Lions Starting XV After Week 1

We can do this today because France and Italy not involved in the Lions.

Only one criteria

1 Players had to have played today

So heres mine:

Healy
Best
Cole
Launchberry (sp)
Coombs
O'Brien
Morgan
RObshaw (c)

Youngs
Farrell

Visser
Twelvetrees
Bod
Ashton

Hogg

On today only,

Healy
Best
Cole
Launchberry
Parling
O'Mahony
Robshaw
Beattie

Murray
Farrell
Maitland
36
BOD
Zebo
Hogg

Robshaw is playing himself into a great position.

Warburton on the other hand, oh dear!

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Cole
4. Gray
5. Launchbury
6. Brown
7. Robshaw
8. Beattie
9. Care
10. Farrell
11. Zebo
12. Twelvetrees
13. O'Driscoll
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

gboycottnut wrote:Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

Why,

Marler wasn't better than Healy
Youngs certainly wasn't better than Best
O'Brien was outsatnding
Barritt couldn't tie BODs shoes laces

bedfordwelsh wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

Why,

Marler wasn't better than Healy
Youngs certainly wasn't better than Best
O'Brien was outsatnding
Barritt couldn't tie BODs shoes laces

Scotland haven't lost to Australia since last decade...

And Australia won against England at Twickenham last year and has a better head-to-head record.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

Why,

Marler wasn't better than Healy
Youngs certainly wasn't better than Best
O'Brien was outsatnding
Barritt couldn't tie BODs shoes laces

Because there won't be a need to waste time before the tests start in team building/gelling type issues as is the case in every Lions tour.

15- Hogg
14- Zebo
13- O'Driscoll
12- Twelvetrees
11- Maitland
10- Farrell
9- Youngs
8- Beattie
7- Robshaw
6- O'Brien (L and R)
5- Launchbury
4- Parling
3- Cole
2- Best
1-Healey

16- Marler 17- Youngs 18- Ross 19- Faletau 20- Care 21- Sexton 22- Halfpenny

gboycottnut wrote:Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

Shades of 2000-03 when some England rugby bigwigs, journalists and loud-mouthed fans wanted to stop playing games against the "Celtic fringe" and just play France, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Results after 2003 knocked that idea on the head, but here we go again. None of the Celtic fringe countries has ever suggested striking England off their fixture list, not even in the seasons when England have been rubbish - too much respect for tradition and the spirit of the game. Yet you want their players omitted from the Lions - no respect for tradition and the spirit of the game! After one 6 Nations weekend!

gboycottnut wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

Why,

Marler wasn't better than Healy
Youngs certainly wasn't better than Best
O'Brien was outsatnding
Barritt couldn't tie BODs shoes laces

Because there won't be a need to waste time before the tests start in team building/gelling type issues as is the case in every Lions tour.

Do you actually think that this is a good idea?
Do you think that Goode was better than Hogg, Halfpenny and Kearney?
Do you think that Barritt is better than BOD
Farrell is better than Sexton?
Brown and Ashton are better than North, Zebo, Gilroy, Maitland and Visser?
Morgan is better than Beattie, Heaslip and Faletau?
Parling is better than Gray, O'Connell, Ryan, Chareteris and Jones?
Marler is better than Healy?
Youngs is better than Best?

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Coombes
6. Wood
7. Tupuric
8. Faletau
9. Youngs
10. Farrel
11. Brown
12. Twelvetrees
13. O driscol
14. Halfpenny
15. Hogg

16. Rees
17. Marler
18. Jones
19. Mc Carthy
20. Robshaw
21. Phillips
22. Biggar
23. Zebo

123456789 wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

Why,

Marler wasn't better than Healy
Youngs certainly wasn't better than Best
O'Brien was outsatnding
Barritt couldn't tie BODs shoes laces

Because there won't be a need to waste time before the tests start in team building/gelling type issues as is the case in every Lions tour.

Do you actually think that this is a good idea?
No
Do you think that Goode was better than Hogg, Halfpenny and Kearney?
No silly
Do you think that Barritt is better than BOD
See above
Farrell is better than Sexton?
Hmm about the same
Brown and Ashton are better than North, Zebo, Gilroy, Maitland and Visser?
Ashton was much better
Morgan is better than Beattie, Heaslip and Faletau?
As good as Heaslip & Beattie, better than Faletau
Parling is better than Gray, O'Connell, Ryan, Chareteris and Jones?
About the same as Gray better than the others
Marler is better than Healy?
No
Youngs is better than Best?
No

You started well, then lost it a bit in the middle

123456789 wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Simple really, just play an entire Lions XV made up of England players and Australia will then get beaten.

Why,

Marler wasn't better than Healy
Youngs certainly wasn't better than Best
O'Brien was outsatnding
Barritt couldn't tie BODs shoes laces

Because there won't be a need to waste time before the tests start in team building/gelling type issues as is the case in every Lions tour.

Do you actually think that this is a good idea?
Do you think that Goode was better than Hogg, Halfpenny and Kearney?
Do you think that Barritt is better than BOD
Farrell is better than Sexton?
Brown and Ashton are better than North, Zebo, Gilroy, Maitland and Visser?
Morgan is better than Beattie, Heaslip and Faletau?
Parling is better than Gray, O'Connell, Ryan, Chareteris and Jones?
Marler is better than Healy?
Youngs is better than Best?

Ok Hogg was better than Goode - fantastic boot and great running. Goode had his moments too

Barritt BOD ok but we'll see next week

Farrell Sexton - well I'll have a better opinion after seeing the Wales Ireland match but Farrell's all round game was excellent - not just the kicking - and he was MOTM for a reason

Maitland took his try well. Ashton was good and did a lot better than Visser - who just kicked the ball away a lot. Brown did some good things and some shocking things

Morgan was bloody brilliant. Hes actually quite a subtle player for such a big guy, and the scots had real trouble trying to tackle him. Beattie had 2 really good runs and looked quick and powerful but Morgan was more dangerous. I havnt seen all the Wales/Scot game but Faletau did look good. Jury is still out on that one - lots of competition. Haskell was seriously good on his cameo too - turnovers

Marler and Healy - well thats another one for next week but Marler was good.

Youngs Best - well Youngs didnt get carded but again thats a good match up for next week. Hartley did well in his cameo

This would be my squad with first choices in bold, and two wildcard picks who didn't feature today in italics.

Prop
Cian Healy, Paul James, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Adam Jones, Mike Ross

Hooker
Rory Best, Tom Youngs, Ken Owens

Locks
Joe Launchbury, Donnacha Ryan, Courtney Lawes, Ian Evans, Jim Hamilton

Backrow
Chris Robshaw, Kelly Brown, Stephen Ferris, Justin Tipuric, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Johnnie Beattie, Ben Morgan

Scrum-Half
Conor Murray, Greig Laidlaw, Ben Youngs

Outhalf
Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood

Centres
Billy Twelvetrees, Matt Scott, Jamie Roberts, Brian O'Driscoll, Manu Tuliagi

Wingers
Simon Zebo, George North, Sean Maitland, Chris Ashton

Fullback
Rob Kearney, Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg

Gives you a test XV of;

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Dan Cole
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. Chris Robshaw
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Johnnie Beattie
9. Ben Youngs
10. Johnny Sexton
11. Simon Zebo
12. Billy Twelvetrees
13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
14. George North
15. Rob Kearney

Notch wrote:This would be my squad with first choices in bold, and two wildcard picks who didn't feature today in italics.

Prop
Cian Healy, Paul James, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Adam Jones, Mike Ross

Hooker
Rory Best, Tom Youngs, Ken Owens

Locks
Joe Launchbury, Donnacha Ryan, Courtney Lawes, Ian Evans, Jim Hamilton

Backrow
Chris Robshaw, Kelly Brown, Stephen Ferris, Justin Tipuric, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Johnnie Beattie, Ben Morgan

Scrum-Half
Conor Murray, Greig Laidlaw, Ben Youngs

Outhalf
Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood

Centres
Billy Twelvetrees, Matt Scott, Jamie Roberts, Brian O'Driscoll, Manu Tuliagi

Wingers
Simon Zebo, George North, Sean Maitland, Chris Ashton

Fullback
Rob Kearney, Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg

Gives you a test XV of;

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Dan Cole
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. Chris Robshaw
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Johnnie Beattie
9. Ben Youngs
10. Johnny Sexton
11. Simon Zebo
12. Billy Twelvetrees
13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
14. George North
15. Rob Kearney

You were doing really well til you hit 15.Halfpenny totally outshone Kearney.

Sorry,just spotted North in there.No way.He is going backwards at some lick.Gilroy or Walker for me.

We're doing this now? Seriously?

George Carlin wrote:We're doing this now? Seriously?

Come on George, it's this place. Did you expect anything else?

Now, and every week until the tour!

And then it'll be for 2017... Right who's for a Starting XV for NZ 2017???

Notch wrote:This would be my squad with first choices in bold, and two wildcard picks who didn't feature today in italics.

Prop
Cian Healy, Paul James, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Adam Jones, Mike Ross

Hooker
Rory Best, Tom Youngs, Ken Owens

Locks
Joe Launchbury, Donnacha Ryan, Courtney Lawes, Ian Evans, Jim Hamilton

Backrow
Chris Robshaw, Kelly Brown, Stephen Ferris, Justin Tipuric, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Johnnie Beattie, Ben Morgan

Scrum-Half
Conor Murray, Greig Laidlaw, Ben Youngs

Outhalf
Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood

Centres
Billy Twelvetrees, Matt Scott, Jamie Roberts, Brian O'Driscoll, Manu Tuliagi

Wingers
Simon Zebo, George North, Sean Maitland, Chris Ashton

Fullback
Rob Kearney, Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg

Gives you a test XV of;

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Dan Cole
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. Chris Robshaw
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Johnnie Beattie
9. Ben Youngs
10. Johnny Sexton
11. Simon Zebo
12. Billy Twelvetrees
13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
14. George North
15. Rob Kearney

Well done someone who talks sense based on round 1

Healy
Best
Cole
Launchberry
Parling
O'Brien
Morgan
Robshaw

Youngs
Farrell

Visser
Twelvetrees
Bod
Ashton

Hogg

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:

George Carlin wrote:We're doing this now? Seriously?

Come on George, it's this place. Did you expect anything else?

No

George Carlin wrote:We're doing this now? Seriously?

To be honest it's quite a good day to do it, two games in which potential tourist were going against each other in each position
Although you could make a pretty decent side out of players who weren't playing:
1. Corbisiero
2. MacArthur
3. Low
4. O'Connell
5. Charteris
6. Ferris
7. Rennie
8. Easter
9. Cusiter
10. Priestland
11. Bowe
12. Tuilagi
13. Ansbro
14. Wade
15. Foden

I didn't see a 14 today who was a patch on Bowe at his best, for example, so I'd still have to say Bowe at right wing in the Lions side after week 1. The same applies to Lydiate at 6. Hogg was undoubtedly the best 15 on view today, especially in view of the relative paucity of opportunities he received. Elsewhere, God knows how England are going to choose between 36 and Manu at centre; I really believe it has to be either/or, since Barritt gives them both such comforting solidity next door. Brad is the ideal dirt-tracker centre for the Lions.

Up front, it may be that Gray is suffering from playing his club rugby for a team with shot confidence, since that was the poorest game I've seen him have in a blue shirt. To me, Parling and Launchbury made a pretty good case to be selected for Australia.

Best again showed that he would be an ideal Lions skipper candidate. Although Robshaw and Heaslip had good games, it can't be said that they were necessarily better than O'Brien or Beattie/Faletau. If captaincy is about the first name on the team sheet, it's Rory for me

At this stage, my Lions XV: 1) Healy, 2) Best (c) 3) Cole 4) Launchbury 5) Parling 6) Lydiate 7) O'Brien 8) Beattie 9) Youngs/Murray (much too close to call right now - scrum-half remains a Lions weakness) 10) Sexton (narrowly ahead of Farrell) 11) Zebo) 12) Twelvetrees 13) O'Driscoll 14) Bowe 15) Hogg

Next week is going to tell us a whole lot more, I would think.

Cole is world class. But on today's performance he wasn't the best. Quite a few knock ons.

I thought Gray did well today, defensively he tackled like a flanker although attacking wise he didn't do much

To be fair captain, Maitland played pretty well at 14 tonight... Still not as good as Bowe yes but Tommy is a doubt to make the tour so if I had to pick then on today's form Maitland would get picked!

captain carrantuohil wrote:I didn't see a 14 today who was a patch on Bowe at his best, for example, so I'd still have to say Bowe at right wing in the Lions side after week 1. The same applies to Lydiate at 6. Hogg was undoubtedly the best 15 on view today, especially in view of the relative paucity of opportunities he received. Elsewhere, God knows how England are going to choose between 36 and Manu at centre; I really believe it has to be either/or, since Barritt gives them both such comforting solidity next door. Brad is the ideal dirt-tracker centre for the Lions.

Up front, it may be that Gray is suffering from playing his club rugby for a team with shot confidence, since that was the poorest game I've seen him have in a blue shirt. To me, Parling and Launchbury made a pretty good case to be selected for Australia.

Best again showed that he would be an ideal Lions skipper candidate. Although Robshaw and Heaslip had good games, it can't be said that they were necessarily better than O'Brien or Beattie/Faletau. If captaincy is about the first name on the team sheet, it's Rory for me

At this stage, my Lions XV: 1) Healy, 2) Best (c) 3) Cole 4) Launchbury 5) Parling 6) Lydiate 7) O'Brien 8) Beattie 9) Youngs/Murray (much too close to call right now - scrum-half remains a Lions weakness) 10) Sexton (narrowly ahead of Farrell) 11) Zebo) 12) Twelvetrees 13) O'Driscoll 14) Bowe 15) Hogg

Next week is going to tell us a whole lot more, I would think.

Its been nearly a year since Lydiate has played.

Captain,

Thats why I said they had to have played today, we all know that there are players innured who will come into the reckoning likewise players who played today might get injured.

I don't mind - class is permanent and all that. Fairly obviously, I'm assuming that Bowe and Lydiate will have proved their fitness by April. No-one today showed me that the other two aren't seriously worth waiting for. Hand over your face or not.

I am hoping Lydiate proves his fitness before the end of the 6 Nations god knows we need him.

As far as 'had to have played today' is concerned, most people are picking Robshaw and O'Brien out of position from where they lined up at Kick off. There isn't a 6 to touch a fit Lydiate, nor a 14 to get anywhere near Bowe, so under the OP rules, I'll leave those positions blank.

Ashton had 14 on his back and had a good game for once- got involved even made the odd tackle and took his try well

Yep, he was better than he has been, liw, but I'll still wait for Tommy, I think. I'm hoping that North will show that he's much better than he has lately, but his problem, like his entire national side, is one of confidence. It may seem an obvious thing to say, but Jesus, Wales need a win. A trip to Paris, where nothing will be expected of them, may be the answer. One spark, and we may be back to a host of Welshmen in the Lions team, rather than a questionable one.

Wood/Ferris > Lydiate

Not for me, BamBam. Lydiate the nearest thing to Hill I've seen since the Great One called it quits.

captain carrantuohil wrote:Not for me, BamBam. Lydiate the nearest thing to Hill I've seen since the Great One called it quits.

So glad to see I am not on my own in that thought

captain carrantuohil wrote:I didn't see a 14 today who was a patch on Bowe at his best, for example, so I'd still have to say Bowe at right wing in the Lions side after week 1. The same applies to Lydiate at 6. Hogg was undoubtedly the best 15 on view today, especially in view of the relative paucity of opportunities he received. Elsewhere, God knows how England are going to choose between 36 and Manu at centre; I really believe it has to be either/or, since Barritt gives them both such comforting solidity next door. Brad is the ideal dirt-tracker centre for the Lions.

Up front, it may be that Gray is suffering from playing his club rugby for a team with shot confidence, since that was the poorest game I've seen him have in a blue shirt. To me, Parling and Launchbury made a pretty good case to be selected for Australia.

Best again showed that he would be an ideal Lions skipper candidate. Although Robshaw and Heaslip had good games, it can't be said that they were necessarily better than O'Brien or Beattie/Faletau. If captaincy is about the first name on the team sheet, it's Rory for me

At this stage, my Lions XV: 1) Healy, 2) Best (c) 3) Cole 4) Launchbury 5) Parling 6) Lydiate 7) O'Brien 8) Beattie 9) Youngs/Murray (much too close to call right now - scrum-half remains a Lions weakness) 10) Sexton (narrowly ahead of Farrell) 11) Zebo) 12) Twelvetrees 13) O'Driscoll 14) Bowe 15) Hogg

Next week is going to tell us a whole lot more, I would think.

Based on todays games, Youngs is miles ahead. Really don't see that position as a weakness with Murray and Care.

By comparison with what the SH have to offer at 9, I would contend that it's a position of relative weakness for our lot, nathan. Temperamentally, I'm still unsure about the English duo when everything is not going marvellously up front; I like what I've seen of Murray this year, but want to be convinced that his apparent improvement is not a figment of my imagination.

captain carrantuohil wrote:By comparison with what the SH have to offer at 9, I would contend that it's a position of relative weakness for our lot, nathan. Temperamentally, I'm still unsure about the English duo when everything is not going marvellously up front; I like what I've seen of Murray this year, but want to be convinced that his apparent improvement is not a figment of my imagination.

I still don't think the 9 position is as much of a weakness as your saying. Youngs has played better against Genia in the past. Can't see why it can't happen again.

Based purely on today's games;

1.Healy
2.Best
3.Cole
4.Launchberry
5.Ryan
6.O'Brien
7.Robshaw
8.Faletau

9.Youngs
10.Farrell

11.Zebo
12.Twelvetrees
13.BOD
14.Maitland
15.Hogg

Based on players who didn't play today (just for fun);

1.Sheridan
2.Hibbard
3. .....
4.O'Connell
5.Charteris
6.Ferris
7.Rennie
8.Easter

9.Peel
10.Wilko

11.JSD
12.Wallace
13.Tuilagi
14.Bowe
15.Byrne

Super scrum-half on the front foot, I agree. He's proved that a time or two against Genia, as you say. I would like to see Youngs demonstrate beyond any doubt that he has lost those two hideous habits, when things are getting ugly, of hoofing the ball up in the air (I refuse to dignify this 'tactic' with the term 'box kick') or taking three lateral steps before giving his first receiver man and ball. More than one game needed to efface the memory of the fact that he wasn't even England's first choice ten months ago.

Sexton is more talented than any of the alternatives but his game management is poor. He also disappears for periods of the game - today for most of the second half.

Farrell is improving game by game and has a great big match temperament. On balance I would go with Farrell.

Lydiate the new Hill?! I think you need a lie down. B/side is a position of strength for the NH, and Lydiate isn't even the strongest candidate. Bowe is a top player - but if neither can make the 6N I can't see either being sure of a Lions squad.

No, I didn't say the new Hill, merely the closest thing to him since Hill, which is different, isn't it? Like BamBam, your opinion that Lydiate isn't the best 6 in these islands is to be respected - I just fundamentally disagree, that's all.

Captain,you are wise.Wales have not done too well since Lydiate got injured.Funny that.Wonder if Barney can see a link?Maybe not.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Captain,you are wise.Wales have not done too well since Lydiate got injured.Funny that.Wonder if Barney can see a link?Maybe not.

So your saying your whole team is based on one player? Perhaps that's why your in the Poopie creek now?