The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Fullbacks: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Stuart Hogg (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors), Rob Kearney (Ireland, Leinster) Wings: Tommy Bowe (Ireland, Ulster), Alex Cuthbert (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Sean Maitland (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors), George North (Wales, Scarlets) Centres: Jonathan Davies (Wales, Scarlets), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, Leinster), Jamie Roberts (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Manusamoa Tuilagi (England, Leicester Tigers) Outside Halves: Owen Farrell (England, Saracens), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland, Leinster) Scrum Halves: Conor Murray (Ireland, Munster), Mike Phillips (Wales, Bayonne), Ben Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers) Props: Dan Cole (England, Leicester Tigers), Cian Healy (Ireland, Leinster), Gethin Jenkins (Wales, Toulon), Adam Jones (Wales, Ospreys), Matt Stevens (England, Saracens), Mako Vunipola (England, Saracens) Hookers: Dylan Hartley (England, Northampton Saints), Richard Hibbard (Wales, Ospreys), Tom Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers) Second Rows: Ian Evans (Wales, Ospreys), Richie Gray (Scotland, Sale Sharks), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, Ospreys), Paul O'Connell (Ireland, Munster), Geoff Parling (England, Leicester Tigers) Back Rows: Tom Croft (England, Leicester Tigers), Toby Faletau (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland, Leinster), Dan Lydiate (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons), Sean O'Brien (Ireland, Leinster), Justin Tipuric (Wales, Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Wales, Cardiff Blues) Initial thoughts... Surprised that Chris Robshaw has not been included (would have swapped him for Lydiate). However, I think Warren Gatland has picked a very good team from the names given. I guess it's between O'Connell and O'Driscoll for the captaincy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Lydiate in front of robshaw is a bit of a joke IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted April 30, 2013 Author Share Posted April 30, 2013 I agree. Lydiate's a good player, but Robshaw adds that bit more in the back row. I would have gone with Ashton ahead of Maitland - maybe even Zebo as a wild card as he looks very promising. Then again, we aren't Warren Gatland. Sam Warburton as captain too. Interesting, as I would have given it to BOD or O'Connell. Warburton is a good player, but he can blow hot and cold and he was dropped for some of Wales games recently. Let's not forget his sending off for Wales against France in the RWC 2011 as well. Overall, a good squad and I think one that should beat Australia. A 3-0 series win is possible, but 2-1 would be a great achievement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 I think warburton is fine as captain. Ashton,not too dissapointed about tbh,don't think he is at the top of his game at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22668122 Looks like Hartley is out and Rory Best could be in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 First Result: Lions 59-8 Baa Baa's Captain Paul O'Connell scored the first try of the game, with Alex Cuthbert, Mike Phillips, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Davies and Dan Lydiate also crossing the try line. Cuthbert and Phillips managing to grab two tries each. Farrell kicked 15 points, with Sexton adding two conversions. Not a bad start at all, although Farrell needs to keep a cooler head and Sexton needs to work on his kicking as he fluffed a few chances. Adam Jones did well but might struggle to make the next game as he looked beat at half-time. A great display by Phillips and Tupric and Richie Gray was very solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Yes, a good start yesterday in Hong Kong but it will be a different story down under won't it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2333273/LIVE-British-Lions-2013-v-Barbarians--game-tour-Australia-Hong-Kong.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share Posted June 2, 2013 I think that the Lions will win the series 3-0. Australia aren't as good as in past years, and with the Welsh lads in particular in red hot form they will tear the Aussie back line a new one. Farrell needs to keep a cool head, but otherwise can't fault his performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Yes, a good start yesterday in Hong Kong but it will be a different story down under won't it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2333273/LIVE-British-Lions-2013-v-Barbarians--game-tour-Australia-Hong-Kong.html It usually is ! I think it's called 'Bush-Wacking !!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Was very impressed yesterday but the baba's were not playing with the same intensity. At times we tore through backs that wouldn't normally allow us to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 5, 2013 Author Share Posted June 5, 2013 Second Tour Result: Lions 69-17 Western Force Another good performance by the Lions, although it looks as if Cian Healy will need to be replaced after he suffered a potential tour-ending injury. Leigh Halfpenny has surely nailed the 15 shirt for the first test game, after amassing 24 points from the boot - many of them from the touchline! Sexton was far better than against the Baa-Baas, and apart from silly penalties given away at the breakdown and a bad line-out by Best, a very good performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 Third Result: Lions 22-12 Queensland Reds The toughest game so far, and one which the Lions could have lost. Farrell was on form and saved the Lions with his kicking after Morahan's try for the Reds and also Frisby's late score. Hogg and Cuthbert did very well in defence as well. Hopefully this will be a wake-up call for the Lions - they won't steam-roller every side and they have to shake off any rustiness. Tuilagi and Bowe took knocks, but hopefully both will be able to continue on tour. Gethin Jenkins and Cian Healy are out of the tour and have been replaced by Alex Corbisiero and Ryan Grant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 Fourth Result against the Combined Counties err Combined Country Lions 64-0 Queensland-New South Wales Country XV Very much one-sided against a part-time side. The Lions weren't really put under much pressure and it was pretty much a training match for them. Stuart Hogg did well at number 10 and George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert and BOD were also impressive. 10 tries for the Lions, but on Saturday against the Warahtas it will be a very different opposition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Was sort if watching it but it wasn't really eye catching,nothing really to play against. These are not really tests other than for fitness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 It has been a walk in the park so far for the Lions hasn't it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 Catching up time: Lions 47-17 New South Wales Waratahs A very good performance from the Lions, and I would say that Halfpenny has nailed a starting place for the 1st test. My man of the game yesterday, and also BOD was impressive. Sexton, Croft and Davies also managed tries and Farrell did well from the boot, although I think he will start from the bench against the Australians. Bit worried to see Jamie Roberts getting injured though. Looking at the tour so far, I think that this is how the Lions might line up for the 1st Test: 15. Leigh Halfpenny 14. Alex Cuthbert 13. Brian O'Driscoll 12. Jonathan Davies 11. George North 10. Jonathan Sexton 9. Mike Phillips 1. Mako Vunipola 2. Richard Hibbard 3. Adam Jones 4. Alun Wyn Jones 5. Paul O'Connell (capt.) 6. Tom Croft 7. Sam Warburton 8. Jamie Heaslip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 Little Shane is now a Lion (well, for the Brumbies game anyway!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 The first sign of a spanner in the works? Lions 12-14 ACT Brumbies Maybe this game was intended as a B Team game for those players not involved in the 1st Test, but still it is the first Lions defeat to a provincial side on tour since 1997. An all round poor performance - the players looked disinterested in a 'nothing to play for' game, and not even the injection of pint-size Shane Williams could help them towards a win. Rory Best, Stuart Hogg, Christian Wade, Rob Kearney and Toby Faletau all did their best to convince Warren Gatland NOT to include them in the Test games - very flat and passionless from them. Still, the big one looms large - the 1st Test v Australia is this Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 1st Test Result Lions 23-21 Australia Closer than I thought it would be, and closer than many Lions fans would have liked! The Lions very nearly lost this game as well, so despite a 1-0 series win so far there is a lot of work to do. Had Kurtley Beale not slipped whilst taking his penalty, it may have been a different outcome. George North's try was nothing short of brilliant - equal to, if not better than, Gareth Edwards famous try against the Barbarians. Still, a win is a win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Only just found out that a certain Alex Cuthbert used to star for the Gloucester City youth team. A decent striker as well! I think he made the right career choice though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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