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Paul O'Connell to Captain Lions

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:36 pm
by teenwolf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8007666.stm

Good call - I think out of him and O'Driscoll he's got the nod because he's a shoe in for Geech's test team.

Any thoughts??

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:19 pm
by MAFIE
both are shoe ins for the test team. good choice as o'connell is a proper hard man in the mould of martin johnston. He'll need to be out there. cant wait. after your performances for the 2nds this year eddie I would have taken you if i was geech. :lol:

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:37 am
by teenwolf
while we're biggin each other up - I'd have taken you on your 1st half at Stewartry :lol:

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:35 pm
by niall
watching the announcement live on setanta:

http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/othe ... nid-49590/

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:39 pm
by niall
no scottish backs!

only Hines and Murray.

bit of a joke i think

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:00 pm
by teenwolf
another damning reflection on the state of scottish rugby, neither of the 2 scottish players play for scottish clubs.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:04 pm
by MAFIE
no scottish backs, apart from thom evans deserve to go. blair was shocking during the 6 nations and played himself out of, not just the squad but probably the starting xv. I think its a very good squad. lots of exciting runners and ball players. Ross ford is another who threw his chance away. it does reflect scottish rugby. thats where we are at.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:07 pm
by teenwolf
THE SQUAD

Backs: Lee Byrne, Rob Kearney, Shane Williams, Lee Halfpenney, Ugo Monye, Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Brian O'Driscoll, Keith Earls, Riki Flutey, Ronan O'Gara, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Harry Ellis, Tomas O'Leary

Forwards: Jamie Heaslip, Andy Powell, David Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Alan Quinlan, Joe Worsley, Martyn Williams, Alu-Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, Simon Shaw, Nathan Hines, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Andrew Sherdian, Phil Vickery, Euan Murray, Jerry Flannery, Lee Mears, Matthew Rees

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:44 pm
by teenwolf
Nations Represented:
Ireland 14
Wales 13
England 8
Scotland 2

Clubs Represented:
Munster - 8
Ospreys - 6
Cardiff - 6
Wasps - 4
Leinster - 4
Scarlets - 2
Bath - 1
Leicester - 1
Harlequins - 1
Northampton - 1
Perpignan - 1
Ulster - 1
Sale - 1

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:49 am
by barryts
Anyone got any thoughts on what Scrum half will go now that O'Leary is out?

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:56 am
by teenwolf
Of course I have thoughts!

There's chat about the race being between Peel, Blair, Cusiter and Care; but what about Stringer? The coaches seem to be leaning towards proven combinations in the key areas (flannery + o'connell, philips + jones) so they may go for the Stringer/O'Gara axis on this one.

As you all know from every post on here, I'm very bisaed to the scots, so I'd love to see Blair go. Just hope that he can prove his worth over the next few weeks. However, the fact that Stringer will play in the HC semi and poss the final, counts against Blair.

I think Peel is an outside bet, but he's not starting often enough for Sale, so prob shouldn't even be in the running and wouldn't be if there weren't so many Daffodils in the coaching set up.

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:27 am
by MAFIE
I'll lay a bet with anyone that cusiter goes with the lions. Are you in Eddie?

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:37 am
by Roddy
Problem with Cusiter is that he has been on the bench since he said he was leaving France so not getting much game time.

Would like to think another Scot would make the plane though.

Notice that Johnson is saying that the guys going on the England summer tour are in a good place for a call up as they are training/playing - same with Wales. Think Scotland A have some fixtures but these are against poorer opposition & the likes of Cusiter, Blair and the Evans boys probably won't be involved.

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:50 am
by niall
also, Perpingan could still be involved in the top14 final which is the same date as the third game of the tour!

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:59 pm
by barryts
I think Cusiter will go as well Maff after what Jim Telfer said before the squad was announced. Although Blair and Care are the other runners. Can't see them taking Peel and if Stringer goes they should be sacked.