Lions Squad Discussion

[jezzer]

Interesting - quite an old and grizzled pack but (10s and a couple of exceptions aside) a very young, fresh and cocky looking backline... Even the older guys like Williams and Flutey are the confident, cocky types - there looks at first glance to be an effort on the part of Geech to pick like-minded players.

There are some serious warriors in the forwards squad... Jenkins, Fla, Vickery, POC, Hines, Quinnie, Worsley Wallace would be an incredibly experienced and teak-tough pack - even if they aren't the best 8 from a ball-skills point of view.

[shezba]

Will Carling has been saying the rumours he has heard in the past 24 hours. Says he's not sure about them but they're coming from a source that has always been reliable in the past:

Sheridan not to tour.
Danny Care to be picked.
Robinson to go as 3rd outhalf.
Powell left at home.
Shane Williams possibly left out too.

So much for the reliable source then. Wrong on all counts.

[karmabass]

4 Leinster players

[tackle-bag]

Will Carling has been saying the rumours he has heard in the past 24 hours. Says he's not sure about them but they're coming from a source that has always been reliable in the past:

Sheridan not to tour.
Danny Care to be picked.
Robinson to go as 3rd outhalf.
Powell left at home.
Shane Williams possibly left out too.

So much for the reliable source then. Wrong on all counts.

They were all shite predictions anyway. He should stick to cavorting with married royalty.

[Leinsterman]

No Hook and the mercenary Flutey gets picked. No Armitage either - slightly surprised about that and Kearney is slightly lucky IMO.
Powell? Perma-tanned showboater. No Croft either?

[Kyle]

have to say from an Irish point of view an excellent day. Was shocked by Quinlan but still think he could do a job over there, definitely get under the Boks skin.

I'd say the English pundits that were creaming over Croft are devastated!

[suisse]

The hooker selection is interesting. What does Lee Mears bring to the party? He's too small for South Africa. Flannery looks nailed on for the Test now.

We have a problem at 9 - with FdP, Pieneer and Kockett in contention, the Lions have nothing to match that.

Agree with Leinsterman, Rob Kearney is a lucky man. Could easily have slipped out.

Ireland can have no compaints

[8M LEINSTAW]

Wow some amount of Irish. All there on merit too. My delight for Quinlan is tempered by my disappointment for Bull. Still, he might make it as a replacement. Easterby and Ryan Jones made big names for themselves as flown in replacements in NZ 4 years ago. There'll be a freak training ground accident involving O'Callaghan, Flannery and Euan Murray. Flannery and O'Callaghan a little dazed but ok however Murray unable to continue the tour. Enter The Bull....

[sarah_lennon]

Andy Powell

Great opportunity for Keith Earls and I hope he takes it flying.

[Comer Toes]

Class!! The English have got the representation their performances over the past season or two have deserved. Croft a guaranteed test starter with nearly every English hack... please! Quinlan's lucky enough imo, I would have brought Leamy, hope he goes well though. Fair play to Geech, didn't cave to politics or club loyalties. 2 out-halves is a good call, no point bringing a 3rd if not up to scratch.

Tough on Hayes alright but Leamy is the guy with most to offer who's not travelling.

guessing at test team can now begin in earnest!

Byrne, Monye, BOD, Shanklin, Luke, Jones, Phillips
Jenkins, Fla, Murray, Hines, POC, Ferris, Wallace, Heaslip

[Kyle]

Andy Powell

Great opportunity for Keith Earls and I hope he takes it flying.

i think himself (Earls not Powell) and Fitz could really star if they're goven the right opportunites. I'd play Earls centre with BOD.

[Imperial Mongoonybus]

8 Munster players

[Comer Toes]

I would have brought Powell as well, though he's only sneaked in because of Ryan Jones' capitulation over the past 2 months. Powell, at his best, can be very difficult to stop, as the Boks found out. He still has it all to prove to leap-frog Heaslip and maybe even Wallace.

'The Irish and British Lions' is going to gain a bit of momentum methinks...

[R-Dog]

The Breakdown

Backs:
7 Irish
7 Welsh
3 English

Forwards:

7 Irish
6 Welsh
5 English
2 Scots

Totals:

14 Irish
13 Welsh
8 English
2 Scots

Magners 28 - Guinness 8 (France 1)

[jezzer]

8 Munster players

An incredible result for a club that is top of the world game. Delighted for Quinnie and Earls, disappointed for Hayes and also disappointed DOC is going. Would have preferred to see Kennedy or a wild card.

[Huddle]

Fantastic for Irish Rugby, Congratulations to all the Players that were picked, would have absolutely no complaints about the Irish picked to go.
Quinlan in particular I think deserved a shot. I would have liked to see Hayes go as I think he is a major factor in O’Connells success in the line out.

O’Connell was the right choice for captain and I don’t think even the most ardent Leinster supporter wouldn’t wish him the best of luck and I cant wait to see if earls can play his way onto the team/bench – cant wait tour to start now.

[thecoolfreak]

Quinlan is the ideal player for a midweek team. Hard as nails and won't take a step backwards. Great to see 14 irish in the squad. Well done to all the guys

[Hickiefan]

Feel sorry for Hayes but someone was always going to left out. Think he deserved it more than DOC but position is key.

[TrapperChamonix]

8 Munster players

It seems remarable that there are as many Munster players as English players............... a pretty poor reflection on the country with the largest playing population.
Truely remarkable achievement for Munster and fully deserved.

Also interesting to note that ML makes up 28 out of 37 places on the squad. Me thinks the Emperor (Guinness Premiership) has no clothes.

[sarah_lennon]

Slightly staggered that (commercially) there weren't more English. Sky will be gutted