JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
I'd be surprised if there were any unforced changes, one of Manu or Bowe will come onto the bench as will SOB I reckon
Lions Tour 2013
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I'd be surprised if there were any unforced changes, one of Manu or Bowe will come onto the bench as will SOB I reckon
Cardiffblue
Jim Lenehan (48)
I'd start with Bowe. Better defensively and equal or better in attack than Alex
Cardiffblue
Jim Lenehan (48)
Just the data to date. No comment other than I have done Heaslip a disservice
Carries
Jamie Heaslip 59
Toby Faletau 55
Jonathan Davies 50
Mako Vunipola 42
Sean O'Brien 41
Alun Wyn Jones 37
George North 36
Stuart Hogg 35
Jamie Roberts 32
Alex Cuthbert 32
Clean Breaks
George North 11
Alex Cuthbert 7
Owen Farrell 6
Sean Maitland 6
Mike Phillips 6
Jonathan Davies 5
Conor Murray 4
Tommy Bowe 4
Brian O'Driscoll 4
Jamie Heaslip 4
Defenders Beaten
George North 15
Toby Faletau 13
Leigh Halfpenny 13
Alex Cuthbert 11
Jamie Heaslip 11
Sean Maitland 10
Sean O'Brien 10
Tommy Bowe 8
Mako Vunipola 8
Mike Phillips 8
Lineout Catches
Ian Evans 13
Jamie Heaslip 12
Alun Wyn Jones 9
Richie Gray 9
Tom Croft 7
Geoff Parling 7
Paul O'Connell 4
Metres
George North 432
Alex Cuthbert 328
Sean Maitland 277
Jonathan Davies 258
Leigh Halfpenny 214
Jamie Heaslip 190
Stuart Hogg 186
Toby Faletau 141
Brian O'Driscoll 137
Mike Phillips 136
Offloads
Brian O'Driscoll 7
Sean Maitland 7
Toby Faletau 7
Stuart Hogg 6
Jonathan Davies 6
Mako Vunipola 5
George North 4
Jamie Heaslip 4
Ben Youngs 4
Conor Murray 3
Points
Leigh Halfpenny 78
Owen Farrell 45
Alex Cuthbert 20
Stuart Hogg 19
Brian O'Driscoll 15
George North 15
Jonathan Davies 15
Jonathan Sexton 14
Tom Croft 10
Tackles
Jamie Heaslip 37
Mako Vunipola 36
Justin Tipuric 35
Tom Youngs 34
Sam Warburton 32
Jonathan Davies 31
Richie Gray 29
Tom Croft 27
Paul O'Connell 26
Dan Lydiate 26
Tries
Alex Cuthbert 4
Jonathan Davies 3
Leigh Halfpenny 3
Brian O'Driscoll 3
George North 3
Tom Croft 2
Mike Phillips 2
Jonathan Sexton 2
Carries
Jamie Heaslip 59
Toby Faletau 55
Jonathan Davies 50
Mako Vunipola 42
Sean O'Brien 41
Alun Wyn Jones 37
George North 36
Stuart Hogg 35
Jamie Roberts 32
Alex Cuthbert 32
Clean Breaks
George North 11
Alex Cuthbert 7
Owen Farrell 6
Sean Maitland 6
Mike Phillips 6
Jonathan Davies 5
Conor Murray 4
Tommy Bowe 4
Brian O'Driscoll 4
Jamie Heaslip 4
Defenders Beaten
George North 15
Toby Faletau 13
Leigh Halfpenny 13
Alex Cuthbert 11
Jamie Heaslip 11
Sean Maitland 10
Sean O'Brien 10
Tommy Bowe 8
Mako Vunipola 8
Mike Phillips 8
Lineout Catches
Ian Evans 13
Jamie Heaslip 12
Alun Wyn Jones 9
Richie Gray 9
Tom Croft 7
Geoff Parling 7
Paul O'Connell 4
Metres
George North 432
Alex Cuthbert 328
Sean Maitland 277
Jonathan Davies 258
Leigh Halfpenny 214
Jamie Heaslip 190
Stuart Hogg 186
Toby Faletau 141
Brian O'Driscoll 137
Mike Phillips 136
Offloads
Brian O'Driscoll 7
Sean Maitland 7
Toby Faletau 7
Stuart Hogg 6
Jonathan Davies 6
Mako Vunipola 5
George North 4
Jamie Heaslip 4
Ben Youngs 4
Conor Murray 3
Points
Leigh Halfpenny 78
Owen Farrell 45
Alex Cuthbert 20
Stuart Hogg 19
Brian O'Driscoll 15
George North 15
Jonathan Davies 15
Jonathan Sexton 14
Tom Croft 10
Tackles
Jamie Heaslip 37
Mako Vunipola 36
Justin Tipuric 35
Tom Youngs 34
Sam Warburton 32
Jonathan Davies 31
Richie Gray 29
Tom Croft 27
Paul O'Connell 26
Dan Lydiate 26
Tries
Alex Cuthbert 4
Jonathan Davies 3
Leigh Halfpenny 3
Brian O'Driscoll 3
George North 3
Tom Croft 2
Mike Phillips 2
Jonathan Sexton 2
Cardiffblue
Jim Lenehan (48)
Think these look pretty good and reflect opinions here. Will follow Heaslip more closely in 2nd test cos on these he will certainly play.Lies more lies and damn statistics,
No figures for turnovers unfortunately. 5ian did pretty well in that dept. last night too
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
The thing about Heaslip in the last year or so is that he's worked really hard on improving other aspects of his game. Given that big runs were a major part of his game prior to this year, when he isn't making those runs it's very easy to miss the other work he does and assume he did nothing all game.
If it was ever possible to play 2 No. 8 without completely ruining the balance of your back row then I'd have both Heaslip and Faletau starting. As it is, I think Heaslip will keep his place and SOB will come on to the bench (though I'd rather see him starting).
Faletau is very unlucky not to be getting some test time, if Gatland had started with him for the !st test, I've no doubt he would have done enough to keep his spot, then people would say Heaslip is unlucky to miss out.
The fact that there are players on tour like Faletau and SOB who people feel are unlucky not to start is great for the overall position of the squad. I think it increases the chances of us getting that 1 more test win, which is going to be very difficult, as it keeps up competition in training and spirits in the wider camp. Just wish we had such genuine competition in more positions.
If it was ever possible to play 2 No. 8 without completely ruining the balance of your back row then I'd have both Heaslip and Faletau starting. As it is, I think Heaslip will keep his place and SOB will come on to the bench (though I'd rather see him starting).
Faletau is very unlucky not to be getting some test time, if Gatland had started with him for the !st test, I've no doubt he would have done enough to keep his spot, then people would say Heaslip is unlucky to miss out.
The fact that there are players on tour like Faletau and SOB who people feel are unlucky not to start is great for the overall position of the squad. I think it increases the chances of us getting that 1 more test win, which is going to be very difficult, as it keeps up competition in training and spirits in the wider camp. Just wish we had such genuine competition in more positions.
Dai bando
Charlie Fox (21)
Yeah I looked at the stats yesterday, Think gats has gone for experience, If you look at the stats of POC they are not very impressive, but he has been without doubt the best forward on the field, that's why the remark lies more lies and damn stats, stats can be misleading on times
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Great pics over on Munsterfans, kevino!!!!
Dai bando
Charlie Fox (21)
Just heard Parling for the second row, think that a huge mistake. Bowe instead of Cuthbert, I should think Cuthbert will feel a little hard done by,
Venupola for Corbisero, If this is true and I don't know if it is something seriously wrong, just hope we don't have too many scrums. Parling was the weak link when he came on not the front row.
Venupola for Corbisero, If this is true and I don't know if it is something seriously wrong, just hope we don't have too many scrums. Parling was the weak link when he came on not the front row.
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Lies more lies and damn statistics,
The obsession with stats is americanising the game IMHO. In the first test the stats said the Lions won 12 of 12 line outs but nearly everyone was underthrown which allowed the Aussies to disrupt. Youngs had a very good game but that is a very obvious example of stats not getting close to the reality. Have to say, Dai I hope you are wrong about Bowe and Cuthbert starts. As Gatland said Bowe's is a 6-8 week injury so he should not be back in 3!! The Guardian is reporting POC has broken his arm in 2 places so I think Ireland has more than done its bit for Gatland's lions without risking long term damage to Tommy Bowe.
Cardiffblue
Jim Lenehan (48)
Well at least they benched croft. L'idiot better option with SOB on bench. Like it. Spikey Philips injured apparently so young gets a start. Wrong! Murray is better at playing gatland ball. Ok parling prove me wrong. Not much cover on bench if 2nd row injured. Bowe for cuthbert good choice. Bring it on!
Cardiffblue
Jim Lenehan (48)
Interesting article in view of rapid return of concussion victims
http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on...-rugby-concussion-rule-causes-alarm-1-2868497
http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on...-rugby-concussion-rule-causes-alarm-1-2868497
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
Can't see the Lions winning with Youngs starting although I will be hoping Murray is not needed until deep into the game. Think this could be a car crash for the Lions.
JSRF10
Dick Tooth (41)
Not sure Lydiate was the best option, he has failed to stifle Genia on numerous occasions and I'm sure why it will be a success now. The Lions are crying out for ball carriers and I think SOB should have been picked. That said both men will do a better job than Croft. I'd agree with everything else you've said, although I'd go further and say the selection of Youngs could cost us the game.
Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
The problem with Youngs is he's too similar a player to Genia, but Genia is the master. Murray has come on leaps and bounds this season after losing his way a little bit the year before. He's gone back to being more the type of player he was when he first made the breakthrough and now seems to have stopped trying to be Phillips-lite.
Lydiate not being fully fit is a worry, in terms of tightness it's a big improvement over Croft. Croft is better suited to coming on when the game opens up. Plus SOB should get at least 20 minutes. But there's a real possibility the game could be gone by then.
Bowe is a risk, but he's one of those players who seems to be able to play to a high standard his first game back. A real worry for me is the backs cover on the bench. Apart from his goal kicking, we'll also be in trouble at FB if Halfpenny has to come off.
The scrum is also a problem. Lineout should be a pretty even contest. I'd say we'll have to strike first this week to keep it close. Really nervous about this one.
Lydiate not being fully fit is a worry, in terms of tightness it's a big improvement over Croft. Croft is better suited to coming on when the game opens up. Plus SOB should get at least 20 minutes. But there's a real possibility the game could be gone by then.
Bowe is a risk, but he's one of those players who seems to be able to play to a high standard his first game back. A real worry for me is the backs cover on the bench. Apart from his goal kicking, we'll also be in trouble at FB if Halfpenny has to come off.
The scrum is also a problem. Lineout should be a pretty even contest. I'd say we'll have to strike first this week to keep it close. Really nervous about this one.
Wales Fan
Alfred Walker (16)
Bit worried about Vunipola starting, there certainly won't be lions scrum dominance in this test. Might be a great opportunity for Ryan Grant as I can see them taking Mako off if he starts struggling & giving away penalties.
Big games needed by Alun-wyn & Parling, both are more than capable.
Glad Phillips is out, but would've gone for Murray to start with Youngs to come off the bench.
Bowe was a no-brainer, if fit he's a far better all round player than Cuthbert.
Lydiate - hmmmm ? He's still slightly off the pace for me, but looked better against the Rebels.
I'd have gone with O'Brien at 6, in fact O'Brien & Faletau are the two form backrows for me on tour and neither has had an opportunity.
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Big games needed by Alun-wyn & Parling, both are more than capable.
Glad Phillips is out, but would've gone for Murray to start with Youngs to come off the bench.
Bowe was a no-brainer, if fit he's a far better all round player than Cuthbert.
Lydiate - hmmmm ? He's still slightly off the pace for me, but looked better against the Rebels.
I'd have gone with O'Brien at 6, in fact O'Brien & Faletau are the two form backrows for me on tour and neither has had an opportunity.
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Cardiffblue
Jim Lenehan (48)
Trying to make sense of 2nd test selections "Parling...WTF???"
Am worried about warbs right shoulder
Hibbard doing his best to blend in with locals
5ian looks aghast
the plastic paddy
John Solomon (38)
With the roof shut is the scrum going to be much of an issue? Does the pitch get dewey under the roof?
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