Irish Lions 2009?

**shakermaker1982** · 21/04/2009, 11:00 AM

I'x expecting a couple of surprises after Edward's column in the Guardian last week. Looking forward to the announcement and the banter that follows.

**Rashers Baptisa** · 21/04/2009, 12:10 PM

I hope Jerry 'the legend' Flannery gets a call up.

**Schumi** · 21/04/2009, 12:38 PM

14 Irish in the squad: Kearney, Fitzgerald, Bowe, O'Driscoll, Earls, O'Gara, O'Leary, Heaslip, Wallace, Ferris, Quinlan, O'Connell, O'Callaghan, Flannery.

Only 2 Scots. Who saw Quinlan getting in?

**drummerboy** · 21/04/2009, 12:57 PM

Quinlan was a pleasant surprise. No Darcy or Hayes.

**Schumi** · 21/04/2009, 1:06 PM

Full squad
Backs:
Lee Byrne (Wales)
Rob Kearney (Ireland)
Shane Williams (Wales)
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Ugo Monye (England)
Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland)
Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
Tom Shanklin (Wales)
Jamie Roberts (Wales)
Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
Keith Earls (Ireland)
Riki Flutey (England)
Ronan O'Gara (Ireland)
Stephen Jones (Wales)
Mike Phillips (Wales)
Harry Ellis (England)
Tomas O'Leary (Ireland)

Forwards:
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Andy Powell (Wales)
David Wallace (Ireland)
Stephen Ferris (Ireland)
Alan Quinlan (Ireland)
Joe Worsley (England)
Martyn Williams (Wales)
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Paul O'Connell (Ireland) (captain)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland)
Simon Shaw (England)
Nathan Hines (Scotland)
Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Adam Jones (Wales)
Andrew Sheridan (England)
Phil Vickery (England)
Euan Murray (Scotland)
Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
Lee Mears (England)
Matthew Rees (Wales)

**pete** · 21/04/2009, 1:34 PM

O'Leary is also a surprise although I did have a feeling he might sneak in.

I suppose Earls will be the big news. Has he got the least number of caps in the squad?

Seems to be a lot of flexibility in the backs i.e. can play numerous positions.

**Dodge** · 21/04/2009, 1:40 PM

Well most backs are like that.

Bit of a surprise only selected 2 out halves (and only 2 kickers)

**Wangball** · 21/04/2009, 2:23 PM

Anyone else surprised that Delon Armitage isn't in there? He could cover a lot of the back positions and is a back up goal kicking option too

**thesilverfox** · 21/04/2009, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by Wangball

Anyone else surprised that Delon Armitage isn't in there? He could cover a lot of the back positions and is a back up goal kicking option too

very surprised. leigh halfpenny is being brought as third kicker. very pleased with the squad apart from riki fluety

**DmanDmythDledge** · 21/04/2009, 3:20 PM

Originally Posted by Wangball

Anyone else surprised that Delon Armitage isn't in there? He could cover a lot of the back positions and is a back up goal kicking option too

I'm surprised he didn't make the squad too- he had a great six nations.

**thesilverfox** · 21/04/2009, 3:28 PM

saw this on the lions website. it has all the player up in the jerseys already.
http://lionsrugby.com/thetour/7120.php
originally i thought it might jave just been a photo shop job of putting the heads on the jerseys but they look very convincing. a few (simon shaw and alan quinlan in particular) looked photoshopped but does anybody think that these might have been taken before today. we certainly knew of a few bankers for the last few weeks

**endabob1** · 21/04/2009, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by thesilverfox

very surprised. leigh halfpenny is being brought as third kicker. very pleased with the squad apart from riki fluety

Why not Flutey? I think he may well make the test squad, good kicker, good line breaker, defensively shakey I'll grant you but with BOD alongised I think that's a good blend of brains & brawn (not that BOD is all Brawn but he is certainly more backrow forward than centre sometimes)

**Rashers Baptisa** · 21/04/2009, 3:43 PM

I was delighted that the legend that is Gerry Flannery made the squad.

Flanners will do us proud throwing those balls in South Africa around!

**thesilverfox** · 21/04/2009, 3:43 PM

Originally Posted by endabob1

Why not Flutey? I think he may well make the test squad, good kicker, good line breaker, defensively shakey I'll grant you but with BOD alongised I think that's a good blend of brains & brawn (not that BOD is all Brawn but he is certainly more backrow forward than centre sometimes)

He's a good player but I dont think he should have been picked. He is a former underage captain of the all-blacks. played for wellington against the lions in 2005. when he realised he wasnt good enough to be a regular in the all blacks he went to england. stayed the 3 years to get residency. got into the england squad and now in the summer he is heading to a new club in france.

very good player but not exactly what i would call lions material.

**endabob1** · 21/04/2009, 3:55 PM

So more a question of qualification than quality?

I like him (as much as it's possible to like a Kiwi born Englishman) I certainly would have him in my squad & probably the test side, time will tell if his defensive game is up to the job, The Boks are not weak in the centre

**Pious37** · 21/04/2009, 3:55 PM

Originally Posted by Rashers Baptisa

I was delighted that the legend that is Gerry Flannery made the squad.

Flanners will do us proud throwing those balls in South Africa around!

That a$$. Hell be around Limerick wearing his hoody tonight celebrating. At least we wont have to look at his ponce head cos his hood will be covering it!!!

**Rashers Baptisa** · 21/04/2009, 4:06 PM

I was also thrilled to see the inclusion of young Keith Earls. He will definately bring something dynamic to the team.

I thought Rory Best would get a shout. I suppose Flanners just edged him.

**Hibernian** · 21/04/2009, 9:38 PM

Quinlan does not deserve place simple as that.

unlucky hayes and armitage

**OneRedArmy** · 22/04/2009, 9:02 AM

I think its a good squad, picked on form rather than reputation, with less political picks than any Lions side since 1997 (shows McGeechan's huge integrity).

The Earls selection is a brave one but a good one. McGeechan put Bentley and Jeremy Davidson in the test team in 97 when neither were household names and they were candidates for player of the tour.

The idea that Hayes may get picked for his lineout ability was somewhat ridiculous. You can quote all you like about how lineouts outnumber scrums in the modern game, but a troubled scrum gives away penalties and tries, not just possession. Hayes is not a world class scrummager (understandable since he was a 2nd row until he was in his early 20s). Add in the hard ground in South Africa and he becomes a liability.

Sheridan is taller and heavier, so should be an equally good lifter, plus he's a better scrummager.

As for Quinlan, I could see him on the bench for the Test Team. Has all the qualities required, including that little edge of nastiness.

**Real ale Madrid** · 22/04/2009, 9:50 AM

Originally Posted by thesilverfox

saw this on the lions website. it has all the player up in the jerseys already.
http://lionsrugby.com/thetour/7120.php
originally i thought it might jave just been a photo shop job of putting the heads on the jerseys but they look very convincing. a few (simon shaw and alan quinlan in particular) looked photoshopped but does anybody think that these might have been taken before today. we certainly knew of a few bankers for the last few weeks

As far as i know each player in each six nations squad got a photo done and got measurements etc the 2nd or 3rd weekend of the six nations, might explain why Shaw and Quinlan might look photoshoped as they may have not even been in squads the week it was done.