Lions: Return to Oz

[TRF_Olyy]

I'd disagree. As long as they're a better scrummager, I'd pick on loose ability. Virtually all of our props are better scrummagers than the Aussies, so we don't lose a great deal out of it. The scrum is frequently a lottery, so I'd rather not gamble on it, but Australia are incredibly dangerous in the loose, so I'd put an emphasis on making sure we match them there.

1. Jenkins, 3. Cole, 17. Healy then?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Debatable

haha, as in, I don't need to be confused that you chose Faletau for the lions: it's fine as long as its a lol team

 

[Feicarsinn]

In my mind we should bring at least 5 props, two for each side and a specialist. I'd take Jones and Cole for TH and Jenkins and Healy for LH, with James travelling as a fifth. Were we to take a 6th, I'd probably bring Corbisiaro.

 

[Teh Mite]

It must be tragic only having 8 players in the EPS at the moment. Oh wait, isn't that the largest representation in England? But you're right, you guys are always overlooked

When I say they're not good enough, they're not good enough. Particularly when tests coincidence with club matches...

 

[Peat]

1. Jenkins, 3. Cole, 17. Healy then?

Yes yes no. Not particularly happy about the idea of Jenkins covering TH, so I'd either go with Corbs who strikes me as the most proven prop with a dual-sided history, or a dual-sider who prefers TH who's less proven as I'd be more likely to take off Cole first - probably PDJ at this stage. I'm not mentioning Paul James as I can't recall him making an impression, so it would be unfair to judge without taking a closer look, and I was led to believe by other Welsh fans that he can't cover TH properly.

My current touring selection would be Jenkins Jones Cole Healy Corbisiero PDJ.

 

[Feicarsinn]

When I say they're not good enough, they're not good enough. Particularly when tests coincidence with club matches...

Ah, my bad.

Northampton need not worry then, the Lions games are only likely to clash with the HC and AP finals.

 

[Teh Mite]

Ah, well, that's fine then...

 

[j'nuh]

I'd disagree. As long as they're a better scrummager, I'd pick on loose ability. Virtually all of our props are better scrummagers than the Aussies, so we don't lose a great deal out of it. The scrum is frequently a lottery, so I'd rather not gamble on it, but Australia are incredibly dangerous in the loose, so I'd put an emphasis on making sure we match them there.

I don't understand, instead of trying to hit Australia in the weakest part of their game, you want to pick players on the basis of trying to catch-up with what Australia are good at?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's a tough one.
I suppose we'll see after the summer what kind of scrum to go for, as Wales will be playing (arguably) the Lions props vs them.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I don't understand, instead of trying to hit Australia in the weakest part of their game, you want to pick players on the basis of trying to catch-up with what Australia are good at?

I think the argument is it doesn't matter who we play in terms of scrummaging, because they're going to absolutely muller the Aussies regardless. We know that the Welsh and English boys can scrummage them off the parks and even our lads were dominant against the Aussies in the World Cup.

 

[psychic duck]

I think the argument is it doesn't matter who we play in terms of scrummaging, because they're going to absolutely muller the Aussies regardless. We know that the Welsh and English boys can scrummage them off the parks and even our lads were dominant against the Aussies in the World Cup.

if you pick the best scrummagers then you will get more dominance and penalties

Ross got the top over the at the RWC, but didn't get any penalty tries, if you replace him with Adam Jones you would, also it's better to be not complacent in case they up their game, so I would play the best scrummagers first

just like how Leinster were dominant over the Cardiff Blues scrum, but the Ospreys dominance took it up a level

... and anyway Adam Jones has improved his ball carrying skills over the past couple of weeks anyway, when was the last time Dan Cole who people are putting forward due to his ball carrying did this? (The Hair Bear also did a lovely run and pass to set up a try against Treviso the previous week)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/utQvUWaN3XE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

 

[McTallshort]

Nothing wrong with Dan Coles ball carrying or passing but then I am a tiger from England so I would say that.......

 

[big ginger 8]

if you pick the best scrummagers then you will get more dominance and penalties

Ross got the top over the at the RWC, but didn't get any penalty tries, if you replace him with Adam Jones you would, also it's better to be not complacent in case they up their game, so I would play the best scrummagers first

just like how Leinster were dominant over the Cardiff Blues scrum, but the Ospreys dominance took it up a level

... and anyway Adam Jones has improved his ball carrying skills over the past couple of weeks anyway, when was the last time Dan Cole who people are putting forward due to his ball carrying did this? (The Hair Bear also did a lovely run and pass to set up a try against Treviso the previous week)

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/utQvUWaN3XE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>

I think the more likely reason for no penalty try was no 5m scrums.

I've been offended by a lot of things said but I've said I won't argue about Irish props until the 27th. So you're safe intil then but then, then I'll come at you like a spider monkey.

I also think we should go for more mobile props as basically all the props being mentioned can smash the Aussie scrum.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think you guys underestimate the aussi scrum. I don't see Dingo making the same mistake twice, so I think Ben Alexander will not play. Of the rest, Benn Robinson is back, and Kepu and Palmer are good scrummagers at TH. Plus, if Slipper keeps pprogressing this fast, he may be a decent scrummager for 2013... or maybe not, lol.
In any case, you guys should check out a Waratahs or a Brumbies game against a non-Australian side, they've improved their scrums a lot in a year (well, tbf the Tahs' was pretty good last year). This year's tests against Wales will give a good idea of whether that's just wishful thinking from the aussies or not.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think you guys underestimate the aussi scrum.

This.
I think people are still picturing the scrum that England ruined two years ago - they don't have a dominant scrum by a long shot, but it's not terrible.
I think that the best British and Irish props would be able to best it, but I wouldn't take getting push over tries every game for granted.

As I said above, lets wait and see how Wales get on against them in the summer.

 

[big ginger 8]

Yet Healy who's apparently poor scrummager completely bested Kepu at the WC.

They've improved but I'd still be confident of a dominant scrum for the Lions. Adam Jones is the best tighthead in th world. Also if you have someone mobile comng off the bench they'll most likely be against a tired prop in the scrums. I also doubt Slipper will have progressed enough as a scrummager.

This has made me hink do people think we should pick the best team for playing Australia or the best team?

Maybe we should also talk about what we think the likey Aus XV will be.

I said also a lot didn't I?

 

[Teh Mite]

Kepu is Australian. Your argument is invalid.

 

[psychic duck]

Yet Healy who's apparently poor scrummager completely bested Kepu at the WC.

there was some guy called Big Ginger 8
who after a few runs,
thought Cian Healy was so great
but after all the scrums,
it was the Hair Bear who dominate


you're obsessed about bloomin' Healy, stop it, he came off worse than Wales and England at the 6N, don't know why anybody could even consider him above Jenkins

 

[big ginger 8]

there was some guy called Big Ginger 8
who after a few runs,
thought Cian Healy was so great
but after all the scrums,
it was the Hair Bear who dominate


you're obsessed about bloomin' Healy, stop it, he was worse than Wales and England at the 6N, don't know why anybody could even consider him above Jenkins

I'm using him as example people consider him a poor scrummager so I'm saying if he was doing well against the Aus scrum then obviously there not strong there. Your a "bloomin'" fool if you can't see why I was using it. Sorry he's not Georgian.

The only reason I appear/have become obssessed with Healy is because any time I say something good people shoot me down. Obviously it's because of a few runs that I think he's good it's not like I've seen nearly every Leinster and all the Ireland games he's played. I could never from them delved the opinion that he's a good scrummager now, good tackler and good at the breakdown. Yes he's a very strong carrier but it's not a few runs is it? He makes plaenty of carries per game making a lot of hard yards. Sorry he was worse than England and Wales in the 6n. (don't know how a player is meant to be better than teams.) Finally for everyone. I've never said he's a better player than Jenkins. I've picked him ahead of him on some teams. This does not mean I think he's a better player. Guess what I think Jenkins is a better player but Healy's a hell of a lot closer than a lot of you think.

 

[Me 1]

This should be interesting.....