Lions Tour 2013

[qwerty51]

Put JOC (James O'Connor) at 14, if for no other reason than it will encourage wide ball movement, and like Digby he goes looking for work. Correct me if I am wrong, but did nt we win each test last year that QC (Quade Cooper) played in. There is simply no other contender for #10!!!! I'm nor just saying this as a QLDer! I promise...

No we lost 0-22 in NZ and nearly lost to Argentina at home..

 

[Paradox]

No we lost 0-22 in NZ and nearly lost to Argentina at home..

Qwerty, hardly fair to blame Cooper for that. Forwards were smashed against NZ in that game and the one in Sydney was even worse and Cooper wasn't at 10 then from memory.

 

[qwerty51]

Qwerty, hardly fair to blame Cooper for that. Forwards were smashed against NZ in that game and the one in Sydney was even worse and Cooper wasn't at 10 then from memory.

I blame Cooper for nearly losing to Argentina at home. The worst international performance by a flyhalf ever. Just imploded. Intercepts, charge downs, forward passes, knock ons and missed tackles. The whole lot.

THEN he goes and rubbishes the whole team publicly. What a wanker.

 

[Athilnaur]

I've been a Cooper fan, or was till his implosion last year, but WHAT performance are these performances he had in 2011? I thought his 2011 test performances ranged from adequate to diabolical. Super rugby, sure he played great, but test rugby?

I see signs of improvement, but in my opinion he has a long way to go in disproving the view he cracks under pressure.

 

[qwerty51]

Yeah agree, he wasn't really a factor in the Brisbane win. Genia try first up, Samo solo try and then Genia, Digby, Beale try. His only decent input was kneeing McCaw.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Quade's positives: Long pass, takes on the line well, offloads well about 75% of the time
Quade's negatives: Falls off of important tackles, only fits in at 10, very binary (aka. is either great or awful)

 

[No4918]

Its confirmed that 25 players will be released by the franchises for Deans camp. More players are likely to be added the official test window starts.

http://www.superxv.com/m/item.asp?id=37952

Does anyone have the list of players getting ARU top ups?

 

[RoffsChoice]

We know one very popular fullback and one well known flyhalf.

 

[No4918]

Reds - Cooper, Genia, Horwill, Slipper, Tapuai, Ioane
Tahs - TPN, Robinson, Kepu, Palu, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Mitchell, Hooper, Timani
Brums - Moore, Alexander, Pocock, McCabe
Rebels - Beale, JOC (James O'Connor), Higgers, Phipps
Force - MCCalman

1 to go

 

[RoffsChoice]

That's 22. Three spots for up-and-comers?

Edit: PHIPPS! 23

 

[RoffsChoice]

Also, might I say it is GREAT to see McCalman already threatening for a Lions spot. He was really good at 6 or 8 for us.

 

[KevinO]

Reds - Cooper, Genia, Horwill, Slipper, Tapuai
Tahs - TPN, Robinson, Kepu, Palu, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Mitchell, Hooper, Timani
Brums - Moore, Alexander, Pocock, McCabe
Rebels - Beale, JOC (James O'Connor), Higgers, Phipps
Force - MCCalman

That's 23

add Digby and a second Scrum half and your down to 1 spot

 

[RoffsChoice]

With the top up players only:
1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Timani
5. Horwill
6. McCalman
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Barnes
13. Ashley-Cooper
14. O'Connor
15. Beale

Not bad. Only two locks in there though.

 

[KevinO]

With the amount of changes Deans is likely to make you only need to add Digby, Phipps and Dennis and your 25 is complete.

 

[Bowside]

Reds - Cooper, Genia, Horwill, Slipper, Tapuai, Ioane
Tahs - TPN, Robinson, Kepu, Palu, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Mitchell, Hooper, Timani
Brums - Moore, Alexander, Pocock, McCabe
Rebels - Beale, JOC (James O'Connor), Higgers, Phipps
Force - MCCalman

1 to go

I think he will take White instead of Phipps. He should take Mowen instead of McCalman, and Palmer instead of Slipper or Kepu.

He also needs a third lock either Douglas or Pyle.

 

[qwerty51]

Why are we selecting teams 4 months out..

 

[Slim 293]

Exactly, Deans most likely selected his team 4 months ago.........

 

[No4918]

I think he will take White instead of Phipps. He should take Mowen instead of McCalman, and Palmer instead of Slipper or Kepu.

He also needs a third lock either Douglas or Pyle.

My theory in selecting these players is that they are taking 25 players. This is the number reported to be on ARU top ups so am assuming the franchises will accept the release of these players only. So while White would be my number 2 as well, Phipps has been on the international scene for a couple of years so i am guessing he is recieving a top up and White probably won't be until his next contract.

 

[Scoey]

Jim Tucker has written an interesting article today on the Tour Games for the Lions tour.
He says that there has always been concern (from the UK) that we don't have the ability to field strong enough provincial teams to justify the 9-game tour.
The provincial teams have been seriously impacted by withdrawing the key Wallabies the Tour games but he also raises the point that with our poor recent U20 results the ARU may also look at resting their U20 stars from the tour games as well as the junior champs are on in June also. The two that he mention specifically are CFS and Browning from the Reds.
The article infers that the ARU does not care about what the Lions hierarchy thinks and that wining the tests is our no 1 priority but that would be pretty short sighted if its our only priority.
With the money being generated by the extra tour games the ARU need to ensure that the provincial teams are at least competitive.
Quite the dilly of a pickle for the ARU!

Article here: http://couriermail.com.au/sport/rug...-and-irish-lions/story-fn8thfi7-1226588013687

 

[JSRF10]

Stephen Ferris is officially out of the reckoning for the Lions. Huge blow as when he is fit I don’t think any 6 in the Northern Hemisphere comes close to him.