hopefully D'Arcy wont be too tired to play this time round.

death1234567

Should have been there in the first place. Ridiculous that Earls was picked ahead of him.

About bloody time,Geech was just being stubborn about not bringing him.
Bet he starts the 2nd and 3rd tests.

CJhaughey

death1234567 wrote: »

Should have been there in the first place. Ridiculous that Earls was picked ahead of him.

How is it rediculous? Last time round he opted out of the 3rd test claiming *mental fatigue* you mark your card and you live with it.
I am sure that the powers that run the Lions remembered that.
Look, he has his chance again which is good for him, I hope he makes a fist of it.

CJhaughey

CJhaughey wrote: »

How is it rediculous? Last time round he opted out of the 3rd test claiming *mental fatigue* you mark your card and you live with it.
I am sure that the powers that run the Lions remembered that.
Look, he has his chance again which is good for him, I hope he makes a fist of it.

He didnt claim mental fatigue you are just making that up.

Dennis hickie said the other week he wasnt fit physicaly to play and theres alot of bull**** spoken about the incident.

zAbbo

CJhaughey wrote: »

How is it rediculous? Last time round he opted out of the 3rd test claiming *mental fatigue* you mark your card and you live with it.
I am sure that the powers that run the Lions remembered that.
Look, he has his chance again which is good for him, I hope he makes a fist of it.

That's not true, a few things happened - but do you believe anything which came from that tour?

bigbadben

zAbbo wrote: »

That's not true, a few things happened - but do you believe anything which came from that tour?

Great chance for him to redeem himself after a poor showing 4 years ago though.

anonymous_joe

Yay.

uRbaN

2005 was a disaster, there was so much bad blood in the camp I don't think you can take D'arcys decision in isolation.

I'm delighted he's getting another opportunity, has been in terrific form since his return.

I'm sure Keith Earls will be disappointed on some level but he will get more chnaces on this tour and in future.

themont85

Darce and Bod, like milk in tea, it just has to be.

Darce for the 1st test.

TarfHead

CatFromHue wrote: »

I wonder where abouts in the world he is though. if the barbarians are playing australia this weekend is he in that squad and so on his way to australia now! or is it a different squad for that game does anyone know?

Barbarians
Geordan Murphy (Ireland)
Iain Balshaw (England)
Sonny Bill Williams (NZ uncapped)
Seilala Mapusua (Samoa)
Josh Lewsey (England)
Luke McAlister (NZ)]
Chris Whitaker (Aust)
Rocky Elsom (Aust)
Phil Waugh (Aust capt)
Jerry Collins (NZ)
Paul Tito (NZ uncapped)
Chris Jack (NZ)
BJ Botha (South Africa)
Sebastien Bruno (France)
Clarke Dermody (NZ).

Reserves: Schalk Brits (South Africa), Greg Somerville (NZ), Martin Corry (England), Serge Betsen (France), Justin Marshall (NZ), Glen Jackson (NZ uncapped), Ben Blair (NZ).

anonymous_joe

Seems mad that a bloke who captained his side in both the HC Final and GP Final doesn't make the Lions tour.

Haven't entirely forgiven Murphy for ragging on Leinster, but would love to see him put in the kind of performance that would make the Lions wonder why they'd left him behind.

Chucky the tree

Since when is Earls an inside centre?

Eoin

Wreck wrote: »

About time, it's pretty unbelivable he wasn't in the original squad.

It's not really, he was only just about up to match fitness at the end of the 6 nations. He's had a chance since then at club level to prove himself, and now he's done that and he's on the tour. Can't say much fairer than that.

themont85

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Since when is Earls an inside centre?

Ye he should be outside at this stage, i think he played for Munster at 12 in one of their last games though, i could be wrong?

gcgirl

Wreck wrote: »

About time, it's pretty unbelivable he wasn't in the original squad.

Darce should have been in the squad ! Hopefully he will play well over there!!

budhabob

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Seems mad that a bloke who captained his side in both the HC Final and GP Final doesn't make the Lions tour.QUOTE]

I agree, I think its crazy to leave such an obviously success behind. But such is rugby.

Tim Robbins

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Seems mad that a bloke who captained his side in both the HC Final and GP Final doesn't make the Lions tour.

Haven't entirely forgiven Murphy for ragging on Leinster, but would love to see him put in the kind of performance that would make the Lions wonder why they'd left him behind.

He looks much better in a tigers jersey as that team is usually on top in the physical stakes so he rarely has to put in any tackles.

Stev_o

Tim Robbins wrote: »

He looks much better in a tigers jersey as that team is usually on top in the physical stakes so he rarely has to put in any tackles.

He's put in his fair share of tackles as captain though now in alot of games though in fairness.

Is 36 or 37 now the size of the squad?

chupacabra

themont85 wrote: »

Ye he should be outside at this stage, i think he played for Munster at 12 in one of their last games though, i could be wrong?

Apparently that was just to "show" the Lions selectors that he is capable of playing 12.

Stev_o

chupacabra wrote: »

Apparently that was just to "show" the Lions selectors that he is capable of playing 12.

He played 12 for Ireland A in last years CC.

Goodluck2me

CatFromHue wrote: »

wow, i really thought turning that game in 05 was being held against him!

What do you mean "turning the game"?

Also if a player felt that they weren't fully fit or prepared for a game would you rather they played on regardless and played terrible or gave the selectors a chance to make good?

Cuchulain

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Seems mad that a bloke who captained his side in both the HC Final and GP Final doesn't make the Lions tour.

Haven't entirely forgiven Murphy for ragging on Leinster, but would love to see him put in the kind of performance that would make the Lions wonder why they'd left him behind.

Any more crazy that this same bloke can barely make the Ireland bench? I dont understand why successful Irish players based in England (Casey, G Murphy, J Murphy etc) find it so hard to make it into the international side.

Anyway, back on topic. It looks like a straight swap for Shanklin. Darcy had a stormer against England last week and certainly deserves the call up.

Tomtom364

that puts the squad back to 37

Crash

Thought it put it up to 38? 37 - Shanklin = 36. 36 + Hook = 37. 37 + Darcy = 38.

Tomtom364

Crash wrote: »

Thought it put it up to 38? 37 - Shanklin = 36. 36 + Hook = 37. 37 + Darcy = 38.

My bad. I overlooked hook.

coylerwhaa

so that means leinster & munster have the same number of lions now, what a difference a month makes

Tomtom364

coylerwhaa wrote: »

so that means leinster & munster have the same number of lions now, what a difference a month makes

Munster still have more. Though munster have lost three they were still named as members of the squad so are still considered lions

Cuchulain

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Munster still have more. Though munster have lost three they were still named as members of the squad so are still considered lions

Technically yes. But Flannery or O'Leary wouldnt be classing themselves as Lions this year.

Tomtom364

Cuchulain wrote: »

Technically yes. But Flannery or O'Leary wouldnt be classing themselves as Lions this year.

They were both named. If u wana be harsh and say they arnt lions then u can also say, congrats darcy your 4th choice 12.

Cuchulain

Tomtom364 wrote: »

They were both named. If u wana be harsh and say they arnt lions then u can also say, congrats darcy your 4th choice 12.

They were both named but are not part of the squad. What 3 players are ahead of Darcy at 12?

Darcy was the best 12 in the latter part of the 6 nations.

Its good to see the influx of Leinster players, and there is no doubt that putting Darce and BOD at the central berth is nothing but good news for the Lions.

Eoin

Who cares? He's on the squad now and hopefully the Lions (not just the Leinster/Munster/whatever) will improve on last Saturday's performance.

bigbadben

Cuchulain wrote: »

They were both named but are not part of the squad. What 3 players are ahead of Darcy at 12?

Darcy was the best 12 in the latter part of the 6 nations.

Its good to see the influx of Leinster players, and there is no doubt that Darce and BOD are a great central partnership.

Roberts,Flutey, and Hook. Not saying they're better just that they were selected ahead of him.

Tomtom364

Roberts, fluety and hook (called up for kicking duties really but he is a choice at 12)

And IMO roberts was the 12 of the 6N and unless darcy or fluety really impress then roberts will be the first choice 12 for the tests

EDIT: also. one player isnt an influx.

buck65

Darcy turned down the chance to play in a test vs the All Blacks in 2005 citing exhaustion etc.

Stev_o

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Roberts, fluety and hook (called up for kicking duties really but he is a choice at 12)

And IMO roberts was the 12 of the 6N and unless darcy or fluety really impress then roberts will be the first choice 12 for the tests

EDIT: also. one player isnt an influx.

Wow wow wow Roberts had one good game against Scotland then every team shut him down compltely he has non existent for the rest of Wales campaign, Flutey was the the best 12 of the 6N being the joint try scorer with BOD.