Lions
heavymental
Posts: 2,094
Comments
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Will be a job to do worse than the mauling in NZ. Hopefully, O'Connell being captain will take some of the focus off BOD, who can then do his funky thing and score lots of tries.
Jones hasn't played well, so understandable that he's been left out.
We're a bit short on flair at No. 10 though. Would like to have seen Hook included.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Was surprised to see Tom Croft omitted from the squad. He was being touted as being the key forward on the hard grounds.
We have gone for some big guys at lock and in the back row. Looks like we are going to try to batter the Boks up front.
We look thin at 10 but it probably reflects the ability of the candidates. I would like to have seen Hook go too but the form of the Ospreys in the last few weeks has been poor.0 -
Hmmm, Hook is not really world class Lions material, I don;t think he has the gameplay nouse to really fulfill that role. I'm surprised about Armitage also being left out, and very disappointed for Ryan Jones - his form isnt THAT bad, and Andy Powell is still relatively inexperienced. Pleased to see Halfpenny in, if he plays I'll wager he makes a big impression. Flutey is a good choice too, the competition for centre places will be enormous so that will be interesting.0
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I think it looks like a good solid team. I'm pleased that there is nobody there who is relying on past glories, potential or is a carrying injuries. No Wilko, no Henson and no place for the likes of Lewsey who may well have gone if the coach had been more sentimental. The pack is a right bunch of monsters so I think we'll surely compete physically.
It sounds like Jones, Croft and Armitage were the unlucky names on the initial list but we may well see them out there if there's an injury....which is very likely.
I'm hoping it'll be a good tour. I don't think we'll have any of the problem we had when Graham Henry fked it up in Oz and I don't think we'll have any of the different type of mistakes Woodward made in NZ. Hopefully they'll gel, get stuck in and win some matches. I think they have the potential despite it being a huge task. It could certainly get pretty brutal out there! Very much looking forward to it now. Plus, all the games should be on at a reasonable time for some pub viewing.0 -
Every Lions tour ends up with a few injuries that require replacements and history shows that those replacements often make it into the test team. I predict that Tom Croft will still win a Lions cap this summer.0
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Tomas O'Leary has apparently just been stretchered off playing against the Scarlets. Squad may change yet.
The hard grounds in SA, if not the brutality of the tackling, will ensure there'll be injuries.
Wasn't one of th emajor turning points of the 2001 tour the injury to Hill in the second test?FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
I'm looking forward to this thread firing up into a classic See you Tuesday for MD2 Steve! :twisted:http://twitter.com/mgalex
www.ogmorevalleywheelers.co.uk
10TT 24:36 25TT: 57:59 50TT: 2:08:11, 100TT: 4:30:05 12hr 204.... unfinished business0 -
13 Welshmen....................like the old days!0