BODās face has taken some mashing in its day, this picture is freaky.
Dozy head on O Gara
from rte.ie
Warren Gatland has said that the Lions will not reveal their complete gameplan before the Test series begins.
The tourists will focus on getting the basics right in the early games. The squad are due to play six matches against a variety of regional opponents before the first Test on 20 June.
The Wales head coach also said that selection is wide open for the majority of positions, and that each player in the 36-man squad will start at least one of the first three games.
Speaking to RTās Michael Corcoran, he said: 'Weāve got to be smart. Itās going to important to keep a couple of things up our sleeve because it is important that we havenāt been overanalysed and can throw something new at them in the Test series too.
āThe first few games is about keeping things pretty simple, trying to get on the front foot, making sure of our set-piece scrum and lineout and defend well and hopefully we can play some positive rugby and score some good tries.ā
Gatland re-iterated the Lionsā managementās commitment to keeping the Test team selection open until the week of the first match against the South African national side. He did, however, admit that Paul OāConnell, the Tour captain, and Brian OāDriscoll were likely to start in their positions.
The New Zealander said: 'Thereās probably two or three positions at the moment where you have players are big favourites to start: your captain (OāConnell) and Brian OāDriscoll.
'Other than that, everyone has a realistic chance of claiming a Test jersey. The good thing about that is there is another second row to be selected and another centre position selected so itās not the same as if they were a ten or a scrum-half.
āTo me, if I was a player - and they have all been promised a start in the first three games - I would be incredibly motivated by that.ā
Hate that sort of shite talk. Fire them all out on the pitch and give tehm gametime. Woodward tried to āhold it backā also, look where that got him.
This is going to go very very badly.
From rte.ie
Royal XV coach Chaka Willemse expects a strong physical threat from the British and Irish Lions in Saturdayās tour opener.
Willemse has named a team containing 11 members of the Vodacom Cup-winning Griquas side under the captaincy of prop Wilhelm Koch.
And while the Lions are expected to record a comfortable victory in Rustenburg, Willemse hopes his side can make an impression.
āI know they (Lions) believe the only way they can win in South Africa is to win the battle up front,ā he said.
'We will be ready for them, but we are not going to be sucked into playing a forwards game only.
'Theyāve got some big guys in the pack, so if we can move them across the field as much as we can, maybe we can tire them out.
'The biggest challenge has been trying to prepare for opponents we know nothing about.
āWhile we know the individuals, we donāt know the combinations or how they will play as a team.ā
Early proof, meanwhile, of the Lionsā box office status has come with ticket sales for their opening midweek fixture against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg next Wednesday.
A capacity 60,000 crowd is expected at Coca-Cola Park, with 90% of tickets already sold.
Too many Irish and Welsh on the Lions panel. The Lions are strong when there is a good strong English spine to the team. The English won 2 World Wars, let us not forget, whilst Ireland cowered in the corner claiming nuetrality.
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[quote=ātipptops*ā]Too many Irish and Welsh on the Lions panel. The Lions are strong when there is a good strong English spine to the team. The English won 2 World Wars, let us not forget, whilst Ireland cowered in the corner claiming nuetrality.[/QUOTE]Too many Munster boggers to be more precise, the Leinster and Ulster guys were always a model of Anglo restraint and professionalism. None of this bawling crying before the game nonsense that one associates with Munster Players
i thought they were struggling to get a crowd there as it clashes with the S14 final an hour up the road.
thats the draw of the Lions for you
[quote=āHBV*ā]i thought they were struggling to get a crowd there as it clashes with the S14 final an hour up the road.
thats the draw of the Lions for you[/QUOTE]
Think Saturdays game will do well to be 3/4 fullā¦In fairness if South africa came over here playing a match the same day as the Heineken cup final you would struggle to sell it outā¦
especially if Munster or Leinster were in it.
Anyone else not really give a shite about the Lions?
Iām in that camp Mac.
I think I said it a long time back on this thread that this concept is outdated. To be honest Iād much prefer if our players were resting or t least off with the rest in the States.
Iāll watch them all the same, but the Lions is a dated concept for me.
[quote=āmyboyblueā]I think I said it a long time back on this thread that this concept is outdated. To be honest Iād much prefer if our players were resting or t least off with the rest in the States.
Iāll watch them all the same, but the Lions is a dated concept for me.[/QUOTE]
Would you fook off. Youāve been harping about them like youāre head is up Paul OāConnells arse!
BOD shines in the first test and all you cunts will be all over it with your foam hands.
Why so bitter?
about what?
I said to Bandage at the weekend that if BOD wasnāt involved I wouldnāt really give a shit. Will watch it as sporting entertainment but not as a supporter really. Would like to see BOD win just to shove it further up his imbecile detractors from the past year or so but if he gets injured then couldnāt give a shit.