Lions Team Selection

[steve@thaib]

Wonder if this is how the team was picked?

[river]

Haha that's not JW is it.

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by river

Haha that's not JW is it.

No river,thats Mike Catt who possibly saved our 2003 world cup bid with his kicking game.

Robinson and Martin Corry are playing in wednesdays team so that looks like they are out of the next Lions v All Blacks.
Surely Henson,and D'Arcy will get a game unless Lewsey moves to centre where he has had a good season with his club. Anyhow Henson must play and give the youngsters some Lions experience. Andrew Sheridan and Andy Titterall could feature and Ryan Jones should start the match this time.
Its got to be all change as that was a crushing defeat last Saturday

[steve@thaib]

I'm a bit surprised at Corry playing midweek, I thought he came out of the test with a little credit. Ryan Jones and Henson must start, the jury's out on Wilkinson. His kicking out of hand was less than good but his defensive tackling was huge, I think he earned a place.

I think Sheridan could start, he can play either side of the scrum, and the fact that Bulloch is playing midweek says that Titteral may well get his chance, but I would be surprised. He is awesome around the park, while Thompson is a bit ponderous and Byrne, brought in for his lineout throwing, was dire.

Titteral plays at flanker for Sale in a pinch, he is very mobile, I think he would be well suited against the smaller AB pack.

I hope Grewcock is thoroughly ashamed of himself as well, but I bet he has played his last international. Lewsey has done well at full back, so maybe he will start there, how about Jones-Wilkinson-Henson with Jenkins on one wing and Williams on the other?

We need Clive to stop whingeing about O'Driscoll (though he is right) and get on with the job in hand. We also need the experienced players out there to step up and show some leadership. Let's hope they make a game of it this week.

[dawsey]

Well the sh*t has hit the fan in the British tabloids.

Woodward has been pilloried in the press for the sorry outcome of the first two tests.

Both ex Lions, and Kiwis have been quick to condemn Clive Woodward and his management team for the Lions fiasco.

One journalist summed it up nicely by recalling that it was Martin Johnson's leadership,along with a fine team that won the 2003 World Cup.It was not coach Woodward.

On a personal note,I think this has been one tour too many for Woodward,who has lost 10/14 matches as coach to England/Lions since 2003.

That World Cup side peaked at just the right time,and apart from retirements has been going down hill since. Clive was good with a great side but, although he had some fine players in the Lions party,he never got to grips with the All Blacks play.

He has lost a lot of support over here and will surely leave rugby for good next week, and start again at Southampton football club,at the bottom,to get a coaching badge in soccer.

[steve@thaib]

Jeez, how quickly we cast our heroes aside. England had won nothing since 1966 and Clive delivered up the world cup, it could be that this was a tour too far but let us never forget that night in November 2003; I was in Patong for it and it will live with me forever.

The tabloids, as they do, will slaughter the guy but they were falling at his feet a couple of years ago. Maybe the whole Lions concept puts them on the back foot as soon as they get off the plane? How many touring sides play midweek games these days? One, the Lions.

They should have done better, they had massive resources and the best players we could put out there. Clive Woodward will pay the price and probably cast aside, certainly trashed. The Lions have been very well beaten by a great New Zealand team, the Lions tour will go to South Africa in four years with just as much expectation and excitement as this time, long may it continue.

[Coolhand]

I think that's the point, how many of the lions team past and present, would get picked for the all blacks if they could be picked? Maybe Lawrence Dillagio and Brian O'Driscoll - Josh Lewsey might make the bench but that's about it. Yet again the gulf between northern and southern hemisphere is widening.
Yes 2003 was a great year!

[river]

Just watched the match against Auckland it was a good game, I think the Lions tours are great and not many sides will tour on a scale like this, many provincial sides really look forward to playing them for some guys it will be the biggest game of their careers.

The current All Black side is in great form, you have to remember our guys have just finished super 12 and we have a very tight unit this year, in saying this when we lost the world cup we fired the coach as it was obviously his fault lol.

[steve@thaib]

I watched the Auckland game too, the Sale boys did well (Cueto and Hodgson), which was good to see.

I also have to agree with River here, the midweek games have been a real treat and it is good for both sets of fans to see them playing games other than the tests.