Who is your man of the lions tour!

rubayat

Post who you think played the best during the complete tour,

Tommy Bowe for me!

duckysauce

1 bod/ 2 phillips aggression and taking no crap

[Jackass]

Wow...tough call.

From the Irish I think Kearney, Bowe, Heaslip, Ferris & O'Driscoll all did extremely well.

I think either Roberts or Bowe for me.

Probably Roberts...thought he had a superb tour and is an amazing 1st centre...he's like D'Arcy with double the speed and double the strength...can't believe Cardiff let him get away.

anonymous_joe

[Jackass] wrote: »

Wow...tough call.

From the Irish I think Kearney, Bowe, Heaslip, Ferris & O'Driscoll all did extremely well.

I think either Roberts or Bowe for me.

Probably Roberts...thought he had a superb tour and is an amazing 1st centre...he's like D'Arcy with double the speed and double the strength...can't believe Cardiff let him get away.

Is it not Jamie Robinson they're losing?

Player of the tournament...

O'Driscoll, Kearney, Shaw and Roberts would be my picks. One of them.

Dev7

Roberts for me. What a revelation he's been.

[Jackass]

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Is it not Jamie Robinson they're losing?

Player of the tournament...

O'Driscoll, Kearney, Shaw and Roberts would be my picks. One of them.

Sorry you could be right there actually!

Iron Hide

Kearney or Simon Shaw

ALH-06

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Is it not Jamie Robinson they're losing?

Yes it is, but they lost Philips about two years ago when he moved to Ospreys.


I was impressed with the Irish guys of course - Bowe, BOD, Kearney all stood out and POC & Heaslip had inspired games today, but one thing that I'll take from this tour is the quality of the Welsh players... I realise I've underrated the Welsh as I'm not as familiar with them as I am the Irish players, but man do they have some quality...

One player I hadn't really rated before is Stephen Jones. I thought he was slow and awkward compared to other 10s, and he never really impressed me in the 6N. But he's a top quality outhalf with superb kicking, passing and running assets to his game. On this tour he proved his quality.

Philips, M. Williams, Jenkins & A. Jones all proved their immense dynamism & quality on this tour as well and should be proud of themselves. Jamie Roberts on the other hand - excellent in the first test but was found out in the second. I still think he's a one-trick pony, and overrated!

Max Power1

Roberts/Shaw/Kearney for me

Craig Dowling

kearney was immense
id go with him for this

Chucky the tree

On a similiar point to ALH I think the poor quality of Wales and England in last years 6 nations is strange when you look at how their players have done on tour, especially England. If JW manages to stay injury free and gain so form England have great potential to be excellent. Even Toby Flood back from injury could do a decent job.

1. Sheridan
2. Mears
3. Vickery
4. Shaw
5. Kennedy/croft/botherwick(donkey)
6. Croft/Worsley/haskell
7. worsley/Armitage
8. Easter
9. Ellis/Care
10. JW/ Flood/ Cipriani/
11. Monye/ Banahan
12. Flutey(excellent in the final test I have to say)
13. Hipkiss(excellent in the HEC but havent seen a huge amount of him)/Armitage
14. Cueto/shackey
15. Armitage/Foden/Abendanan

d'Oracle

Kearney.

Hon. Mention to Flutey for that Williams try.
Frickin sweet.

anonymous_joe

ALH-06 wrote: »

Yes it is, but they lost Philips about two years ago when he moved to Ospreys.


I was impressed with the Irish guys of course - Bowe, BOD, Kearney all stood out and POC & Heaslip had inspired games today, but one thing that I'll take from this tour is the quality of the Welsh players... I realise I've underrated the Welsh as I'm not as familiar with them as I am the Irish players, but man do they have some quality...

One player I hadn't really rated before is Stephen Jones. I thought he was slow and awkward compared to other 10s, and he never really impressed me in the 6N. But he's a top quality outhalf with superb kicking, passing and running assets to his game. On this tour he proved his quality.

Philips, M. Williams, Jenkins & A. Jones all proved their immense dynamism & quality on this tour as well and should be proud of themselves. Jamie Roberts on the other hand - excellent in the first test but was found out in the second. I still think he's a one-trick pony, and overrated!

The Welsh are very similar to us, even in having two teams that are of a very high quality, a sleeping giant in Llanelli and a Connacht in Gwent.

Some phenomenal players alright.

The real question for me though is how long until Perfidious Albion reasserts their dominance. Because some of their players are still unreal, and a few were unlucky not to tour, the likes of Armitage and Cueto for example.

Next season's 6 Nations is going to be unbelievably tough.

NickNolte

Tought call. I'm picking a few. BOD, Roberts, Bowe, Shaw and Phillips.

gilmore

Looking at it from a SA perspective, has to be O'Gara.

Beth1978

Drico obviously. Kearney has been class! And a special mention should go to Heaslip for being a powerhouse, played great in yesterday's match.

handsomecake

heinrich brussow. best player by a mile

NotWormBoy

If you only count the first two "proper" tests ... Roberts.

If you count all three "proper" tests ... Phillips.

If you count all the games combined ... Bowe.

If you count the last two tests, Kearney.

Honourable mentions to:

O'Driscoll - never let the quality drop when he was on the field. Though you could almost hear the management squeal every time he dropped for treatment - they didn't risk him in many "unimportant" games.

Heaslip - Cracker of a last test, solid but quiet by his own standards beforehand.

Martyn Williams - player who can feel really hard done by. Always played very well while on the actual pitch, and made a massive difference in the last test.

Jones - missed a few crucials in the first test. After that, a pretty good performance all round. Consistently solid and productive.

Shaw - a massive last two tests. Fair play for one who was perceived by many (including me) as past it.

I'm sure I've missed a few.

thomond2006

Jamie Roberts has been voted Player of the Tour by the squad, after Shaw and Bowe.

Four-Percent

Heinrich Brussow.

gcgirl

NickNolte wrote: »

Tought call. I'm picking a few. BOD, Roberts, Bowe, Shaw and Phillips.

Along with Karney

fifth

BOD, Shaw, Roberts, Heaslip, Kearney.

I can't decide!!

lobber

gilmore wrote: »

Looking at it from a SA perspective, has to be O'Gara.

Cheeky !
Monye either with that pov!!

Roberts made a great impact up the middle and created a lot of space and tries for others so being awarded the player of the tour is warranted. However there were so many other standout performers as well. Bowe seemed effortless in everything he did in EVERY game he played -and he switched to centre for the third test quite well. Philips was menacing with some good quick breaks and brilliant in defense. BOD was BOD, enough said. Shaw played probably the two greatest games of his career. Kearney was awesome at FB.

If the players involved maintain this intensity going back to their clubs and then on to the six nations we will have a great season of rugby ahead!

buck65

Hon mention to POC I reckon, was impressed with his composure all through and had a blinder Saturday, Ok he may not have been outstanding overall but led well by example in a difficult tour.
Kearney was top man with Roberts, Philips,Shaw and Adam Jones nullified the Beast.

StephenP023

Bowe and Monye

subfreq

For consistent efforts over the three tests and a superb last test I go with Heaslip. The most improved player of the last season and now a genuine world class number 8.

I really can't wait to watch him and Ferris have a go at the Boks in the Autumn as well as facing up to the return of Rocky!

D'Agger

Rob Kearney by a country mile - he was phenomenal in the second test - probably the best display of footballing and physicality from a full back in years and for a fella so young too! I was disappointed Earls wasn't on the bench for the 3rd test after he recovered from his terrible first outing in a Lions shirt he turned it around and was a revelation in the mid week games. If he puts on some weight and works on his defense he'll achieve great things IMO

handsomecake

PaulieC wrote: »

Rob Kearney by a country mile - he was phenomenal in the second test - probably the best display of footballing and physicality from a full back in years and for a fella so young too! I was disappointed Earls wasn't on the bench for the 3rd test after he recovered from his terrible first outing in a Lions shirt he turned it around and was a revelation in the mid week games. If he puts on some weight and works on his defense he'll achieve great things IMO

you musnt watch mils muliaina much then. the most consistent full back of the last 5 years or so. phenomenal player. extremely under rated

sm.org

PaulieC wrote: »

Rob Kearney by a country mile - he was phenomenal in the second test - probably the best display of footballing and physicality from a full back in years and for a fella so young too! I was disappointed Earls wasn't on the bench for the 3rd test after he recovered from his terrible first outing in a Lions shirt he turned it around and was a revelation in the mid week games. If he puts on some weight and works on his defense he'll achieve great things IMO

I'd like to see Keaney play well from sept-april next season rather then just may-june.

walshb

Beth1978 wrote: »

Drico obviously. Kearney has been class! And a special mention should go to Heaslip for being a powerhouse, played great in yesterday's match.

Hey, I am not arguing that Brian was very impressive for the two tests he played, but he did not compete in all three and this should be factored in. Saying this, POC would be my choice as he played in all as was available for all. I thought Paul was a work horse and led by example, as always. The English media were hard on him, as expected, down to jealousy I would say, yet he was still a fantastic captain.

SA man of the tour was Ronan O'Gara!

buck65

walshb wrote: »

Hey, I am not arguing that Brian was very impressive for the two tests he played, but he did not compete in all three and this should be factored in. Saying this, POC would be my choice as he played in all as was available for all. I thought Paul was a work horse and led by example, as always. The English media were hard on him, as expected, down to jealousy I would say, yet he was still a fantastic captain.

SA man of the tour was Ronan O'Gara!

I agree with you that POC was immense-maybe not as prolific but boy did he get stuck in - remeber that turnover in game 3 witha few minutes remaining?, especially in the 2nd and 3rd tests, well impressed with the guy's attitude ... of course there will be alot of people still questioning his captaincy - even now here on this forum!

rubayat

sm.org wrote: »

I'd like to see Keaney play well from sept-april next season rather then just may-june.

He likes the good ground!!

Superhands

thought kearney had an excellent tour

rubayat

Superhands wrote: »

thought kearney had an excellent tour

+1

youcancallmeal

So is there actually an officially announced Lions player of the tour or is it frowned upon cos we lost the series?

chupacabra

youcancallme>al wrote: »

So is there actually an officially announced Lions player of the tour or is it frowned upon cos we lost the series?

Jamie Roberts was named the HSBC Player of the tour.

horse and cart

Neil Francis convined me it had to be BOD mind you Kearney Roberts and Shaw also v impressive. From the Springboks Juan Smith Broussow and Matfield all top notch!!

chupacabra

horse and cart wrote: »

Neil Francis convined me

:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::rolleyes:

thomond2006

horse and cart wrote: »

Neil Francis convined me it had to be BOD mind you Kearney Roberts and Shaw also v impressive. From the Springboks Juan Smith Broussow and Matfield all top notch!!

Jaysus, you're easily convinced so! :D:D:D

Cool_CM

Could have been worse if you replace Neil Francis with Stephen Jones and BOD with Andy Powell:D