BoxRec

thing i love bout the lions tour is there are always those selections you know, people who come form no where and become heroes. Like bentley.


winder who it will be this year.

what do you think of our chances Stu?

I reckon it could be a struggle this year. My heart says 2-1 lions and my head the other way round.

My head says 3-0 New Zealand and that what I am going for. First time since I can remember I don't feel confident about our chances and we are only 2-2 in test series that I can remember. I think Clive will be glad he is leaving Rugby, because he is going to look red faced.

Not to sure who will be the Surpise package, I think most pundits are saying it will be Henson and O Driscoll for centre, so I go for D'arcy or even Shanklin to spoil the applecart and do well.

I think there will be one or two extra inclusions due to injury who might cause a stir (like Corry did in 2001) - Someone like a Kevin Morgan could come in and cause something.

I never have fancied our chances this time, and the selection hasn't changed my mind.

hmm pretty much agree there then mate.

Charvis on his game is an excellent player but he is at a disadvantage due to him getting the living bejasas knocked out of him by Jerry Collins a while back.

Good point on Regan. EXACTLY the player we're missing.

Stu, are you related to Simon Easterby?

Guy down out club's got something like 50-1 on NZ winning all three tests by 30 points or over. It's not going to get that bad but I don't think the series is ours. We'll have the edge at centre, front row, maybe second row as most pundits are saying Norm Maxwell will be locking with Jack, but in terms of key units NZ will have it in the back row, half back and back three which is where the game will be played, mostly due to the set piece and the maul having been hopelessly devalued.

Nah, not related to Easterby - he is a quality player does a lot of doggy work that goes unnoticed, much like Daffydd Jones.

In several places Williams is listed at 5'7 and 5'8. I would say that is about right, he's small but he's no shorter than that. Weights range from 12 stone to 12 stone 4 which looks about right to me.

On the official WRU site its 5'8 and 12 stone 4.

RIGHT WELL THAT DIDNT START HE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DID IT

big wake up call but the antipodeans are already giving it the Barry based on one game.

im keeping the notes in case they need to eat them.

Makes me laugh. I just wonder if I will be laughing in few months time.

guess we will find out.

yesterday they looked like an undertrained Barbarians side and some of the front row have already written themselves out of the first test reckoning I feel.

J wrote:some of the front row have already written themselves out of the first test reckoning I feel.

Quite what John Hayes has done to get a ticket in the first place is beyond me. Behind Al Baxter he's the worst prop in international rugby.

All in, pretty average performance from a scratch side. I did marvel at the way Corry threw himself around though. He's ben knocking lumps out of his body week in, week out and he's still there doing it all over again.

Moody's not an openside.

Cooper should put on some weight and try and nick Hayes' position.

yip i thought byrne was pretty poor in the tight as well.

still we shall see, plus points were Wilko's open play was excellent his lines of running and distribution were first class however his tackling was a little sub his standards and his kicking out of hand was abysmal.

Cooper, whats happened to him? His pass was inaccurate and slow so think Peel would be a shoe in for the test spot at this juncture.

Agree Lewis moody isnt an open side and he wont get in over Hill neither, did you see him in the play off game? he was at the centre of everything.

Richard hill must play blind side in the tests, he is more imporatant than Lawrence in my book. Vastly underated player.

Though williams was great in attack but he worries me defensivly, Darcy was awful dunno if he is just not match fit but he is a quality player.


be interesting to see how it unfolds

I've been saying all along - 3 - 0 New Zealand. Had SCW selected more of the Grand Slam winners, I would still be predicting a white wash. Wales are not on New Zealand's level yet, neither are England/Ireland or Scotland.

It was really treadfull last night.

Let me reiterate for those who might not be aware. That was the Argentina's 3rd's who gave the Lions (albeit not the best side) a mauling (should have won clearly). Most of these were amateur players.

Experts were predicting this was going to be a side show, a confidence boosting cricket score - oh dear, oh dear.

Graham Henry, Steve Hansen are probably pissing themselves still as we speak. New Zealand's preperation hasn't been great, but their 3rd choice team would have put a cricket score past that shower of poo last night.

hmm dont hink we need to hit the panic button just yet.

i think it will be two one myself.

Terrible peformance.

I'd like to see Peel in, not just because he's welsh but he's the best man for the job. He was outstanding in the six nations, only 23 aswell so a few years ahead of him.

Wilkinson didn't look that confident in his tackling, understandable after the injuries he has had. I think that will come with games.

Henson once fit needs a run I think, his long goal kicking could prove useful and his running off the ball and handling is outstanding.

J wrote:hmm dont hink we need to hit the panic button just yet.

i think it will be two one myself.

Actually, it might actually be 2-1 but it will be 2-0 and the 3rd test will be irrelevant.

I'm not hitting the panic button based on the this performance. I just don't think the squad is up for it. I don't think even if Woodwood has made many selection differences it would have made a difference. Neither of the 4 nations sides are good enough to really compete with New Zealand. This wasn't the case in previous lions tours and we still lost them.

yip as an ex-scrum half i agree Peel is the man at 9 for me.

it was pretty woeful yesterday but better to get this out the system now than on tour.

marked improvement needed and i think you will see one on the opener June the 4th (eff me what a day that is gonna be).

no bucks fizz brekkie though gotta pace myself for the BIG ONE

J wrote:yip as an ex-scrum half i agree Peel is the man at 9 for me.

Its not really close, We were in the pub with some friends (who are also friends with Peel) and one of my mates but up the question.

Howley of 2001 or Peel of 2005 who is the better SH. Its a close call, still would give Howley the edge but very close.

Of the four SH's on tour, it really isn't that close Peel stands out as the better player.

Although, I have a sneaky feeling SCW will keep the faith and go for Dawson.

i hear you stu but i dsont think he will play Dawson, theres too many english in tight selections that he may go for I dont see Dawson v peel as a close call.
i also dont think we should be talking of pell as in the same class as howley just yet, the man did it for year after year not just one season.

thats not to say Dwayne cant but he hasnt yet. Howley also played behind a pack in retreat most of his international career, thats the test of a good scrum half.

I have a suspicion he'll play Dawson. I hope not, I dislike the guy intensely, but as my dad says, how many decent scrum halves do you know who don't have wankerish tendencies. Obviously, J, neither my dad nor myself ever played with you, of course.

Howley was quality, his all-round game was better than Peel's, although I rate Peel highly and would have him as my test 9. If he hadn't retired I think he'd be on the plane tomorrow.

I think whoever wins the first test will win the series, potentially 3-0. Interestingly, Bill Hill has Hatton and the Lions at the same odds.

The saving grace is that although this is not looking like a vintage, or even fresh and spunky, Lions side, the NZ side are pretty woeful up front. Oliver's looking like he'll be unfit and, Jack and McCaw aside, the rest of the pack are either untested, hot-and-cold journeymen or woeful.

haha i guess im a typical scrum half

tho dawson started out in the centre for Saints you know me old man went every week to Franklinsd gardens and i sometimes with him.
hence his shite pass for a number 9.

Yes, I agree entirely. I was a big critic of Peel when he first represented Wales - he was third choice Llanelli Scrum Half (behind Moony and Easterby) but on the Wales bench. He looked like a Rabbit staring at the headlights. Seems to be getting there now.

I agree, I think Peel is has an advantage over Howley in the fact that the forwards finally appear to be doing something. However, in a struggling pack I think Cooper has a definate edge. He has the little bit more individual magic and is stronger. Cooper reminds me of Van Der Weusthauzen (Spelling) and Peel reminds of a George Greegan.

I did assume that a lions back would be strong and would suit Peel's game, perhaps though this is wrong.

On Dawson - I completely agree, most coaches wouldn't think it is close between Dawson and I would say the two Welsh Scrum Halves, but then I don't think many experts/coaches thought Dawson would be NEAR the squad based on form these last two seasons.

dont think Copper will get in if he plays anything like yest.
his service was woeful albeit behind a pack that was in reverse but they looked much better when cusiter came on.

I think Cooper just put himself near the back of the order yesterday which amazes me really as Ive been a fan of his him playing for Bath and all for a few years. But his passing was crap yesterday.

Ah, Stu, form.

If it was form then why the hell is Kevin Morgan not there? Why is Simon Shaw once again left out? Why is Cueto only a second choice selection? What happened to the rest of the Welsh front row? Even Andy Goode...

Why have they picked Cusiter? What form has John fckn Hayes ever had in his damn life? O'Callaghan? Dawson? Shane Horgan? Will Greenwood?

Coconut wrote:Ah, Stu, form.

If it was form then why the hell is Kevin Morgan not there? Why is Simon Shaw once again left out? Why is Cueto only a second choice selection? What happened to the rest of the Welsh front row? Even Andy Goode...

Why have they picked Cusiter? What form has John fckn Hayes ever had in his damn life? O'Callaghan? Dawson? Shane Horgan? Will Greenwood?

I'm afraid, I completely agree. Although O Callaghan is unlucky as he due to O Kelly and O Connell, he cannot show what he is capable of on the international stage. I do rate him though.

Add Dennis Hickie to that list, I really do rate Hickie - but he had an average six nations.

so Stu, easterby gets in after all. big blow losing dally but its happened before.
And better it happens early i guess than just before the test when the side is settlled.

thought lewsey and peel were outstanding at the wekened. O gara must not play.

i think the performances will gradually improve as the side gets more cohesion after all o gara missed 6 kicks and the score would have been closer to 50-20 which would have been deemed a stufifng.

I also notice that NZ scraped by Fifi 29-27 which is encouraging as most Kiwi club sides would beat Fiji.

Im gonna stick my neck out and say 2-1 for the brits.

Easterby was Dallaglio's toast rack at Ampleforth...


Did you see the All Black trial? Sivivatu can win the test series single handedly.

O'Gara played his way to a bench place in the midweek side.


But Dallaglio is a big loss.


Sheridan will bench in the tests.

I agree J Peel and Lewsey were outstanding. Peel is vastly underrated I think he'll go on to be better than Howley - bold statement I know but I really rate him. He's only 24 aswell so he has years and will only get better.