Lions 2013 Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience · 02-07-2013 10:45PM

Probably should have copped it when reading Bests inclusion because he's a "sound lad"

The Aussie · 02-07-2013 10:46PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Of course he was!

Or was he, I mean BOD play with a bunch of Welsh and smile, I mean how could you...

mfceiling · 02-07-2013 11:11PM

LorMal · 03-07-2013 01:01AM

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Ok well a few things about your team!

Grant isn't a TH

Croft isn't a seven

Hogg looked good playing at 10 against semi pros, but against a S15 team he was atrocious. He would not be able for a test level game at 10

Best, while I'm a big fan, is a complete liability at the moment

Also, I agree with your premise about playing attractive rugby, but Phillips at 9 won't allow this

2 loose heads playing side by side. No tight head. Will make it dead easy to turn the scrum. Simples.

irishbucsfan · 03-07-2013 01:06AM

Yeah just get them to bind outside both opposition props. Rory is wide enough to manage.

If not, start Gatland.

wonderfullife · 03-07-2013 01:12AM

lol subliminal promotion indeed

Unless Gatland is blind he may possibly have seen SOB tear through defences for the past few years.

I'll be gutted for us (the Lions) if he doesnt start as i think he'll bring more to the party than Tipuric. Having said that i can handle Tipuric being in there, he's a class act himself.

Is there any chance Gatland could do something absolutely mental? Like crazy pills mental?

for example:

Start Zebo or Wade
Play Croft 2nd Row from start
Go with Barritt or Twelvetrees at 12
Drop BOD

All week the media are building this up to the defining moment of his coaching career. Gatland strikes me as a smug, cocky operator, so i'm worried he'll go for a huge call and then hope to win and look like a genius.

P.Walnuts · 03-07-2013 03:16AM

Apparently there will be big shocks in the team announcement..

JagerScout · 03-07-2013 03:17AM

AWJ is captain.

P.Walnuts · 03-07-2013 03:31AM

BOD dropped , AWJ captain

Heaslip dropped too, that was at least predictable

P.Walnuts · 03-07-2013 03:35AM

Good god he has dropped BOD for Davies

Roberts at 12, Davies at 13.....

Thought it would have been for Tuilagi

SOB starts

Faleteau at 8

Corbs starts

Edit : No BOD on bench, Tuilagi takes 23.

Anatidaephobia · 03-07-2013 03:38AM

Jeeeeesus.

JagerScout · 03-07-2013 03:38AM

Bod not even in 23, what a joke. Pray to god they lose now.

eclipsechaser · 03-07-2013 03:53AM

British & Irish Lions XV & Replacements for the 3rd test

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Tommy Bowe *
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Jonathan Sexton *
9. Mike Phillips
1. Alex Corbisiero
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones (captain)
5. Geoff Parling
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sean O'Brien *
8. Toby Faletau

Replacements
16. Tom Youngs
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Dan Cole
19. Richie Gray
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Conor Murray *
22. Owen Farrell
23. Manu Tuilagi

* Denoted Ireland player

Brewster · 03-07-2013 03:53AM

JagerScout wrote: »

Bod not even in 23, what a joke. Pray to god they lose now.

That's a bit OTT. Some big calls from Gatland, Manu unlucky not to be starting. Davies was poor Sat too.

swoody · 03-07-2013 03:56AM

10 welsh players starting.....? WTF :mad:

Brian · 03-07-2013 04:01AM

Starting 10 welsh, 3 irish, 2 english, 0 scottish

I think I prefer LorMal's lineup

JagerScout · 03-07-2013 04:01AM

jank · 03-07-2013 04:21AM

This is going to cause a **** storm and if they lose (which I think they will now) then Gatland can look forward to retiring after the Wales job. Idiot. Philips at 9? WTF?

siochain · 03-07-2013 04:40AM

Not surprised sure right from the start with the captaincy Gatland has made an ass of things.

GiftofGab · 03-07-2013 04:48AM

eclipsechaser wrote: »

British & Irish Lions XV & Replacements for the 3rd test

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Tommy Bowe *
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Jonathan Sexton *
9. Mike Phillips
1. Alex Corbisiero
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones (captain)
5. Geoff Parling
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sean O'Brien *
8. Toby Faletau

Replacements
16. Tom Youngs
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Dan Cole
19. Richie Gray
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Conor Murray *
22. Owen Farrell
23. Manu Tuilagi

* Denoted Ireland player

TBH with the exception of BOD for Davis, I actually agree with the team. Both youngs and hibbard haven't quite got their line out sorted so given a tight call Hibbard gets the nod for his scrummaging ability.

All the scrum halfs have been pretty average this tournament. Given Gatland's gameplan, Phillips best fits out of a bad bunch for this game. All 3 got enough time to show what they can do (i know Phillips was terrible 1st test but at least he got dropped for 2nd test).

We now have a proper 2nd row, with Croft dropped. Rightly so IMO.

SOB finally got a starting spot.

toomevara · 03-07-2013 06:10AM

Problem with Gatland's approach to the final test is he's reverted to the 'Welsh way" with this selection (BOD or no BOD). Unfortunately when the pressure is on people tend to go to what they know. Alas the Welsh boys (all 10) have not had much success in a Welsh top with this approach which worries me.....

Grandpa Hassan · 03-07-2013 06:20AM

I don't 100% agree with Davies for BOD, but I fear that the vitriol this morning on boards will completely forget the fact that BOD has not played well. He's been good in defence, but showed nowt in attack. We have to score tries on Saturday, do something has to change....

JagerScout · 03-07-2013 06:22AM

Did any lions back show much in attack to date? apart from North's great try from broken play its been atrocious.

DM_7 · 03-07-2013 06:29AM

I would have thought the lack of attacking spark was more of a team issue than a BOB issue.

In the second test the whole team set up/tactics were negative. For me one of the few memorable bright sparks was the potential attacking danger in link ups between Sexton and BOD.

touts · 03-07-2013 06:33AM

Not at all surprised BOD was dropped. Disappointed but not surprised. Leading into the first test the tone from the Lions management was how they were so lucky to have two wonderful 13s to play beside Roberts at 12. The decision at centre was always a 50/50 call between Davies and BOD and I had a feeling that the glowing assessment of Davies' performances was a sign that he was winning in the minds of management and they were starting the PR spin around their decision to drop BOD. Then the injury to Roberts took that decision out of the equation and both Davis and BOD got in.

Now Roberts is fit (or fit enough for Gatland to gamble on) we were back to the 50/50 call and in a situation like that an Irish player will always lose to a Welsh player in Gatland's mind.

wonderfullife · 03-07-2013 06:38AM

wonderfullife wrote: »

lol subliminal promotion indeed

Unless Gatland is blind he may possibly have seen SOB tear through defences for the past few years.

I'll be gutted for us (the Lions) if he doesnt start as i think he'll bring more to the party than Tipuric. Having said that i can handle Tipuric being in there, he's a class act himself.

Is there any chance Gatland could do something absolutely mental? Like crazy pills mental?

for example:

Start Zebo or Wade
Play Croft 2nd Row from start
Go with Barritt or Twelvetrees at 12
Drop BOD

All week the media are building this up to the defining moment of his coaching career. Gatland strikes me as a smug, cocky operator, so i'm worried he'll go for a huge call and then hope to win and look like a genius.

yup.......

The Lions is supposed to be about bringing 4 nations together in the spirit of friendship, co-operation and sport.

It's not supposed to be about a fat Kiwi with a bigger ego looking to make an attention-seeking decision to define his coaching career.

Apart from the fact BOD is the best 13, we have, Davies has done absolute sweet f.a. at 12 in 2 Tests, so to expect him to do better at 13 outside a guy whos just about fit is ridiculous.

Oh and Hibbard has been useless with his darts all tour.

Ahhhh F this im going back to sleep i feel like i tripped in the shower and fell on to a 10 inch penis face first. :mad:

Swiwi. · 03-07-2013 06:38AM

danthefan wrote: »

Totally unfounded internet rumour alert: ten Welsh to start on Saturday. Names not given.

Le vieux renard wrote: »

Well you nailed it last week DTF so I'll give your post credence. I'll be counting to 10 when the teams announced tomorrow.

danthefan wrote: »

This one is pure dodgy though tbh, I haven't much faith in it. Last week was a lot more solid.

Le vieux renard wrote: »

Modesty becomes you Dan.

I have faith.

"Faith: not wanting to know what is true."
Friedrich Nietzsche

Well done, good sir. I didn't foresee BOD making way for Davies at 13, but then who did on this forum?

Swiwi. · 03-07-2013 06:42AM

Should be a quiet day on the forum today. Not much to discuss really. I mean no BOD, Gray on the bench. Hopefully the Wallabies selection provides some controversy.

LowOdour · 03-07-2013 06:44AM

Cannot say im suprised to see him dropped from the team...i mentioned before the 2nd test that if roberts was fit, that Gatland might go for an all welsh back line. its pretty poor form all the same

ongarite · 03-07-2013 06:46AM

Not suprising selection from Gatland after the rumour from yesterday.
If the Lions lose the game series now, Gatland will be slammed in the press even more now after he has dropped some key players.

Lions 2013 Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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