Go on Jim Telfer to fuck…
If Haskell makes the trip it would be an utter disgrace. Nothing player.
Same goes for Worsley actually.
With McGeechan talking about returning the lions to former glories and reducing the squads and having it similar to the old tours what will his attitude be to the likes of Hartley, Flutey(who was excellent today), Hines and othere who aren’t originally from the country they are representing…
They can go fuck themselves, thats where they should go.
Pukes post reminded me of this. There’s a good chance it has been posted here already but it’s well worth a watch anyway.
I posted that last week…Keep up 
Although it is a cracking video
From the Times online, what the panel of writers and ex-player think will be the first 15 for the B&I Lions…
Steven Jones Made his Lions tour debut in New Zealand in 1983 and our man has reported on every tour since
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Rob Kearney (Ireland)
13 Tom Shanklin (Wales)
12 Gavin Henson (Wales)
11 Shane Williams (Wales)
10 Stephen Jones (Wales)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Ross Ford (Scotland)
3 Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
4 Paul OConnell (Ireland)
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Ryan Jones (capt) (Wales)
7 David Wallace (Ireland)
David Walsh An eternal optimist, despite covering Irish rugby for many years. Co-author of Lawrence Dallaglios autobiography
15 Delon Armitage (England)
14 Shane Williams (Wales)
13 Brian ODriscoll (Ireland)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland)
10 Danny Cipriani (England)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Rory Best (Ireland)
3 Euan Murray (Scotland)
4 Paul OConnell (capt) (Ireland)
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 Martyn Williams (Wales)
Lawrence Dallaglio Three Lions tours and a major factor in the series win in South Africa in 1997. Now on the board of his old club Wasps
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Paul Sackey (England)
13 Brian ODriscoll (Ireland)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Shane Williams (Wales)
10 Ronan OGara (Ireland)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
3 Phil Vickery (England)
4 Simon Shaw (England)
5 Paul OConnell (capt) (Ireland)
6 Joe Worsley (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 Martyn Williams (Wales)
Jeremy Guscott Winner on two Lions tours, with a brilliant try against Australia in 1989 and the drop goal that beat South Africa in 1997
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Shane Williams (Wales)
13 Brian ODriscoll (Ireland)
12 Gavin Henson (Wales)
11 Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
10 Jonny Wilkinson (England)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Ross Ford (Scotland)
3 Euan Murray (Scotland)
4 Paul OConnell (Ireland)
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 David Wallace (capt) (Ireland)
Kenny Logan Won more than 70 caps for Scotland, and managed to take fifth place on Strictly Come Dancing
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Shane Williams (Wales)
13 Brian ODriscoll (capt) (Ire)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Paul Sackey (England)
10 Ronan OGara (Ireland)
9 Chris Cusiter (Scotland)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Matthew Rees (Wales)
3 Euan Murray (Scotland)
4 Paul OConnell (Ireland)
5 Simon Shaw (England)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 Martyn Williams (Wales)
[quote=“Locke”]From the Times online, what the panel of writers and ex-player think will be the first 15 for the B&I Lions…
Steven Jones Made his Lions tour debut in New Zealand in 1983 and our man has reported on every tour since
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Rob Kearney (Ireland)
13 Tom Shanklin (Wales)
12 Gavin Henson (Wales)
11 Shane Williams (Wales)
10 Stephen Jones (Wales)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Ross Ford (Scotland)
3 Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
4 Paul OConnell (Ireland)
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Ryan Jones (capt) (Wales)
7 David Wallace (Ireland)
David Walsh An eternal optimist, despite covering Irish rugby for many years. Co-author of Lawrence Dallaglios autobiography
15 Delon Armitage (England)
14 Shane Williams (Wales)
13 Brian ODriscoll (Ireland)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland)
10 Danny Cipriani (England)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Rory Best (Ireland)
3 Euan Murray (Scotland)
4 Paul OConnell (capt) (Ireland)
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 Martyn Williams (Wales)
Lawrence Dallaglio Three Lions tours and a major factor in the series win in South Africa in 1997. Now on the board of his old club Wasps
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Paul Sackey (England)
13 Brian ODriscoll (Ireland)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Shane Williams (Wales)
10 Ronan OGara (Ireland)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
3 Phil Vickery (England)
4 Simon Shaw (England)
5 Paul OConnell (capt) (Ireland)
6 Joe Worsley (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 Martyn Williams (Wales)
Jeremy Guscott Winner on two Lions tours, with a brilliant try against Australia in 1989 and the drop goal that beat South Africa in 1997
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Shane Williams (Wales)
13 Brian ODriscoll (Ireland)
12 Gavin Henson (Wales)
11 Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
10 Jonny Wilkinson (England)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Ross Ford (Scotland)
3 Euan Murray (Scotland)
4 Paul OConnell (Ireland)
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 David Wallace (capt) (Ireland)
Kenny Logan Won more than 70 caps for Scotland, and managed to take fifth place on Strictly Come Dancing
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Shane Williams (Wales)
13 Brian ODriscoll (capt) (Ire)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 Paul Sackey (England)
10 Ronan OGara (Ireland)
9 Chris Cusiter (Scotland)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Matthew Rees (Wales)
3 Euan Murray (Scotland)
4 Paul OConnell (Ireland)
5 Simon Shaw (England)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7 Martyn Williams (Wales)[/quote]
[quote=“Locke”]From the Times online, what the panel of writers and ex-player think will be the first 15 for the B&I Lions…
Steven Jones Made his Lions tour debut in New Zealand in 1983 and our man has reported on every tour since
15 Lee Byrne (Wales)
14 Rob Kearney (Ireland)
13 Tom Shanklin (Wales)
12 Gavin Henson (Wales)
11 Shane Williams (Wales)
10 Stephen Jones (Wales)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Ross Ford (Scotland)
3 Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
4 Paul OConnell (Ireland)
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6 Tom Croft (England)
8 Ryan Jones (capt) (Wales)
7 David Wallace (Ireland)
[/quote]
Atta boy Flannery, best no. 3 in the business 
It’s amazing the variance in opinion amongst journalists and ex-players. Ciaran Fitzgerald picked his side for the first test on Setanta last night and had Toms O’Leary and Mike Tindall in his team. I don’t think either of these two should even make the touring squad, never mind the team. I wonder if there’ll be some remaining ill-feeling between the Irish players and Gatland after his comments last week.
in fairness that was a typo that didnt appear on the print version. think he went for Murray or Vickery.
anyway, i like the way he went for 6 of the 7 welsh backs that came nowhere near scoring a try against ireland in their own backyard,and the irish fullback on the wing.
he made a big deal of saying that Paul OC may not make the team and then included him, says all you need to know. attention seeking ape
Can’t say I agree with Shane Williams
Shane Williams believes British rugby is “probably the strongest it has ever been” ahead of the summer Lions tour to South Africa.
The Wales winger looks a certainty to head on the trip when British & Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan names his squad next month.
The Opsreys player can expect plenty of his compatriots to be alongside him on the plane, while Ireland will provide a sizeable contingent following their Grand Slam success.
With England also finding some form at the end of the RBS Six Nations, Williams admits the next few weeks will be an anxious time for many.
Difficult selection
“Rugby in Britain and Ireland is probably the strongest it has ever been,” he said. "We’ve got some great players and some great teams and it is going to be a difficult selection process.
"The rugby is strong - and it is going to have to be to go to South Africa and play the world champions in their back yard.
"I would love to be a part of it. There are a few games left with the Ospreys and we will have to wait and see. It’s an anxious time for a lot of the boys.
"Hopefully, there will be a lot of players from Wales and Ireland going on the tour.
"The Lions is wide open. There are a lot of boys in the championship who have hit form at the right time and they will be putting their hands up for this tour.
“No-one’s place is guaranteed as yet and we are just going to have to wait and see. It is completely out of the players’ hands.”
England Delon Armitage is another name that McGeechan is likely to call out, though the full-back has no intention of resting on his laurels.
Fitness
The London Irish star has become a key man in Martin Johnson’s side but feels playing Test rugby has shown him that he needs to get fitter.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say that the Lions is a dream and now it’s about going back to my club and keeping the form I have had in the last couple of weeks and, if I get the call, then brilliant,” said Armitage.
"If not then I need to keep trying to become a better player to be up there with the best full-backs in the world.
"There is a lot of work for me to do and I need to analyse my play and try and get more involved in the attack.
“We are all going back to our clubs and we know what is needed against the southern hemisphere and we know we weren’t fit enough.”
reckon the following are shoe in’s for the lions touring party:
Paul O Connell
Brian O Driscoll
Tommy Bowe
Steven Jones
Phil Vickery
Ronan O Gara
David Wallace
Steven Ferris
Ryan Jones
Martin Willaims
Mike Phillips
Tom Shanklin
Lee Byrne
Andrew Sheridan
Euan Murray
Danny Cipriani is dodgy now for the tour. Taken off for the Wasps over the weekend.
He has yet to prove himself in my opinion. I know guys say he is really talented but i haven’t seen him play well since the Irish game last year.
He’s a bit thick as well.
[quote=“caoimhaoin”]He has yet to prove himself in my opinion. I know guys say he is really talented but i haven’t seen him play well since the Irish game last year.
He’s a bit thick as well.[/quote]
Oh agreed but you can bet your bottom dollar that he would be on the plane. Sure Jonny Wilks has to prove his fitness but if he’s half way right he’ll be in the squad.
35 man squad so on the balance the breakdown should be say Ire 12, Wales 12, Eng 7, Scots 4.
I’ll edit this later tonight or tomorrow as to who should be on the plane.
Edit:
Ireland: Kearney, Fitzgerald, O’Driscoll, Bowe, O’Gara, Flannery, Best, O’Connell, O’Callaghan, Wallace, Heaslip, Ferris
Wales: Byrne, Shanklyn, S.Williams, Hensen, S.Jones, Phillips, Peel, Jenkins, A.W Jones, M.Williams, R.Jones, Powell
England: Armitage, Flutey, Wilkinson (Flood if Wilks is injured), Ellis, Sheridan, Vickery, Worsley,
Scotland: M.Evans, Blair, Murray, Strokosch
I had England for 8 places and Scotland for 3 but changed that to England 7, Scotland 4 to include Evans and Strokosch. Blair and Murray are nailed in certs.
Think I have the balance right but I do apologies if I have too many for one position.
Wilkinson should not go, both for his sake and the British lions sake…Got injured again last week just as he was about to make another comeback…With the current South African back row running at him it couyld well end his career
Johnny is as well off to go to France for a serious wedge and just try and play rugby and not bother trying to get back in th England side til he is good and ready…
[quote=“The Puke”]Wilkinson should not go, both for his sake and the British lions sake…Got injured again last week just as he was about to make another comeback…With the current South African back row running at him it couyld well end his career
Johnny is as well off to go to France for a serious wedge and just try and play rugby and not bother trying to get back in th England side til he is good and ready…[/quote]
Agree.
If Cipriani goes it is a farce, and makes a joke of picking on form. I think he’d get eaten over there. Which may of course happen to ROG as well, but at least ROG has experience.
I don’t trust this Welsh/WASP’s selection commitee one bit.
McGeechan turns to Kidney to help make captaincy call
By Brendan Gallagher
Tuesday March 24 2009
LIONS head coach Ian McGeechan has flown to Cork for talks today with Ireland coach Declan Kidney.
Top of the agenda is sure to be the issue of the captaincy. McGeechan had always planned a post-tournament run-through with Kidney. Given the events of last weekend, those discussions will be riveting.
Can McGeechan deny the claims of a Grand Slam-winning captain? Can the Lions coach consider bypassing Brian O’Driscoll on the grounds that he had a crack at it in New Zealand four years ago and instead pass the honour on to O’Driscoll’s Ireland team-mate, Munster lock Paul O’Connell?
McGeechan is not afraid of bold calls. He did his own thing the last time the Lions toured South Africa 12 years ago, opting for the internationally unproven leadership skills of Martin Johnson ahead of Clive Woodward’s England captain, Lawrence Dallaglio. It proved to be a masterstroke, the Lions standing firm against the world champions to win the series 2-1.
O’Connell is a big man, very much in the physical mould of Johnson in 1997. McGeechan was taken with the notion then of a looming presence knocking on the changing-room door for the coin toss. Above all, though, McGeechan wanted a captain respected by all those around him, one who was guaranteed his Test place.
O’Driscoll, of course, fits that bill. For O’Connell’s size, insert O’Driscoll’s presence. There is little to choose between the two candidates. Wales’s own Grand Slam-winning captain, Ryan Jones, was a contender but his claims have taken a knock with some hit-and-miss performances, notably in Paris.
It would not pay to dismiss the prospects of former England captain Phil Vickery, a man who McGeechan, not to mention fellow coaches Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley, all know well from Wasps. Vickery has quiet charisma, widespread respect and is bang in form.
Many expected Kidney to hand the Ireland captaincy to O’Connell when he took over the coaching reins last summer from Eddie O’Sullivan. After all, he and O’Connell had just been feted the length and breadth of Munster after winning the Heineken Cup.
Instead the man of mild manners but hard-nosed instincts bucked public expectation by leaving O’Driscoll in office, despite the fact that Ireland’s World Cup campaign and subsequent Six Nations Championship had been traumatic.
It was a remarkable bit of management by Kidney. O’Driscoll, plagued by hamstring issues, had been in faltering form. And now? He is a real competitor once again, restored to health and potency.
He stands alongside O’Connell as one of the RBS players of the Six Nations, sharing top spot in the tournament’s try-scoring charts with England’s Riki Flutey, with four touchdowns.
O’Driscoll has got the best not only from himself, but also from those around him. Where once there was discord and hesitancy, there is now togetherness and conviction. It has not been an untroubled journey to the Grand Slam, but it has been a united one.
O’Connell was a disappointment in New Zealand four years ago, never managing to impose himself. Over the past 18 months he has become more dominant, on and off the field.
One question will be gnawing away in McGeechan’s mind though, and is sure to get an airing in Cork today. How might O’Driscoll react if the captaincy went to O’Connell?
True, O’Driscoll has had a turn, but his 2005 stint as Lions Test captain ended within 60 seconds of the first game when he was up-ended by a couple of All Blacks, Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu. O’Driscoll will be dutifully supportive in public. But how will the inner self respond? It would be a risk not to go with O’Driscoll.
The Lions have an interim selection meeting planned for later this week, prior to the final reckoning on April 20. The squad, 34-36 strong, will be named the following day.
- Brendan Gallagher