Rugby Union 2009

[IsMiseSean]

This would be my team for saturday
15 Byrne 14 Bowe 13 BOD 12 Roberts 11 Kearney 10 Jones 9 Phillips
1 Jenkins 2 Mears 3 Murray 4 AW Jones 5 POC 6 Croft 7 Wallace 8 Heaslip
Reps: Rees, Vickery, O'Callaghan, M. Williams, Ellis, O'Gara, Fitzgerald

Im not picking Monye because he cant defend to save his life.... He gets away with it in the warm-up matches but against Habana & Pietersen he wont!!
Vickery gaves away to many pens so I'd go with Murray
Kearney on the wing because i think they should kick alot (boring I know) but himself and Byrne are two of the best.
Wallace ahead of Williams because I dont think Williams and Croft would be good together. If Ferris was fit I'd have him and Williams in the back row.
Im not 100% on AW Jones either.... I think O'Callaghan would be a better option jumping at the front of the lineout.

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

But if they want Kearney on the bench then I think they'll pick Hook ahead of O'Gara.

[pete]

Johne Murphy isn't better than those already there.

Not sure if you took me up correctly but I meant the extended international squad. He should be in ahead of Horgan or Dowling.

Edit: Monye now starts instead of Williams today. Williams on the bench. Bowe not involved.

Not sure if that means too much as wingers shouldn't have too much trouble playing games so close together.

[shakermaker1982]

The Guardian seem to think Jenkins, AW Jones and S Jones will all start after flying to Durban. I really thought Hines would have got the nod at 4.

Fitzgerald has an outside chance of starting on Saturday. I know everybody thinks Monye is a nailed on cert but I think we can expect at least 1 surprise when the Test team is announced.

[rambler14]

but I think we can expect at least 1 surprise when the Test team is announced.

That will be Wallace at 6 and Williams at 7.

[IsMiseSean]

After todays game I think O'Gara has a real chance of pipping Jones at 10.
O'Gara behind a pack goin backwards today was excellent.... I expect the SA pack to have the upper hand on saturday

[OneRedArmy]

After todays game I think O'Gara has a real chance of pipping Jones at 10.
O'Gara behind a pack goin backwards today was excellent.... I expect the SA pack to have the upper hand on saturday

Agree. Bloody hard to play behind such a slow back row and a scrumhalf having a personal nightmare.

Donnacha put himself about as well.

Precious little else to cheer.

Earls and Fitz mixed the good, bad and ugly.

[hula4]

delighted for keith earls today thought he did really well, o gara has really given himself a massive chance of starting on sat as well, behind a dire back row and a brutal scrum half he controlled the game very well and his place kicking is second to none at the moment.

im actually starting to feel sorry for donncha, in all the games he has played i think he has done very well yet no one seems to be mentioning him in the shake up for the test team, when its my opinion he should be very close.

it would appear monye will start on the wing now that he was given a rest with about 10 mins to go.

ross ford, mike blair and joe worsley wont see action again until the emerging springboks game and that will be it.

euan murray was unlucky to go off injured and that clears the way for phil vickery to start in the first test.

simon shaw put himself in with a great chance as well but i dont think there is a full 80 in him.

nathan hines definitely isnt a back row forward anyway.

riki flutely just isnt fit either but could play a part in one of the tests as could darcy if there are injuries

[IsMiseSean]

ross ford, mike blair and joe worsley wont see action again until the emerging springboks game and that will be it.

Totally agree with you. I know Blair and Ford were replacements but they have been awful since joining the tour. Surely Rory Best was a better option than Ford and Peel (even though not on top form) would also offer more than Blair.
As for Worsley.... What were they thinking???
Alot better options in the back row's of the home nations.... Leamy, Rees??

[rambler14]

There were some terrible players on show today. I thought Mike Blair was shocking as was Riki Flutey, Joe Worsley, Andy Powell and Nathan Hines who may as well have been sittting in the stands as all they did was avoid becoming involved with the game.

Donnacha and Simon Shaw made good shows of themselves in fairness to them, along with O'Gara they were the only shining lights from the games the Lions.
They did what Geech asked and gave him a selection headache.

[OneRedArmy]

Worsley is an honest grafter and not really a 7, give Hines the benefit of the doubt as he hasn't played a huge amount at 6 in recent times. But Powell truly is an awful, awful rugby player. He constantly seeks contact instead of space and his continuity and ball protection is pitiful. His turnover ratio is staggeringly bad and the Boks back row would eat him up.

Also he rivals Chabal in the "rugby player looking most like a pirate" stakes.

I'm not sure if Burger being out makes it more or less likely McGeechan will go with two opensides on Saturday (Williams and Wallace). Williams fitness may also come into play.

Not looking good for Hook so ROG for the bench.

[paul_oshea]

JGKynes formation has only 2 english players in there is that the least amount they have ever had represented in a test match?

[joeSoap]

I think he will choose as physical a side as possible, so O'Callaghan for me will be the surprise call in the second row, and Wallace will edge out Williams. Jones is more physical than ROG but ROG has done the business in the big games more than Jones and for me that will swing it.

I think there might be a surprise on the bench with Earls sneaking a spot.

My prediction:

Byrne: Bowe, BOD, Roberts, Monye: ROG, Phillips; Jenkins, Mears, Vickery; O'Connell, O'Callaghan; Croft, Wallace, Heaslip.

Subs: Rees, Sheridan, Wyn-Jones, Ellis, Jones, Kearney, Earls.

[pete]

But Powell truly is an awful, awful rugby player. He constantly seeks contact instead of space and his continuity and ball protection is pitiful. His turnover ratio is staggeringly bad and the Boks back row would eat him up.

I agree. Very frustrating to watch. He can look spectacular but I get the impression his team mates don't know what he is going to do & rugby is no individualist sport. Yesterday when he offloaded a few times he looked much better but he won't change habit overnight.

Fitxgerald did not do enough to get in the test squad. ROG should be on the bench at least. Earls had a fine game yesterday & would not rule him out as utility back on the bench in one of the tests.

[Superhoops]

I think he will choose as physical a side as possible, so O'Callaghan for me will be the surprise call in the second row, and Wallace will edge out Williams. Jones is more physical than ROG but ROG has done the business in the big games more than Jones and for me that will swing it.

I think there might be a surprise on the bench with Earls sneaking a spot.

My prediction:

Byrne: Bowe, BOD, Roberts, Monye: ROG, Phillips; Jenkins, Mears, Vickery; O'Connell, O'Callaghan; Croft, Wallace, Heaslip.

Subs: Rees, Sheridan, Wyn-Jones, Ellis, Jones, Kearney, Earls.

The green tinted glasses must have got steamed up!

Can't see all three of O'Gara, O'Callaghan and Wallace getting in. O'Callaghan is behind Wyn-Jones and, on yesterday's display alone, Shaw. It will be close between Jones and O'Gara but I think Jones will get the nod only because Phillips is there. Not so sure about Wallace, I hope he makes it but he has not been on top of his game recently.

[endabob1]

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

But if they want Kearney on the bench then I think they'll pick Hook ahead of O'Gara.

I think you're spot on with the side, personally I wouldn't let Vickery within an asses roar of the side & I'm far from convinced about Moyne or Mears but I think they will start, ROG is now a definite on the bench with Hook out, I think Kearney will be on the bench too, able to play fullback or wing &/or maybe Earls.

[joeSoap]

The green tinted glasses must have got steamed up!

Can't see all three of O'Gara, O'Callaghan and Wallace getting in. O'Callaghan is behind Wyn-Jones and, on yesterday's display alone, Shaw. It will be close between Jones and O'Gara but I think Jones will get the nod only because Phillips is there. Not so sure about Wallace, I hope he makes it but he has not been on top of his game recently.

My glasses are not green tinted-I actually consider myself to be quite impartial on a Lions tour as its very much an 'all for one and one for all' type thing. I favoured ROG ahead of Jones ever so slightly because of his big game temperament being more tried and trusted than Jones, and also from a place kicking perspective, where O'Gara has been pretty flawless. Also, his defence yesterday was very very good. Neither he or Jones are in great form and I think the above reasons are why he will shade it. Toss of a coin though.

O'Callaghan had a good game yesterday, and I think his physicality, and understanding with O'Connell will help him. Wyn Jones is a super athlete, but more of a ball playing secondrow than a grafter, and I believe he will go for grafters ahead of flair in his selection.

Same comments apply for Wallace ahead of Williams...purely on ball carrying and physicality.

[endabob1]

There's a difference between the team you would pick & the one that will be picked, like I said personally I wouldn't have Vickery in my side, I think he's a liability & a yellow card waiting to happen but I think the coaching staff want his experience.
I'd probably give ROG the nod at 10 because I think Jones has been hit and miss but i don't think he'll get in. O'Callaghan won't start but he might make the bench, I think AWJ & POC have been the test locks from the start. Wallace should be a shoe in for the back row, has come back in to form on tour.

[OneRedArmy]

Croft could well be picked solely for his lineout abilities. SA have at least 3 ball winners and neither Heaslip, Williams, Wallace or Worsley are particularly good in the air.

[Dodge]

Croft could well be picked solely for his lineout abilities. SA have at least 3 ball winners and neither Heaslip, Williams, Wallace or Worsley are particularly good in the air.

Thats why I thought Hines might sneak in at 6

[joeSoap]

Thats why I thought Hines might sneak in at 6

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