Lions Tour 2009

[Butch]

Squad is announced tomorrow for anybody who is interested! Not sure if there are many rugby fans on these boards but thought I'd start a thread for anybody who would like to discuss the tour. Any predictions for the squad of 35? There's usually 1 or 2 surprise selections, and I've heard some wild names discussed in the last couple of weeks (Matt Bannahan???)! What about the Test 15? Predictions for the tour? South Africa are the reigning World Champions and will be as tough as ever, at this stage I can't imagine better than a 1-2 Test series loss.

Will be back with my squad prediction in a little while...

[Bad Company]

It'll be really tough for the lions in SA, but both the northern and southern hemisphere have been playing competitive rugby, so there's no real excuse for any of the players to be underdone.

[Butch]

Right I have heard the squad will be 36 or 37 names so based on that here is my prediction/what I would like to see.....

Props (5) - Gethin Jenkins, Andrew Sheridan, Euann Murray, Adam Jones, John Hayes/Phil Vickery (cannot decide between these 2 for my last prop slot)

Hookers (3) - Ross Ford, Jerry Flannery, Lee Mears

Locks (4) - Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell (captain), Donnacha O'Callaghan, Nathan Hines

Back Rows (7) - Ryan Jones, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip, Tom Croft, Martyn Williams, Joe Worsley, Alisdar Strockosh/Tom Rees (again cannot decide for the last slot, think Strockosh might edge it on the basis Rees has been injured but would love to see Rees go)

Scrum Halfs (3) - Mike Blair, Mike Phillips, Danny Care

Fly Halfs (3) - Ronan O'Gara, Stephen Jones, Chris Paterson (unlikely selection but I have picked hime solely on his goal kicking - remember 97 when Neil Jenkins was moved to fullback just to get his boot on the pitch to combat the South Africans? I could see a similar thing here. This and the fact that Jonny Wilkinon will not be fit and I can't see James Hook, Danny Cipriani or Toby Flood pushing a Test place so why bother taking them?)

Centres (5) - Brian O'Driscoll, Riki Flutey, Tom Shanklin, Jaimie Roberts, Gavin Henson/Gordon D'Arcy (I have heard Henson will not be fit, which for me is no great loss as he is slightly over-rated. In this scenario I will take D'Arc who will more than adaquetly provide cover)

Back Three (6 or 7, depending on size of squad) - Lee Byrne, Rob Kearney, Shane Williams, Tommy Bowe, Mark Cueto, Luke Fitzgerald, Delon Armitage (if taking 7)

[Butch]

Based on the squad I have selected there I would like the Test XV to look like this -

1 Gethin Jenkins
2 Ross Ford
3 Andrew Sheridan
4 Alun Wyn Jones
5 Paul O'Connell (c)
6 Tom Croft
7 David Wallace
8 Ryan Jones
9 Mike Blair
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Shane Williams
12 Riki Flutey
13 Brian O'Dricscoll
14 Mark Cueto
15 Lee Byrne

16 Euann Murray
17 Jerry Flannery
18 Donnacha O'Callaghan
19 Martyn Williams
20 Chris Paterson
21 Mike Phillips
22 Tom Shanklin

[Butch]

The breakdown of that 37 man squad (in the 50/50s we'll go Rees, D'Arcy and Vickery for now) looks like this for country representation -

Wales - 11
Ireland - 11
England - 10
Scotland - 5

Surprised so many English players made it into my squad to be honest but I think it has good balance.

The Test 22 breakdown is -

Wales - 8
Ireland - 6
England - 4
Scotland - 4



So that's my predictions..... let's see tomorrow how I've done!

[Team Sheep]

Martin Williams must start!

[Butch]

Williams/Wallace at 7 is the most difficult selection of the Test team for me. At this time I honestly think Wallace slightly shades it, but alot could happen between now and then and they will be battling it out right up until kickoff! I could even see them playing Wallace at 6 with Williams at 7 to really get in amongst the South Africans in the ground game, but for now Crofts ability as another lineout option gives him the edge over that scenario.

[Team Sheep]

Well the squad was pretty much what I expected. Not surprised about Ryan Jones not making it to be honest.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Keith Earls is a bit of a shock but he's an exciting player. Class for Munster last week vs. Ospreys.