Rugby Union 2009

Positions/numbers still up for grabs are 4,6,7,10 and 11. Who partners O'Connell is not an easy decision. O'Callaghan complements him perfectly and they know each others game inside out but he played yesterday so I don't think he'll make it now. AW Jones is favourite but Shaw might be drafted in. I think they'll go Williams, Wallace and Heaslip in the back row. If Williams doesn't make it because of his knee then Croft will come in. If they start Powell then they are in trouble.

I have my fingers crossed for O'Gara and I hope they have Earls on the bench. If he can get at tired legs with 20 to go he could make an impact.

How I think they'll line up (2 controversial selections!):

15 Byrne 14 Bowe 13 BOD 12 Roberts 11 Monye 10 O'Gara 9 Phillips
1 Jenkins 2 Mears 3 Vickery 4 AW Jones 5 POC 6 Williams 7 Wallace 8 Heaslip
Reps: Rees, Jones, Croft, Ellis, S Jones, Fitzgerald, Earls.

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

Thought so too....until yesterday. He clearly proved that he wouldn't make a good club 6, let alone a Test one.

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Ah well (didn't see yesterday's game)

If they dont win on Saturday, then I think they'll lose the series 3-0. There is a big possibility of catching the boks cold, they haven't played a proper test since November and Burger being out helps too.... This is their best chance to win a test match.
I'll refrain from predicting a score until I hear the team announcement tomorrow

I hope I'm wrong but I cant see this going well at all. I know they haven't played a meaningful test together in quite a while, but they have so much going for them- home advantage, savage pack, best scrum half, winger, second row and number 8 in the world ( du Preez, Habana, Matfield, Spies) and a very important thing-self confidence. They simply ooze it. I think South Africa (-7) at 10/11 represents the bet of the weekend.

Lions (vs South Africa, first Test, Saturday June 20)

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
7. David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
5. Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) Captain
4. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)
2. Lee Mears (Bath/England)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

Replacements

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
17. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
18. Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
19. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
20. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
21. Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)
22. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)

No surprises really. I thought O'Callaghan might make the bench.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

Lions (vs South Africa, first Test, Saturday June 20)

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
7. David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
5. Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) Captain
4. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)
2. Lee Mears (Bath/England)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

Replacements

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
17. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
18. Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
19. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
20. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
21. Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)
22. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)

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Fitzgerald could feel a little hard done by. hasn't really done too much wrong. Monye could be found wanting against Habana

No surprises really - Croft really represents a change in attitude when you think that Alan Quinlan was initially brought and the Lions have struggled at the breakdown all tour. Could be a key decision. We have 3 back rows who can all made good yards off the base and if we can secure good primary possession then it will be a cracking contest. Pity O'Gara didn't get in - I thought he had done more than enough but Jones' partership with Phillips swung it.
Roll on Saturday.

I thought they'd try and accomodate M Williams and Wallace in the starting 15. If Ferris and Flannery were fit we'd have had 7 in the starting 15.

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Originally Posted by rambler14

Test team will be:

--------Byrne
Bowe ---------Monye
---O'Driscoll Roberts
------Jones Phillips

Jenkins Mears Sheridan
--O'Connell Wyn Jones
Croft(Would have been Ferris) Heaslip Wallace


Subs: Murray, Rees, Hines, M Williams, Blair, O'Gara and Earls/Fitzgerald

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

Lions (vs South Africa, first Test, Saturday June 20)

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
7. David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
5. Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) Captain
4. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)
2. Lee Mears (Bath/England)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

Replacements

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
17. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
18. Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
19. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
20. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
21. Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)
22. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)

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Out by one in the starting 15!

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Originally Posted by JGKyne

This is what I think the team will be
15 Byrne 14 Bowe 13 BOD 12 Roberts 11 Monye 10 Jones 9 Phillips
1 Jenkins 2 Mears 3 Vickery 4 AW Jones 5 POC 6 Croft 7 Wallace 8 Heaslip
Reps: Rees, Jones, O'Callaghan, M. Williams, Ellis, O'Gara, Fitzgerald

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One wrong in the 22.... Not Bad!!:cool:

Anyway first thing I noticed when I saw the team was... If BOD or Roberts get injured early on who goes into centre??? Bowe has played there at club level but this is a huge step up...
O'Gara is very unfortuante to miss out at 10 but he will come on at some stage, the sooner the better in my opinion

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

I hope I'm wrong but I cant see this going well at all. I know they haven't played a meaningful test together in quite a while, but they have so much going for them- home advantage, savage pack, best scrum half, winger, second row and number 8 in the world ( du Preez, Habana, Matfield, Spies) and a very important thing-self confidence. They simply ooze it. I think South Africa (-7) at 10/11 represents the bet of the weekend.

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You can add Juan Smith to that list too, fantastic player that doesn't always get noticed.

They have alot goin for them but I can see some weakness too
Jacobs at 13 isn't a very good player, Fourie on the bench is better
Im not sure Steyn at 15... He is a bit unpredictable
Questions about Pienaar at 10, is he a test flyhalf??
Burger out helps us
I havent seen much of Smit playing prop, maybe its a weakness?? Someone else might be able to answer that!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JGKyne

One wrong in the 22.... Not Bad!!:cool:

Anyway first thing I noticed when I saw the team was... If BOD or Roberts get injured early on who goes into centre??? Bowe has played there at club level but this is a huge step up...
O'Gara is very unfortuante to miss out at 10 but he will come on at some stage, the sooner the better in my opinion

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I'd say they'd put S Jones there (at 12) and bring on O'Gara. The option like you say is to move Bowe.

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Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

I thought they'd try and accomodate M Williams and Wallace in the starting 15. If Ferris and Flannery were fit we'd have had 7 in the starting 15.

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If O'Leary was there he might be playing with O'Gara.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JGKyne

You can add Juan Smith to that list too, fantastic player that doesn't always get noticed.

They have alot goin for them but I can see some weakness too
Jacobs at 13 isn't a very good player, Fourie on the bench is better
Im not sure Steyn at 15... He is a bit unpredictable
Questions about Pienaar at 10, is he a test flyhalf??
Burger out helps us
I havent seen much of Smit playing prop, maybe its a weakness?? Someone else might be able to answer that!

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It's a help to Jenkins as Smit wouldn't be as powerful a scrummager as Jannie du Plessis (brother of Bismarck, the hooker) but he's still a powerful man around the park.

I agree about Pienaar...he has a lot to prove and might be susceptible.

Jacobs and Steyn I think are fine. Won't weaken them. De Villiers in the centre has been a long term injury risk...might be worth a try hitting him early to see how he likes it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

De Villiers in the centre has been a long term injury risk...might be worth a try hitting him early to see how he likes it.

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Roberts will take care of that he'll really test De Villiers and Pienaar as the latter is not the best in defence

Our power keeps going so I've tyed 2 responses that have been lost so far :-(

Anyway Smith & the whole bok front row is weak imho but Vickery is a yellow card waiting to happen, what could & should have been a Lions strong area is weakened by his inclusion.

Piennaar at 10 is not unusual, he plays there for the sharks, personally I hink he's a much better 9 but not quite as good as DuPreez, I'd have had Morne Steyn in there as I think their kicking game will be suspect. Adi Jacobs is a weak spot (playing as the 4th quota player) and I expect us to get some Joy down his channel, Franz Steyn at full back is a another area we can exploit he's a confidence player a few early scrapes would get him on edge.

John Hayes called into the squad as replacement for Euan Murray, hard to see him get any game time, what sort of condition will he be in?

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Originally Posted by centre mid

John Hayes called into the squad as replacement for Euan Murray, hard to see him get any game time, what sort of condition will he be in?

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Go on bull! Doubt he's fit though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by centre mid

John Hayes called into the squad as replacement for Euan Murray, hard to see him get any game time, what sort of condition will he be in?

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Dunno but nice little jolly for him