There is some debate here on why he didn't pick Best conjecture mostly
Dylan Hartley found Guilty by Judiciary.
11 Weeks holiday.
So which Lions bolters do you want to talk about?
JSRF - Sorry but the only way Ross could make the Lions tour at the moment would be because he's a nice bloke and can tell a good story. If form and fitness had anything to do with it then he is rightly staying behind. He should miss the Ireland tour of NA and take a well earned rest.
Ross is the best scrummaging tighthead available to Lions, this season he has been instrumental in Ireland and Leinster winning the scrum battles against Wales, England, Scotland, Clermont, Argentina, Munster, Biarritz, Stade Francais and Ospreys. The only time he got bettered in the tight exchanges was when South Africa brought on a fresh front row.
If the Lions where serious about taking the Australians on at set piece time Ross would have been brought on tour. Graham Rowentree decided to take his good mate and powder puff tight head, admittedly a decent loose head, Matt Stevens. I think that the Lions management have under estimated the Aussies ability at scrum time and they'll regret not bringing Mike. IMO Ross is about even with Adam Jones in at the set piece and offers just as much around the park. He is a class above Cole in the scrum, there are few better tight heads better than Cole in the loose but England had probably the worst scrum in the 6 nations. The tight heads primary function is to lock the scrum, Cole can't be relied upon to do that and it could be a deciding in a tightly fought series.
Well if it came to physical blows I cant see him going, as for Ross, I see as an Irishman you would think that But I would say the best two TH have gone, Also Hibbard is pretty useful in the scrum and around the field, not as well known as some but he will hold is own against any of the Australian hookers.Its well known that they came to blows after the match in 2008 when Wales beat Ireland in Croke Park. Which other English hooker would you pick? Even with Bests throwing yips he is still, after Mike Ross, the unluckiest man to miss out. The common denominator in it all is Graham Rowntree barracking for his mates in the selection meetings not to mention Wazza not practising what he preaches.
Have to agree with Querty that Moore is a class above all the Lions hookers
Well if Best punches like he throws he would have missed the target. They must have kissed and made up.Well if it came to physical blows I cant see him going, as for Ross, I see as an Irishman you would think that But I would say the best two TH have gone, Also Hibbard is pretty useful in the scrum and around the field, not as well known as some but he will hold is own against any of the Australian hookers.
Yeah Didn't think of thatWell if Best punches like he throws he would have missed the target. They must have kissed and made up.