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Looking for Lions

Friday 05th September 2008

The British and Irish rugby season is well and truly underway, and while all the players no doubt began their seasons focused on the tasks ahead, a greater prize awaits some 35-odd at the end of the season: a British and Irish Lions tour place.

With many of Scotland and Ireland's internationals getting a break last weekend , English and Welsh players had a chance to put their hands up and sneak ahead in the running.

That said, perhaps it would have been better for the English players to keep their heads down a bit, given the effect the All Blacks can have on Lions chances at the moment!

Two rounds of Heineken Cup loom large to help those on a run of form maintain momentum and give those who suffered at the hands of SH opposition in November a chance to redeem themselves. What might Toby flood prove against Dan Carter at club level for example?

We shall see, but for now, here are the movers and shakers from the third November weekend, but there's probably one or two we missed, as we are sure you'll let us know!

SEND US YOUR LIONS THOUGHTS!

Notes: Lee Byrne is pretty much a shoe-in on current form, but the battle is hotting up for that other spot. Delon Armitage looked assured and mature against the All Blacks and moves up into Test contention, but while he toils away in the Challenge Cup for the next two weeks, Geordan Murphy will be in the spotlight against Perpignan...

Notes: Mark Jones and Chris Paterson played starring roles for Wales and Edinburgh respectively over the weekend, and retake their places on the plane. No movement anywhere else, with Paul Sackey very quiet for England.

Notes: Little movement here, but Nick de Luca's impression for Edinburgh lasted enough for him to bump down team-mate Ben Cairns.

Notes: Stephen Jones continues to lead for Wales in a bit of a renaissance year for the 30-year-old Scarlet. Toby Flood did enough with ball in hand to knock Danny Cipriani out of the standby lounge.

Notes: Gareth Cooper continues to shine around the base of the scrum as Dwayne Peel's light dwindles, but Danny Care and Mike Blair are both streets ahead of the rest at the moment.

Notes: Andy Powell was at his barnstorming best against Australia, and Nick Easter was a rare leader for England against the ABs. Moves up the charts for both of them, but Ryan Jones is still top dog.

Notes: No change, with neither Tom Rees nor Martyn Williams doing enough for a rise this week, but Michael Lipman did sneak his way onto the radar.

Notes: James Haskell keeps on rising, with his physicality more of an option for an SA tour than Tom Croft's.

Notes: Nick Kennedy was a standout for England and moves onto the Test periphery, while Alun Wyn Jones and the two Munstermen appear to have the three Test spots nailed down. Ian Evans is likely to be out of contention because of injury, and so Ian Gough takes his place among the 'maybes'.

Notes: No change here, with Adam Jones holding his own, and neither of England's props producing anything too significant.

Notes: Matthew Rees had a big chance to make a move, but the Welsh problems were often at his line-outs. Otherwise Lee Mears did enough to keep his place without being spectacular.

Notes: Andrew Sheridan moves up by default after the injury to Duncan Jones all but rules him out of the tour, with Tim Payne joining the list. Picked ahead of Sheridan he may have been, but 'Ted' is still the first-choice for us here.