Lions

Ri na hEireann

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Ferguson is a genius at work....give him time. Mas
Who from your own country do you think deserves a call-up?
I think it should be an all Irish second row with Malcolm O Kelly and Paul O Connell.I also think Sean Burn has a shout for the number 2.Brian O Driscoll to start at outside centre and if Wilkinson is not fit i'd have Ronan O Gara at outhalf!
 
Lions squad:
Backs: I Balshaw (England), G Murphy (Ireland), J Robinson (England), G Thomas (Wales), S Williams (Wales), J Lewsey (England), S Horgan (Ireland), D Hickie (Ireland), T Shanklin (Wales), B O'Driscoll (Ireland, capt), G Henson (Wales), O Smith (England), G D'Arcy (Ireland), W Greenwood (England), S Jones (Wales), R O'Gara (Ireland), C Hodgson (England), M Dawson (England), D Peel (Wales), G Cooper (Wales), C Cusiter (Scotland).
Forwards: G Rowntree (England), A Sheridan (England), M Stevens (England), G Jenkins (Wales), J White (England), J Hayes (Ireland), G Bulloch (Scotland), S Thompson (England), A Titterrell (England), S Byrne (Ireland), D Grewcock (England), B Kay (England), M O'Kelly (Ireland), D O'Callaghan (Ireland), P O'Connell (Ireland), M Owen (Wales), R Hill (England), N Back (England), M Williams (Wales), L Moody (England), S Taylor (Scotland), M Corry (England), L Dallaglio (England).
 
I think it's a good balanced squad, wouldn't have taken Hodgson though.

Would have liked to see Tindall in stead of Greenwood and maybe Phil viockery in as well. Vickery's injury was a broken arm so he's been able to keep his fitness up while recovering.
 
A few surprises in there. Horgan, Hayes wouldn't have made my squad and could still lose their places if Tindell and Vickery prove their fitness. O'Gara is a lucky boy and I thought Cueto and Patterson would go instead of Hickie and Balshaw.

Delighted for Donnacha O'Callaghan though.
 
Cueto sould have gone. I thought Jason White might have gone as well as during the 6N he seemed to have been pretty good before inury intervened. Hodgson's kicking has been poor recently but his "playmaking" has still been consistently good and that'll be important in NZ.

Overall the squad looks decent. Wales might not have as many players as people thought, but I can't think of any galring Welsh ommisions. The best ones are all there.

Anyone see the interview from Brian O'Driscoll? He mentioned how he was a big "Man Utd" and Mark Hughes fan... Which was nice...
 
Ri na hEireann said:
Too many England players for how bad a 6 nations campaign they had!
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England came out of the 6 nations with the best defense and defense will be crucial when you get to New Zealand.
Everyone said they had a terrible 6 nations but the 3 games they lost were at the expense of no more than 6 points. We got unlucky in Wales, would have rolled over France if we had a reliable kicker and Ireland defended their lead well, plus we were without a number of Key player Hill, Tindall, Vickery, and of course Wilkinson. No other side had the number of injuries we had, maybe except Scotland but they are shite
 
I have no problem with the number of English players going. they are the only team to win in Australasia and still have the best players available regardless of the six nations.
 
Red Panda said:
Is Andy Farrell going on the tour?
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No... They wouldn't take a player who has never played professional Union on one of the most prestigious and arduous events in the Union calander!

P.S This isn't league bashing. I have a hell of a lot of respect for Farrell and League and hope he is a great success but if a player who has never played professional Union was chosen for something as prestigious as a Lions tour over long term Union players there would be uproar! A Lions tour is not the kind of place where you want to be learning the intracacies of Union play.

Hopefully he'll do a Jason Robinson, prove himself in Union next season and be a great asset to the code. I remember no less a player than Martin Johnson once said Farrell was the most talented Rugby player in Britain. Not just Rugby League but all Rugby!
 
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