The Lions

[Rosco]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=32866.msg879774#msg879774 date=1243854965]
Rosco:

How you rating Bowe and Byrne these days?
[/quote]

Well my opinion of Bowe changed ages ago, he's ten times the player he was when he played early on in his career under O'Sullivan (I think he was 20). He's developed into a technically impressive player. He does the basics well, he comes into the line well, he works hard and most importantly he finishes well.

Byrne - At the weekend we saw a lot more of him than previous. He is a very solid fullback defensively, great left boot, and showed good timing when coming into the line. The one thing I thought he lacked was a counter attacking game, but he showed that on Saturday.

With Kearney in the doldrums a bit this season I fully expect Byrne to start the Tests, same goes for Bowe. It's handy that they play together for the Ospreys too.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=32866.msg879796#msg879796 date=1243856149]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=32866.msg879774#msg879774 date=1243854965]
Rosco:

How you rating Bowe and Byrne these days?
[/quote]

Well my opinion of Bowe changed ages ago, he's ten times the player he was when he played early on in his career under O'Sullivan (I think he was 20). He's developed into a technically impressive player. He does the basics well, he comes into the line well, he works hard and most importantly he finishes well.

Byrne - At the weekend we saw a lot more of him than previous. He is a very solid fullback defensively, great left boot, and showed good timing when coming into the line. The one thing I thought he lacked was a counter attacking game, but he showed that on Saturday.

With Kearney in the doldrums a bit this season I fully expect Byrne to start the Tests, same goes for Bowe. It's handy that they play together for the Ospreys too.


[/quote]

Before the 6 nations i think Williams was one of the players that nearly everyone thought was a dead cert starter for this tour. Now that his form has dipped i think one of the factors that will still get him into the Lions team (for the 1st test anyway), is the fact that he plays his rugby with both Byrne and Bowe.

I've got a lot of respect for Bowe and Byrne, they're both fantastic players that do the basics so well.

P.S.

Byrne has been doing the bit in bold for 2 seasons now.

 

[Rosco]

I've only seen him play for Wales and he didn't do it for Wales.

Re: Williams - I was in the bookies on Saturday and they have as favourite for top try scorer, favourite to start all three tests etc. It's clear he hasn't been on top form for a while now. He's been brilliant for a few years, basically since the last Lions tour, but he's lost a little bit since then. I still think he's good enough to start Tests, I wouldn't be concerned about him playing, but I think Monye's mix of pace and power might be welcome in the backline.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=32866.msg879850#msg879850 date=1243858354]
I've only seen him play for Wales and he didn't do it for Wales.
[/quote]

You must have missed all of his Grand Slam winning displays. He was also outstanding in this area in Wales first 4 internationals this season, his performances (like most of the Welsh team) did drop off towards the end of the 6 Nations though.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=32866.msg879850#msg879850 date=1243858354]

Re: Williams - I was in the bookies on Saturday and they have as favourite for top try scorer, favourite to start all three tests etc. It's clear he hasn't been on top form for a while now. He's been brilliant for a few years, basically since the last Lions tour, but he's lost a little bit since then. I still think he's good enough to start Tests, I wouldn't be concerned about him playing, but I think Monye's mix of pace and power might be welcome in the backline.



[/quote]

I've been a little worried about Williams the more i've seen him recently, If he's not on form he can be a real liabilty.

I've never really watched Monye much, Whats he like?

 

[Rosco]

I thought Williams was okay at the weekend, he ran some counter attack balls back well. He just made a couple of mistakes closer to their lines. He doesn't seem to get out of contact as well as he used to though.

I've only seen Monye a couple of times but he's a bit of a beast. He's a physical winger, I don't know how well he fares in covering his position, kicking and the like but put the ball in his hands and he'll run fast and be direct.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=32866.msg879772#msg879772 date=1243854841]
I can't wait to see how BOD and Roberts go together. I'm expecting a very comfortable win.

Unless there is a sudden loss of form/injury, then these guys are the only nailed on starters for the tests IMO.

O'Connell
Jenkins
Murray

BOD
Byrne
Roberts
Bowe
Phillips




[/quote]

We've compared Sheridan and Jenkins before and I accepted then that Jenkins was the more rounded and accomplished player. Since then, though, Sheridan has made progress, and in S.Africa sheer physical power and heft is a major factor. I don't think Jenkins is nailed on for that spot.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

We'll soon JJ mate.

I just think that Jenkins allround game will see him start the tests.

 

[Rosco]

But Powell's lack of one won't ?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=32866.msg879899#msg879899 date=1243861194]
But Powell's lack of one won't ?
[/quote]

Ha ha

He's got a great allround game, you just fail to recognize it!

 

[Jürgen4PM]

D'Arcy called up.

 

[Judge Jules]

Could have sworn he's called Gordon. 😉

Who for, anyway? Has there been another dropout?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=32866.msg881355#msg881355 date=1244032930]
Could have sworn he's called Gordon. 😉

Who for, anyway? Has there been another dropout?
[/quote]

He's just been added to the squad mate (no new injuries).

I think they were worried that some of our centres were going to get a little over worked.

 

[Judge Jules]

OK, thanks for that. A sensible move, I suppose.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Now that was impressive!

I can't think of a bad thing to say about any of our lads today, they were all top notch.

Phillips, BOD, Bowe and Roberts were all exceptional in the backline and all of the forwards put in superb displays.

 

[Dahuge]

that was very impressive, credit where it is due. They tore the golden lionapart seemingly at will.

Roberts wasimpressive again.

 

[Rosco]

Just my fucking luck.

I got into work early today with the intention of clearing everything up early and getting out to watch this game. Needless to say things didn't go as planned and I missed the game.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=32866.msg881720#msg881720 date=1244061224]
Just my fucking luck.

I got into work early today with the intention of clearing everything up early and getting out to watch this game. Needless to say things didn't go as planned and I missed the game.
[/quote]

Thats one of the benefits of working from home 🙂

That scoreline believe it or not actually flatters the SA team, it could have easily been 100+ points.

 

[Rosco]

How did Croft get on in the back row ?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=32866.msg881758#msg881758 date=1244067528]
How did Croft get on in the back row ?
[/quote]

Very good indeed.

Great in the loose, superb in the lineout, and looked at home with the level of physicality that the game had to offer.

He also socred a try that any back would of been proud of.

 

[Judge Jules]

Am I being unfair, or will BOD be thinking "F'ck you McGeechan" in some dark corner of his mind this morning?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=32866.msg881931#msg881931 date=1244104362]
Am I being unfair, or will BOD be thinking "F'ck you McGeechan" in some dark corner of his mind this morning?
[/quote]

Are you referring to him not being named skipper JJ?

 

[Judge Jules]

Yep. BOD made all the right noises about that but couldn't disguise the fact that he was browned off about it.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=32866.msg881941#msg881941 date=1244105137]
Yep. BOD made all the right noises about that but couldn't disguise the fact that he was browned off about it.
[/quote]

I guess it's only natural that he'd have been a little disappointed when it was first announced, but I'm sure he'd of gotten over it before he even stepped onto SA soil.

O'Connell was the right choice IMO for so many reasons.

Forward
Intimidating
BOD's recent injury record
The nightmare that took place last time around

Everyone knows how important BOD is to our chances though, i think that was highlighted when Gatland said that only he and O'Connell were assured of there starting places.

 

[Judge Jules]

Dont misunderstand me, I would have chosen O'Connell too, but to me BOD came across as still niggled about it in interviews right up to the day they flew out there, so I'm not as confident as you that he's settled in his mind about it. Still, if it goads him into playing his very best rugby, I guess that's OK.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Well i guess we'll never know mate. As long as he keeps putting in performances like he did yesterday, i couldn't care less either 🙂.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=32866.msg881976#msg881976 date=1244106935]
Dont misunderstand me, I would have chosen O'Connell too, but to me BOD came across as still niggled about it in interviews right up to the day they flew out there, so I'm not as confident as you that he's settled in his mind about it. Still, if it goads him into playing his very best rugby, I guess that's OK.
[/quote]

He may well be, but I don't think it's something that he'd let affect him negatively. He lost the Leinster captaincy last summer, and was given the Irish captaincy on a trial basis by Kidney initially but proved he was back on form so kept the job.

BOD knows his form dipped a lot last year and feels he needs to right a few wrongs this season, he has been pretty fucking legendary for province and country already this year and I think he's on a mission to succeed in SA where he failed in NZ. Rather than prove a point about who should have been made captain.

I've always said I don't like him much as a person (if you wanna know why, try read his book/diary about the Last Lions tour), but I gotta admire his attitude when it comes to the game. Phenomenal player, ultra professional and he'll be remembered as our best ever when he hangs up his boots.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Lee Byrne
Leigh Halfpenny
Keith Earls
Luke Fitzgerald
Shane Williams
James Hook
Harry Ellis
Andrew Sheridan
Ross Ford
Euan Murray
Donncha O'Callaghan
Paul O'Connell
Stephen Ferris
Joe Worsley
Andy Powell

Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets & Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys & Wales), Simon Shaw (Wasps & England), Nathan Hines (Perpignan & Scotland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh & Scotland), Ronan O'Gara (Munster & Ireland), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster & Ireland).

 

[Rosco]

I'm not convinced by that midfield !

I think everyone bar D'Arcy will have started after this game, so we'll start to see the test side come together a bit more after this. The backline is probably almost picked already, but the pack has a lot of places up for grabs.

 

[Judge Jules]

Well, that was close. 

Ross, you were right about that midfield.  If they weren't already, Dricco and Roberts are surely a shoo-in now as the centre partnership for the First Test.  No.10 is still up for grabs though - O'Gara's started the tour better than I expected.

Another boob by Shane Williams with the try-line in sight though, and this one led directly to one of the Cheetahs' tries. Worrying times for the Lions' anticipated main strike runner.