SANZAR v Lions

[RugbyReg]

Ok, big JON has mooted it here, so have a shot at picking your team:

15 Kurtley Beale
14 Cory Jane
13 Conrad Smith
12 Jean de Villiers
11 Digby Ioane
10 Dan Carter
9 Will Genia
8 Keiran Reid
7 David Pocock
6 Richie McCaw
5 James Horwill
4 Sam Whitelock
3 Owen Franks
2 Bismarck du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira

 

[Jiggles]

Ok, big JON has mooted it here, so have a shot at picking your team:

15 Israel Dagg
14 Cory Jane
13 Conrad Smith
12 Sonny Bill Williams
11 Digby Ioane
10 Dan Carter
9 Will Genia
8 Keiran Reid
7 David Pocock
6 Juan Smith
5 James Horwill
4 Sam Whitelock
3 Owen Franks
2 Bismarck du Plessis
1 Tony Woodcock

16 Steven Moore
17 Tendai Mtawarira
18 Eben Etzebeth
19 Richie McCaw
20 Aaron Smith
21 Jean de Villers
22 Kurtley Beale

 

[Brisbok]

Nice concept, but do the players really need any MORE rugby?! Typical of JON to bring it up. There is a reason no one organises tests after the RWC because the players already play SO much rugby in these years and are generally physically and emotionally drained by the time the RWC finishes. Was the slow start by AUS teams in Super Rugby this year not a clear enough sign that the players really did not need anymore rugby after the world cup last year??

 

[Bardon]

I love the Lions and the traditions of the tour. But we play way more rugby up north than the comparatively short S15 season. With the RWC and Lions tours some of the best NH players end up with 10-11 month long seasons every 2nd year.

Interesting as it would be to see a Lions vs SANZAR team play each other it's sensible not to have any tests in November in a RWC year if possible. The NH players already have to go straight from RWC into preparation for the start of their domestic leagues and by November the NH season would be in full swing with important HEC games normally around that time.

 

[Badger]

In a RWC year, does Super Rugby still break in June for the internationals? If so, could you have the Lions play SANZAR in a three Test series over consecutive weekends in NZ, Aus and SAf? That would make it an even bigger year of rugby, though the southern hemisphere unions would lose $$$ by not hosting as many Tests during the June window.

 

[Bardon]

There was no June test window in 2011. The NH teams played 4 tests each in August in prep for the RWC.

I could be wrong but I believe the losing out financially due to no June test window in world cup years was one of SANZARs bargaining points when they negotiated a bigger slice of future RWC revenue from the IRB.

 

[TOCC]

Shouldn't it be SANZAAR by 2015 with the inclusion of Argentina

Might have to reconsider a few of those positions with maybe some Argentinian passion added

 

[Hugh Jarse]

What would the jumper look like? Rugby Future - mockup please

 

[TOCC]

JON also mooted a ANZAC team in 2015 to mark 100 years since Gallipoli...

Just as long as they don't come up with a jersey design like this abortion of a design below:

 

[ACT Crusader]

16 Steven Moore
17 Tendai Mtawarira
18 Eben Etzebeth
19 Richie McCaw
20 Aaron Smith
21 Jean de Villers
22 Kurtley Beale

Houggard well ahead of A. Smith for me.

 

[Jiggles]

Yeah Probably, I wouldn't argue with that selection.

 

[TOCC]

from thedailytelegraph

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Hard to squeeze all 3 SH teams together, I'd go with the ANZAC team unless SA would really like to be a part of it. (easier to choose, seems more balanced)

 

[Bardon]

While I don't think the game should go ahead on rugby reasons. Somethings have earned the right to be held sacred, can't think of a better way for people to command respect than giving their lives for their country. Certainly don't think it's the place to have a dig at QC (Quade Cooper). There will be plenty of other opportunities to do that. I enjoy a joke and a bit of lampooning as much as the next guy but there's a time and a place for it.

 

[qwerty51]

from thedailytelegraph

Horwill and Thorn would be a shocking lock combination.

 

[Sully]

Thorn is not a SANZAR player! Like Panda's picks a LOT more.

 

[wamberal]

An ANZAC series against the British Lions to commemorate the Centennary of the Gallipoli landing?


Yes, please, it works at several levels - great publicity for our game, reminds the general public of the sacrifices that the game's players made, plus the game itself would be an absolute goldmine.

 

[Braveheart81]

An ANZAC series against the British Lions to commemorate the Centennary of the Gallipoli landing?


Yes, please, it works at several levels - great publicity for our game, reminds the general public of the sacrifices that the game's players made, plus the game itself would be an absolute goldmine.

When would you do it? Post RWC?

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Surely there'd be a pre game changeroom brawl if Cooper, McCaw and Thorn were all in the same team.

 

[Braveheart81]

Surely there'd be a pre game changeroom brawl if Cooper, McCaw and Thorn were all in the same team.

Unlikely. Quade Cooper would be too busy sending tweets from his mobile phone. Brad Thorn would be writing his list of nice things to say about the opposition, the crowd and humanity in general in his post match interview and Richie McCaw would still be trying to land his glider in the car park.