Lions 2005

raven136

after the six nations pick your lions team for the test matches

daveirl

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Nukem

Oh my that looks about right and no Irish front row or ROG. Oh dear
on ROGs all round performance he will get picked................glad to see stringer no where near it but Ellis......just doesnt do it,arrogant and makes rash decisions wont get near the first team. Wilko is a severe doubt i thought.

thompson has impressed the last few games but against weak opposition but will still get the nod in first place.............JOC?Paterson would be 50/50 with Moody and Williams id say.Lets ee how the rest of the HC turns out and then call it. Whens the exact date of the team to travel being announced

daveirl

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jank

11. Shane Williams [Wales]:

I dont think he will get anywhere near the team ad SCW will try and have a more defensive minded backs. Overall thats what i would have but id expect MoK from ireland not be in the first XV. Pity!

The Rooster

Josh Lewsey is the one English back guaranteed to start IMO. Shane Williams definitely won't - an All Black winger would just destroy him. I think Murphy will get his place, whether at full back or 14.

I'm not sure about Stephen Jones. Sure he was the best out half in the tournament, but I dont think he'd cut the mustard against the All Blacks. I think Gavin Henson might, which would mean moving Robinson to 12.

I can see Johnny O'Connor making the trip if he picks 9 back row forwards (along with 3 Welsh, 3 English and 2 Scots - though if one of Dallalglio or Charvis make it, I reckon Johnny won't) but I certainly dont see him making the first team. I dont see Hickie making the squad, but I think Marcus Horan would be a decent outside bet for one of the 6 props.

There'll be one place between Rog and Hump - be very interesting to see who gets it.

Given our strength at lock (POC and MOK will definitely start) there will be a third Irishman picked in that position. Probably Donncha, but dont rule out Trevor Brennan (SCW hasnt) - it'll depend on how they both do in the Heineken. Maybe all 4 could go - Kay is certain to go, and the last 3 places will be between Grewcock, Murray, O'Callaghan and Brennan. I think Shane Byrne will travel ahead of Mefin Davies, especially as there's likely to be no Welsh locks travelling (and he could well be on the bench ahead of Bulloch).

My predictions (assuming 44 is correct number):
PROPS (6): Horan GJenkins AJones Rowntree JWhite Smith
HOOKERS (3): Byrne Thompson Bulloch
LOCKS (6): O'Connell O'Kelly O'Callaghan Kay Grewcock Murray
FLANKERS (6): O'Connor MWilliams RJones Hill Moody JWhite
EIGHTS (3): Owen Corry Taylor
SCRUMHALFS (3): Peel Ellis Dawson
OUTHALFS (3): O'Gara or Humphreys SJones Wilkinson
CENTRES (6): D'Arcy O'Driscoll Henson Shanklin Robinson Noon
WINGERS (5): SWilliams Morgan or RWilliams Cueto Lewsey Lamont
FULLBACKS (3): Murphy Thomas Patterson

Total - Ireland 10, England 15, Wales 12, Scotland 7
Team - Ireland 4, England 5, Wales 5, Scotland 1
(my team in bold above)

daveirl

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pickarooney

I thought Shanklin had a great last couple of games. I missed the earlier Wales matches, so don't know how he did there. Lewis Moody must also be near a first-team place.

Stormfox1020

1- Gethin Jenkins (Wales), sub. Rowntree
2- Steve Thompson (England) sub. Bulloch
3- Julian White (England) sub. A Jones
4- Malcom O'Kelly (Ireland) sub. Kay
5- Paul O'Connel (Ireland) sub. Grewcock
6- Ryan Jones (Wales) sub. White
7- Jonny O'Connor (Ireland) sub. Worsely
8- Michael Owen (Wales) sub. Correy
9- Dwayne Peel (Wales) sub. Cooper
10- Stephen Jones (Wales) sub. O'Gara
11- Sean Lemont (Scotland) sub. Cueto
12- Gavin Henson (Wales) sub. Darcy
13- Brian O'Driscol (Ireland) sub. Shanklin
14- Shane Williams (Wales) sub. Horgan
15- Gareth Thomas (Wales) sub. Murphy

Chucky the tree

Stormfox1020 wrote:

1- Gethin Jenkins (Wales), sub. Rowntree
2- Steve Thompson (England) sub. Bulloch
3- Julian White (England) sub. A Jones
4- Malcom O'Kelly (Ireland) sub. Kay
5- Paul O'Connel (Ireland) sub. Grewcock
6- Ryan Jones (Wales) sub. White
7- Jonny O'Connor (Ireland) sub. Worsely
8- Michael Owen (Wales) sub. Correy
9- Dwayne Peel (Wales) sub. Cooper
10- Stephen Jones (Wales) sub. O'Gara
11- Sean Lemont (Scotland) sub. Cueto
12- Gavin Henson (Wales) sub. Darcy
13- Brian O'Driscol (Ireland) sub. Shanklin
14- Shane Williams (Wales) sub. Horgan
15- Gareth Thomas (Wales) sub. Murphy

you really think SCW will leave out robinson? and wont even have him as sub?!

spanner

id definately have Martyn Willams in on the openside flanker,

wouldnt that be embarrasing if Trevor Brennan even makes the bench before axiel,

Johnny O Connor definately ireland most improved player love to see him on.

Josh lewsey instead of Shane Willams, size only, i think the all backs would laugh if they seen him coming on

even though most people outside of wales dont like him henson has to at least start

i wouldnt play O Connell he has had a bad HK and six nations up to now Danny Grewcock i would think would be better

steven jones in form player must be there.

punky bruster

Does anyone know what mishap took place in the 56th min of the ireland-wales game (i know your probably all saying there was loads) but im just wondering about this one in particular because i was on planetrugby and i was suprised to see that for their 6nations team of the tournament they had given the no.13 to Shanklin. They then said for anyone whose giving out that its not BOD check out the 56th min of the ireland wales game. So wat happened i cant remember! Thanks

ruck-it

Shanklin set up the score

The Rooster

You could make a good argument that Shanklin outplayed Drico on Saturday, but its impossible to argue that he should get a Lions place ahead of him.

Nukem

The Rooster wrote:

You could make a good argument that Shanklin outplayed Drico on Saturday, but its impossible to argue that he should get a Lions place ahead of him.

Ya he did. But what everyone fails to see is he was the best player it was everyone around him that sucked so he didnt look great. Would be different with Shaggy & D'arcy. Actually what about Horgan as one of the mid week players for the lions????????

BangBeater

how bout Cullen at 15.........?!!

RuggieBear

i reckon Josh Lewesy is a certainty for the test team.

I don't think mal will make the test team (I met him during the 1st week of the last lions tour and he was pissed and smoking...i wasn't impressed). I still think Owen should get the 2nd row berth alongside POC with Corry No8.

Shanklin should be no 12...

Ruggie, did you ever read Eddie Butler's "Tangled Manes"? it's an account of the last Lions tour and apparently the whole midweek team were treated like ****, so they didn't put in any effort outside they're matches, they were bascially training partners for the Saturday team.

Trojan

That's "The Tangled Mane" I think. Interesting. I remember all the trouble about Healy and someone else (Dawson)'s columns.

RuggieBear

Trojan wrote:

That's "The Tangled Mane" I think. Interesting. I remember all the trouble about Healy and someone else (Dawson)'s columns.

I didn't read it but i just might...Met healy down there and he was a model professional....very nice to talk to, plenty of time for us fans and a good laugh.

Actually MOK pissed me off for more than rugby reasons....was dancing at the club in Townsville, with this welsh hottie and he drunkenly tried to butt in on me...i just pushed the silly ****er out of the way (he's quite light really). MOK just went looking for some other bird to pull. My mates were horrified coz Vickery (who is enormous), taylor and Martyn Williams all noticed but laughed it off, otherwise i'd have been in the middle of newsworthy incident

Nukem

RuggieBear wrote:

taylor and Martyn Williams all noticed but laughed it off, otherwise i'd have been in the middle of newsworthy incident

Lucky boy. See the headline now *Irish Rugby supporter,mamed by internationsl rugby players in Nightclub*

*Chucle* *Chuckle*

RuggieBear

This has just been posted on a rugby email group thingie i'm a part of....It does seem a very small number of irish goin imo but it wouldn't suprise me if it was accurate

http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s97.php?f=99&i=134722&t=134722&sid=97

Author: TheCats
Date: 02-04-05 08:32



A friend of mine says he's seen an official document naming all 44 players and Stand by players in case of injuries not healing up.

Definitely going:

Byrne, O'Callaghan,O,Connell,O'Kelly,O'Driscoll,D'Arcy and Murphy

On Standby:

Brennan,Corrigan,Hayes,O'Connor,Sheahan,Horgan,Humphreys.

and the surprise tourist????
Ayoola Erinle.

Oh, the captain and vice captains are to be released at a later date.
Ths has come from a good source

oh yeah and if that is accurate it is 5 from Leinster and 2 from Munster!!!!

PowerHouseDan

Dont no how hump can be a stand by over o gara!

daveirl

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PowerHouseDan

I dunno i'd pick O Gara, But we all have different views, but i'd say Johny is still going to be picked, he is still in the runnings for Captain even though BOD is a deff Johny is up there. I dont think he deserves a place on the Lions tour. Fair enough he is an almighty player but he's been out to long to just jump into the Lions.But i guess we have to wait till the 11th or 14th to find out.