Ok so the squad has been announced, now we wait for the lists and lists of journalists posting their XV lists for the first test and I won't do that this time (I may nearer the time) because that annoys me a lot! In other news, the squad is up, and my initial thoughts were of shock, then happiness, then shock again.
My first worry, which was an unofficial worry but has now come to the fore. Why oh why has Sam Warburton been elected as captain: zero Lions caps and he even turned down the Wales captaincy for the England match. Personally I would have gone with O'Connell and I think that Warburton's experience could show in a negative manner but we'll see, you never know Gatland could've hit an absolute winner here.
My initial shock was at the inclusion of Fatt Stevens, sorry I mean Matt. I mean no offence to the guy but why? A strong scrummager i admit, but i feel somebody like Euan Murray or Mike Ross may have been more deserving of their place on the tour as they have more recently played international rugby.
Another shock was the lack of Scotland players! I thought people like Ryan Grant, Kelly Brown, Tim Visser were shoe-ins as well as Hogg and Gray obviously, but apparently not. Anyway the coaching staff probably (highly doubtfully) know better than me. I was shocked at first when Maitland was added but I've realised that he can tackle, unlike most other Northern Hemisphere wingers (Ashton, Visser) so I completely understand.
Also, I was frankly astonished that Tom Wood hadn't had a flight booked for him, out of all the England players I thought he was a given but yet again, I was wrong. I'm not overly surprised (or disappointed) at the lack of Robshaw as yes, he tackles very well, but Lydiate is even more vicious in tackles and Sean o'Brien carries more than him and further. However perhaps the most surprising decision of all is the exclusion of Heineken cup runner up, Ulster captain Rory Best. But so is everyone surprised at that so we won't go into that.
Finally, the Leicester crew are well represented and we have the joint highest club amount of players with the mighty Leinster, and they're a region!
Tuesday 30 April 2013
Tuesday 9 April 2013
Lions update
Okay so I didn't get around to completing my previews, but I would like to congratulate Clermont, Sarries, Munster and Toulon for making the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup and also to Leinster, Perpignan, Stade Francais and Biarritz for making the semis of the Amlin Cup and commiserations to my poor old Leicester, who battled hard, and who I am extremely proud of, but who fell just short (again). Never mind, the richer team won!
With the Lions squad update now the next big thing, I thought I'd give you an insight to some players who impressed last weekend in Europe:
Christian Wade bagged a brace, to add to his many tries he's already scored this season, and could well be a bolter on that plane Down Under. His pace on the hard grounds of Australia could be the X Factor that the Lions may need to undo the Australian defence.
Paul O'Connell led his red army to a 10th Heineken cup semi-final and that one performance alone against a strong QUins outfit shows you the big ginger lad from Ireland still has what it takes to compete at the top level.
Jonny Wilkinson- It's the same old story with Jonny but his kicking was peerless and his tackling fearless as he led his Toulon side to victory with 6 kicks and a drop goal over the Tigers. Could be on that list of 10s come the end of April that Gatland reads out.
Tom Croft has hit a purple patch over the last few weeks but injury brought him up short at half time as Leicester were winning 9-6 and then lost when he wasn't on the pitch. Coincidence? He could wreak havoc on hard, fast pitches and of course has Lions experience and tries and could easily be picked by Gatland for the summer. He outplayed Tom Wood vs Northampton also!
Ian Madigan- this young fella has impressed me- when I watched his vicious defence against Italy and his running lines against Wasps, I was thinking that he could be a wildcard selection for the Lions as he can control his backs well and he seems to be bulky enough.
Therefore my squad would be:
Full backs: Halfpenny and Hogg
Wingers: Cuthbert, North, Bowe, Visser, Wade
Centres: Tuilagi, Davies, O'Driscoll, Roberts
Fly Halfs: Sexton, Farrell/WIlko/Flood/Biggar/Madigan!
Scrum Halfs: Phillips, Youngs, Murray
Props: Healy, Grant, Jenkins, Jones, Cole, Murray
Hookers: Best, Hibbard, Youngs
Locks: O'Connell, Gray, AWJ, Parling, Ryan/Hines
Flankers: Croft, Wood, O'Brien, Tipuric, Warburton
No.8s: Faletau, Morgan
With only a massive selection dilemma over the substitute fly halves, that looks like a solid squad. Post in the comments any changes you would make.
With the Lions squad update now the next big thing, I thought I'd give you an insight to some players who impressed last weekend in Europe:
Christian Wade bagged a brace, to add to his many tries he's already scored this season, and could well be a bolter on that plane Down Under. His pace on the hard grounds of Australia could be the X Factor that the Lions may need to undo the Australian defence.
Paul O'Connell led his red army to a 10th Heineken cup semi-final and that one performance alone against a strong QUins outfit shows you the big ginger lad from Ireland still has what it takes to compete at the top level.
Jonny Wilkinson- It's the same old story with Jonny but his kicking was peerless and his tackling fearless as he led his Toulon side to victory with 6 kicks and a drop goal over the Tigers. Could be on that list of 10s come the end of April that Gatland reads out.
Tom Croft has hit a purple patch over the last few weeks but injury brought him up short at half time as Leicester were winning 9-6 and then lost when he wasn't on the pitch. Coincidence? He could wreak havoc on hard, fast pitches and of course has Lions experience and tries and could easily be picked by Gatland for the summer. He outplayed Tom Wood vs Northampton also!
Ian Madigan- this young fella has impressed me- when I watched his vicious defence against Italy and his running lines against Wasps, I was thinking that he could be a wildcard selection for the Lions as he can control his backs well and he seems to be bulky enough.
Therefore my squad would be:
Full backs: Halfpenny and Hogg
Wingers: Cuthbert, North, Bowe, Visser, Wade
Centres: Tuilagi, Davies, O'Driscoll, Roberts
Fly Halfs: Sexton, Farrell/WIlko/Flood/Biggar/Madigan!
Scrum Halfs: Phillips, Youngs, Murray
Props: Healy, Grant, Jenkins, Jones, Cole, Murray
Hookers: Best, Hibbard, Youngs
Locks: O'Connell, Gray, AWJ, Parling, Ryan/Hines
Flankers: Croft, Wood, O'Brien, Tipuric, Warburton
No.8s: Faletau, Morgan
With only a massive selection dilemma over the substitute fly halves, that looks like a solid squad. Post in the comments any changes you would make.
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