Manuel is far too articulate in his points to be you.
Fuck off
I found it amusing how many lads on here fell that trick when it was pulled by the likes of sidney and tase in the last few weeks. Rookie internetting.
Warren Gatland has raised the prospect of a quota system being introduced to the British & Irish Lions for their next tour, a 2017 trip to New Zealand to tangle with the All Blacks.
Gatland recently agreed to extend his contract with Wales through to the 2019 World Cup.
That means the Kiwi’s name will top the list of potential Lions coaches after his success in Australia this year where the combined side beat the Wallabies 2-1 in the test series.
But Gatland said the selection problems he encountered this year, especially with the controversial axing of Irish and Lions legend Brian O’Driscoll for the series decider, had opened a can of worms.
Do the Lions need to introduce some sort of selection guidelines to ensure proper representation across the four contributing nations - England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland?
The squad that toured Australia was dominated by Wales, who had 10 players appearing in the final test. The 2009 tour to South Africa was dominated by Ireland players and the 1993 trip to New Zealand by England. The representation tends to reflect the relative strengths of the individual nations at the time. Not one Scot started any of this year’s internationals.
Despite winning the series, Gatland came in for criticism for his supposed pro-Welsh and anti-Irish bias. That came to a head in the final week of the tour with the furore over the dropping of O’Driscoll.
“What happened in the last week and the non-selection of Brian, that brought that issue to the fore,” Gatland said as he tabled his report on the Australian tour to the Lions committee.
"That personal stuff got to me. The debate needs to be in the public domain. It is not my decision.
"Do we want or need a minimum number of players from a country in the squad and then, when we are picking a test side, does there need to be a minimum from each country in the starting XV?
“I think I know what the answer will be with that, but, if we don’t raise it and debate it to get a consensus, then potentially we are going to end up with what we had recently on this tour.”
Gatland said that the tour of Australia, with its relentless schedule of two games a week, was the most mentally challenging of his life.
His report to the Lions committee also suggested that pressure should be brought to bear on the southern hemisphere nations to make a Lions tour the priority by fielding full-strength teams in the warmup games and midweek matches.
“We need to negotiate with them because the Lions tour means so much to everyone,” Gatland said. “It generates so much money.”
Gatland said he had no hesitation in extending his Welsh contract because he felt there was so much potential. He now has two more World Cups to prove that.
He said he didn’t consider the All Blacks coaching job in making his decision.
“There was no thought in my process about coaching the All Blacks. I don’t think about planning what I want to do - I’m a great believer in what will be, will be,” Gatland said, believing time was on his side for a possible return to New Zealand.
“I’m only 50 so still a really young coach, so plenty of time to look at other opportunities in the future.”
Stephen Jones is just an out and out dickhead.
Team based on current form.
- Mike Brown (England)
- Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
- Luther Burrell (England)
- Jamie Roberts (Wales)
- George North (Wales)
- Owen Farrell (England)
- Danny Care (England)
- Cian Healy (Ireland)
- Dylan Hartley (England)
- Adam Jones (Wales)
- Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
- Courtney Lawes (England)
- Peter O’Mahoney (Ireland)
- Sam Warburton (Wales)
- Billy Vunipola (England)
[quote=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 908039, member: 377”]Team based on current form.
- Mike Brown (England)
- Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
- Luther Burrell (England)
- Jamie Roberts (Wales)
- George North (Wales)
- Owen Farrell (England)
- Danny Care (England)
- Cian Healy (Ireland)
- Dylan Hartley (England)
- Adam Jones (Wales)
- Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
- Courtney Lawes (England)
- Peter O’Mahoney (Ireland)
- Sam Warburton (Wales)
- Billy Vunipola (England)[/quote]
Would you ever fuck off @Sidney .
[quote=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 908039, member: 377”]Team based on current form.
- Mike Brown (England)
- Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
- Luther Burrell (England)
- Jamie Roberts (Wales)
- George North (Wales)
- Owen Farrell (England)
- Danny Care (England)
- Cian Healy (Ireland)
- Dylan Hartley (England)
- Adam Jones (Wales)
- Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
- Courtney Lawes (England)
- Peter O’Mahoney (Ireland)
- Sam Warburton (Wales)
- Billy Vunipola (England)[/quote]
The Kearnivore will get in at full back, Mikey will move to the wing, Georgie boy to the centre, and Bureell back to the cotton fields.
[quote=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 908039, member: 377”]Team based on current form.
- Mike Brown (England)
- Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
- Luther Burrell (England)
- Jamie Roberts (Wales)
- George North (Wales)
- Owen Farrell (England)
- Danny Care (England)
- Cian Healy (Ireland)
- Dylan Hartley (England)
- Adam Jones (Wales)
- Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
- Courtney Lawes (England)
- Peter O’Mahoney (Ireland)
- Sam Warburton (Wales)
- Billy Vunipola (England)[/quote]
Hard to argue with that team @Sidney
[SIZE=6]Australia and New Zealand could become allied forces in Anzac XV to tame Lions in Brisbane[/SIZE]
Israel Folau would be a great chance to play fullback in a Anzac XV against the British Lions. Source: News Limited
ASSEMBLING a star-studded Anzac XV to set Suncorp Stadium abuzz next year has trans-Tasman backing to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign.
Queensland Sports Minister Steve Dickson and Martin Welsh, New Zealand’s Consul-General to Australia, are both avid backers of turning this worthy idea into a rugby union showpiece to honour the birth of the proud Anzac tradition.
The mouth-watering concept of Will Genia, Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams and Dan Carter linking in the same backline behind a pack uniting Richie McCaw and James Horwill to play the British and Irish Lions is no longer in the too-hard basket.
“Let’s make it happen. There is not one breathing Australian or New Zealander who wouldn’t want to represent our forefathers and pay back that memory,’’ Dickson said on Tuesday.
“It is the reason we are here today as nations.’’
Former Australian Rugby Union supremo John O’Neill last year called for a one-off blockbuster between an Anzac XV and the Lions at Twickenham next November, when all players could be brought together in London after the Rugby World Cup.
Welsh put the idea of a formidable Wallabies-All Blacks coalition to Dickson at a Parliamentary function in Brisbane last week when the epic reach of the concept was hypothetically broadened to Auckland, Brisbane and London.
“I couldn’t be more excited,’’ Dickson said. “What was a 100-1 dream quickly became a 66-1 shot and I now feel there is a great concept ready to go for rugby to pursue with our support.
“Australia and NZ are on side with it which is a big start.
“Martin said the idea was born in Queensland and that’s where the Anzac XV should play. We’d fill Suncorp Stadium 10 times over.’’
Dickson revealed he spoke late last week with ARU chief executive Bill Pulver and Queensland’s Federal Sports Minister Peter Dutton.
“Bill Pulver thinks it is an excellent concept and Peter Dutton said he’d love to see it happen,’’ Dickson said.
Pulver has already forecast a multi-million dollar loss for the ARU next year because of the truncated home Test program in a World Cup year.
A new June 2015 blockbuster makes great financial sense but the historic significance of the code honouring the fallen at Gallipoli is more compelling.
Dave Gallaher, captain of the first NZ side to be known as the All Blacks in 1905, was among more than 100 rugby internationals who died during World War I while many, like Wallabies great Tom Richards, had their lives shortened by the lingering effects of poison gas and war wounds.
It is implausible that the Lions would assemble for an unscheduled one-game visit next year so a World XV replicating the top talent picked for a one-off match in Cape Town against South Africa on June 7 would be the option for Suncorp Stadium next year.
The Lions only play as a touring entity but assembling for a one-off game at Twickenham against the Anzacs after the World Cup would be a wonderful commemoration.
Suncorp Stadium last year cracked the 10 million patrons milestone since the redeveloped venue opened in 2003.
POSSIBLE ANZAC TEAM FOR 2015
Israel Folau (Aus), Julian Savea (NZ), Conrad Smith (NZ), Sonny Bill Williams (NZ), Ben Smith (NZ), Dan Carter (NZ), Will Genia (Aus), Kieran Read (NZ), Richie McCaw (c, NZ), Scott Higginbotham (Aus), James Horwill (Aus), Sam Whitelock (NZ), Tony Woodcock (NZ), Stephen Moore (Aus), Owen Franks (NZ).
Reserves: Keven Mealamu (NZ), James Slipper (Aus), Charlie Faumuina (NZ), Rob Simmons (Aus), Michael Hooper (Aus), Quade Cooper (Aus), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Aus), Aaron Smith (NZ).
The Australian Rugby Union is attempting to lure the British and Irish Lions back for a money-spinning kick-off to their 2017 tour of New Zealand.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver has revealed bold plans for a one-off Lions blockbuster that would go some of the way to recouping lost revenue from next year’s World Cup season.
The Lions provided a huge cash injection to the code last year when they played nine games around the country to packed houses, including a drought-breaking 2-1 Test series victory over the Wallabies.
The tourists – combining the best players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales – started last year’s campaign against the Barbarians in Hong Kong, the home of main sponsor HSBC, and Pulver is keen for a similar opener in Australia.
The Lions’ last tour to New Zealand in 2005 was a forgettable affair, whitewashed 3-0 in a one-sided series after also controversially losing captain Brian O’Driscoll in the opening exchanges, and the four unions are looking closely at ensuring their best preparations.
Pulver said a Wallabies-Lions clash was unlikely while Super Rugby was being held, but other options were being considered.
Thankfully our team will remain The British Lions after last night’s vote in Scotland. The British and Scottish Lions just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Sidney highlighted this very issue last week. The intervention of so many of the hero’s from the victorious tour of 1989 over the last week was key in galvanising the No vote.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1019230, member: 377”]The Australian Rugby Union is attempting to lure the British and Irish Lions back for a money-spinning kick-off to their 2017 tour of New Zealand.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver has revealed bold plans for a one-off Lions blockbuster that would go some of the way to recouping lost revenue from next year’s World Cup season.
The Lions provided a huge cash injection to the code last year when they played nine games around the country to packed houses, including a drought-breaking 2-1 Test series victory over the Wallabies.
The tourists – combining the best players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales – started last year’s campaign against the Barbarians in Hong Kong, the home of main sponsor HSBC, and Pulver is keen for a similar opener in Australia.
The Lions’ last tour to New Zealand in 2005 was a forgettable affair, whitewashed 3-0 in a one-sided series after also controversially losing captain Brian O’Driscoll in the opening exchanges, and the four unions are looking closely at ensuring their best preparations.
Pulver said a Wallabies-Lions clash was unlikely while Super Rugby was being held, but other options were being considered.[/QUOTE]
The ARU are fucked, losing money
record low crowds
smacks of desperation here
Sidney? Fuck right off mate.
Former England captain John Spencer is the tour manager for the 2017 tour to the Land of the Long White Cloud. He’s nowhere near as high profile as the last three managers, Andy Irvine, Gerald Davies and Bill Beaumont but I actually think this is a very astute appointment. Spencer was a player in 1971, the only British Lions winning tour to New Zealand, so he knows what it takes to win a test series down there. He didn’t play in any of the four tests in 1971, so he has that insight as to what its like on the midweek team. Dissatisfaction amongst the midweek team has severely undermined the touring party on the last three tours to New Zealand in 1983, 1993 and 2005.
never heard of any of them
One of them was a member of planxty
This is a very enjoyable documentary feature on one of the great British Loins, Sir Anthony O’Reilly, on RTE 1 now.
There are winners and losers in this life, and Sir Anthony is, and always has been, a winner. The sub-heading of the programme, “The Real Deal”, sums things up nicely.