British and Irish Lions in SA

Predictions?

Too many Irish & Welsh players with not enough experience of beating southern hemisphere teams... even if they are fully deserving of being in the squad.

How many tests 3? 3-0 SA then.

Worsely is the only worthy English player.

DJ_Smerk wrote:Worsely is the only worthy English player.

Word.
Haskell should have gone - if only for his bulk and attitude.

That was a Typo. Worsley.


Full Squad.

Full-back

Lee Byrne (28) Ospreys and Wales
Rob Kearney (23) Leinster and Ireland

Wing

Shane Williams (32) Ospreys and Wales
Leigh Halfpenny (20) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Ugo Monye (26) Harlequins and England
Luke Fitzgerald (21) Leinster and Ireland
Tommy Bowe (25) Ospreys and Ireland

Centres

Tom Shanklin (29) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Jamie Roberts (22) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Brian O'Driscoll (30) Leinster and Ireland
Keith Earls (21) Munster and Ireland
Riki Flutey (29) Wasps and England

Fly-half

Ronan O'Gara (32) Munster and Ireland
Stephen Jones (31) Llanelli Scarlets and Wales

Scrum-half

Mike Phillips (26) Ospreys and Wales
Harry Ellis (26) Leicester and England
Tomas O'Leary (25) Munster and Ireland

Prop

Gethin Jenkins (28) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Adam Jones (28) Ospreys and Wales
Andrew Sheridan (29) Sale and England
Phil Vickery (33) Wasps and England
Euan Murray (28) Northampton and Scotland

Hooker

Jerry Flannery (30) Munster and Ireland
Lee Mears (30) Bath and England
Matthew Rees (28) Llanelli Scarlets and Wales


Lock

Paul O'Connell, capt (29) Munster and Ireland
Alun Wyn Jones (23) Ospreys and Wales
Donncha O'Callaghan (30) Munster and Ireland
Nathan Hines (32) Perpignan and Scotland
Simon Shaw (35) Wasps and England

Back-row

David Wallace (32) Munster and Ireland
Stephen Ferris (23) Ulster and Ireland
Alan Quinlan (34) Munster and Ireland
Joe Worsley (31) Wasps and England
Martyn Williams (33) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Jamie Heaslip (25) Leinster and Ireland
Andy Powell (27) Cardiff Blues and Wales


Plenty of Ospreys and Wasps in there. What are the chances of a Scotsman getting a game?

Well Shanklin, O'Leary, Quinlan, Flannery and Halfpenny (For the first part) are all out.

Squad is good enough to win for sure though.

I certainly won't accept JKLever and co, blaming my boys for a possible 3-0 drubbing.


We should unite for a couple of months to take on Taips and his "army".

2/1 result for the Lions, regretably.

I think the Lions will get well and truly mullered in the front 5!

And I doubt our guys will therefore get enough basll to use our superior backs IMO.

2-1 to SA, as I expect we may well compete in one game up front!!

I'd give Ronan O'Gara the ball on penalties and conversions.


Stephen Jones never fills me with confidence when he kicks. Some people say give Gavin Henson or James Hook the ball. I reckon both (especially Henson) have had some flukey moments with the ball, and I am yet to see any consistency in their kicking ability. Hook has shown it sufficiently more however, but Henson's punting has been symbolised through one long range match saver a couple of years ago.

My point was a valid one though, over the last 15 years how many times have Wales or Ireland beaten NZ, AUS or SA?

Both countries thoroughly deserve to make up the bulk of the side but I do fear for the Lions having the bulk of the squad with little experience of beating a SH opponent.

We beat Australia, 21-18 last year in the Autumn Internationals.

DJ_Smerk wrote:We beat Australia, 21-18 last year in the Autumn Internationals.

And before that?

JKLever wrote:

DJ_Smerk wrote:We beat Australia, 21-18 last year in the Autumn Internationals.

And before that?

Not very much admitidely. Doesn't mean things can't change. I think it's mostly a case of keeping the team together and tightening the player bonds, whilst adjusting to the harder pitches in SAF, which we usually struggle on.

You know how it is with these "All-Star" teams that sports put out, all full of the best players with the biggest ego's who don't like working with people with a similar talent. Just look at the World XI in Cricket, quality on paper, utter garbage on match day.


We need to solidify and bond the Lion's together, otherwise, regardless of nationality or talent; we will crumble under the pressure.

They've been playing the 'Invincibles of 74' on either Sky Sports or ESPN Classic all week...

They need to start calling '99' again and get everybody to pile in!

DJ_Smerk wrote:I'd give Ronan O'Gara the ball on penalties and conversions.


Stephen Jones never fills me with confidence when he kicks. Some people say give Gavin Henson or James Hook the ball. I reckon both (especially Henson) have had some flukey moments with the ball, and I am yet to see any consistency in their kicking ability. Hook has shown it sufficiently more however, but Henson's punting has been symbolised through one long range match saver a couple of years ago.

As they might if he was in the squad.

What?

Royal XV (18) 25
Tries: Koch, Barnes, Roux Cons: Olivier, Viljoen Pens: Olivier 2
Lions (10) 37
Tries: Bowe, Byrne, Wyn Jones, O'Gara Cons: O'Gara 4 Pens: O'Gara 3



O'Gara starting his campaign well. Try and plenty of kicks.


Welsh boys make some noise

Blimey. They were 18-3 down and kept hacking it upfield last I saw..

You takes your eye off the ball, and what appen eh?

You usually get beaten. Or hurt. Next...

Golden Lions (10) 10
Tries: Frolick Cons: Pretorius Pens: Pretorius

British and Irish Lions (39) 74
Tries: Roberts 2, O'Driscoll, Monye 2, Croft, Bowe 2, Hook, Ferris Cons: Jones 6, Hook 3 Pens: Jones 2


Cheetahs next, apparently they have a stronger 15 than the GL's did...still a strong performance.

DJ_Smerk wrote:Golden Lions (10) 10
Tries: Frolick Cons: Pretorius Pens: Pretorius

British and Irish Lions (39) 74
Tries: Roberts 2, O'Driscoll, Monye 2, Croft, Bowe 2, Hook, Ferris Cons: Jones 6, Hook 3 Pens: Jones 2


Cheetahs next, apparently they have a stronger 15 than the GL's did...still a strong performance.

Were the Golden Lions side made up of men with one leg?

JKLever wrote:

DJ_Smerk wrote:Golden Lions (10) 10
Tries: Frolick Cons: Pretorius Pens: Pretorius

British and Irish Lions (39) 74
Tries: Roberts 2, O'Driscoll, Monye 2, Croft, Bowe 2, Hook, Ferris Cons: Jones 6, Hook 3 Pens: Jones 2


Cheetahs next, apparently they have a stronger 15 than the GL's did...still a strong performance.

Were the Golden Lions side made up of men with one leg?

Pessimist.