Justin Tipuric in for Wales' injured Sam Warburton

Think the only injury Warbs has is to his pride

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21364553


... I know a stinger could be the reason, but a little suspicious in my opinion. Think the writing is on the wall for Sam, and this is a way of soothing the hurt of a captain losing his place.

Right decision though...

The most alarming thing about the BBC article is that it reports that Howley used the phrase 'rocked up'.

Should be sacked just for that.

"Injured" Warburton. Uh-huh...

Byrne must have done Howler a serious disservice in a previous life.......

Shame Warburton is not on the bench where he should be and not put him at 6 where he should not be.

glamorganalun wrote:Shame Warburton is not on the bench where he should be and not put him at 6 where he should not be.

Dont follow that... he's not in the lineup at all... Starting or Bench... Well not for this weekend anyway....

Anyone know why Kohn is not on the bench?

Please step forward Chris Robshaw, the Lions captain of 2013, growing in stature game-by-game.

offload:

kohn picked up a knock in training this week.

I do wonder if Warburton is injured to be honest.

Surely with all these injurys he keeps getting he will not take any part in the Lions tour at all.

pioden gorllewin wrote:offload:

kohn picked up a knock in training this week.

Shame. Thank you Pioden.

Casartelli wrote:The most alarming thing about the BBC article is that it reports that Howley used the phrase 'rocked up'.

Should be sacked just for that.

also spouting to the world that Ryan's had diarrhea, saying he was ill would have sufficed.

Its the easy way out for Howler, he certainly wouldn't have the guts to say he had dropped him, but then again if Sam has any balls he should come out and say so if there is any doubt.

Beds if Sam wasn't injured he'd be on the bench. He hasn't been playing badly, only by his standards. We know he can be a world beater, as demonstrated in the RWC.

These changes will only make a difference if all the players play better. Miss less tackles don't get turned over hit their lines and their marks...!

Looseheaded wrote:

Casartelli wrote:The most alarming thing about the BBC article is that it reports that Howley used the phrase 'rocked up'.

Should be sacked just for that.

also spouting to the world that Ryan's had diarrhea, saying he was ill would have sufficed.

To be honest I would have been pooping myself if I was Ryan Jones, as he is the poor sod that got handed the captains hat of a sinking ship as the captain has hopped in the lifeboat with the passengers.

IMO, Ryan should never have lost the captancy to Mathew Rees in the first place. Rees was never international captain material. Warbs conducts himself well as a captain, but Ryan should never have lost it. Suppose the problem was always where to play him, as Lydiate is nailed in the 6 (when fit) and Faliteau the 8. So Ryan has become the utility back/second row. Which is a pity, as on form, he is a good player and a true leader.

I hope he holds onto that arm band for many years yet...

But Ryan went through the phase where he was accused of being 'rubbish, overweight, living on past glories, not even regional level'. Some fans are so fickle to write our players off. I hope that Warburton's tough period as captain doesn't become an attack on his as he's a genuinely great guy (much like Ryan). The fact that Warburton initially didn't want the captaincy as he felt he was too young just shows what a mature squad guy he is.

What bedford wrote earlier in this thread about having the 'balls' to come out and say he has been dropped is ridiculous, we are lucky to have these type of players that our young rugby players want to grow up to emulate, they really do show themselves to be great guys compared to many football counterparts.

Sam is just too quiet as a captain we need someone like Dallaglio who rallies his troops when things are against them and questions the ref appropraitely when need be

chris_501 wrote:But Ryan went through the phase where he was accused of being 'rubbish, overweight, living on past glories, not even regional level'. Some fans are so fickle to write our players off. I hope that Warburton's tough period as captain doesn't become an attack on his as he's a genuinely great guy (much like Ryan). The fact that Warburton initially didn't want the captaincy as he felt he was too young just shows what a mature squad guy he is.

What bedford wrote earlier in this thread about having the 'balls' to come out and say he has been dropped is ridiculous, we are lucky to have these type of players that our young rugby players want to grow up to emulate, they really do show themselves to be great guys compared to many football counterparts.

Sorry Chris but Ryan went through a very poor patch for 12-18 motnhs and now looks back to his old self.

Ryan Jones' omission was correct, he had played poorly for months previously and deservedly lost his place to the emerging Lydiate-Warburton-Faletau combo, who were all in cracking form at the time. Since last year's GS his performances have shot up again and he is now deservedly back in contention. Please take note Mr Howley and co, sometimes omitting a player who isn't performing up to standard, thereby making a statement that he needs to perform consistently to warrant his place, actually gets the player back on track...

Maybe that would be why so many key players (Priestland, Warbs, Ryan etc) undergo these ridiculously lengthy poor patches when there's virtually no challenge for their place. We're no longer in the days when we only had Nugget to choose from FFS!

sirBiggles wrote:IMO, Ryan should never have lost the captancy to Mathew Rees in the first place. Rees was never international captain material. Warbs conducts himself well as a captain, but Ryan should never have lost it. Suppose the problem was always where to play him, as Lydiate is nailed in the 6 (when fit) and Faliteau the 8. So Ryan has become the utility back/second row. Which is a pity, as on form, he is a good player and a true leader.

I hope he holds onto that arm band for many years yet...

Sorry sirB totally dis-agree with you there, Jones was way off form and the capatincy was adding to that pressure. He was (like with Sam now) getting picked only because he was captain and not because his form warranted it.

As for Rees as skipper I thought he done a really ggod job and it was only injury that stopped him captaining us at the WC.

maestegmafia wrote:Beds if Sam wasn't injured he'd be on the bench. He hasn't been playing badly, only by his standards. We know he can be a world beater, as demonstrated in the RWC.

These changes will only make a difference if all the players play better. Miss less tackles don't get turned over hit their lines and their marks...!

Maes,

Ok I might have been a bit harsh but we all know that if he had been fit he would have played becuase Howley wouldn't have the balls to drop him. I would go far as to say that if Tips has a good game it will be Jones that takes the fall if Sam is fit for next game.