gingergenius says...

@ daveyboyo - interesting how Tom Youngs misses out on your team for not enough experience at the top level, only to see you give the 2 jersey to Strauss (a man with one less cap!).

Not that it matters anyway. The problem with this autumn is that any optimism the Lions have is based on one single good performance from England, and one from Ireland.

Based on that, we really have to see this 6N how things go and that is a massive lottery.

At the moment, we'd have to say that any Northern Hemisphere side that succeeds does so on the basis of dominance up front - Wales won their grand slam on the back of a great pack, and the key elements that are injured/ past it/ off form is the main reason why Wales look so ordinary now.

This being said, the best pack by quite a country mile at the moment is England's so you'd have to say that the majority of forwards you'd expect to be English, with a few outstanding Celts or even a bolter like Steffon Armitage.

The backs are a different kettle of fish, because even players like Preistland who look poor behind a beaten pack are capable of looking quality when on the front foot.

Thus far, you'd have to say that fullback will be hotly contested and filled with a class act (probably Halfpenny or Kearney); they've got to find a place for Tuilagi; at the moment Cuthbert and Gilroy look like the form wingers. But this could all change.

Posted 14:32 03rd December 2012

NHsaints says...

I don't think people should get too carried away with that England win, we've still got alot of building to do but at the minute the Lions XV looks something like this on form (I'm including club and recent returns from injury) 1. Healey 2.Hartley 3.Cole 4.Launchberry/Lawes 5.Ryan 6.Wood 7.Rennie(?) 8.Morgan 9.Youngs 10.Sexton 11.Gilroy 12.Roberts 13.Tuilagi 14.Cuthberts/Ashton 15.Halfpenny/Goode. Now personally I'd include a couple of scottish players in the 23 (just to keep them happy) hence the Rennie selection, the problem is a quality 7, yes I know Robshaw is good but A: we've got to have balance and B: we can surely fit one of the irish back row in there with a bit of a shuffle (when returning from injury we want Ferris in but Wood is too good to go so I'd move Wood to 7, Ferris to 6.)

Posted 07:22 03rd December 2012

ABlack says...

Pick 5 or 6 England forwards, Philipps, Sexton and a couple of English backs and you will have a good chance in winning series against Aus. Will also depend on who Aus can get on the field for each of the 3 tests.

Posted 23:05 02nd December 2012

runnrugby says...

@ben7 That England side already lost to a weakened Aussie side this November. Not a good idea

Posted 19:48 02nd December 2012

Stugur says...

After Scotland's two in a row win, you could easily put the whole team in there!

Posted 15:18 02nd December 2012

Chubbylugs says...

The advantage that the welsh players will have is being used to the playing structure that gatland has employed with the welsh and wasps. My worry about this is that everyone has figured it out. Wales cannot play outside of this structure and once Roberts north etc are targeted, they end up only going sideways. It looks pretty, but can be ineffectual. I hope gatland is rethinking his approach and tactics because the Aussies are great at pulling together a strategy and being effective. the England game prime example

Posted 14:28 02nd December 2012

paddy91317 says...

@Ben7

Here we go condesending english man

Your just adding to this stereotype buddy

Posted 12:19 02nd December 2012

dannyboy says...

@ben7 - A great win yesterday but let's just see how England does in the 6 nations.

The last thing the lions need is a team full of arrogance like the mess that was the England world cup squad. Midget tossing, boat jumping, and the various other activities the English got up to would turn stomachs, and not lead to a good atmosphere.

Already we saw the return of the repellant Ash Splash, and with Tuilagi calling the NZers losers, how quickly the worst of England comes to the surface!

Posted 11:13 02nd December 2012

Sincero says...

In fairness, though, I heard Sammy Warburton was distracted before the match because in the week leading up to the test he failed his driving test, which he's been trying to pass for ages.

Apparently the trouble started when the instructor asked if thought he were capable of making a U-turn, and Sammy became indignant and replied 'turn, look you?? I'm captain of Wales, boyo! I could make her bloody toes curl!!!...'

Posted 10:36 02nd December 2012

ben7 says...

After Englands win you could easily put the entire England team in there

Posted 09:58 02nd December 2012