British & Irish Lions v Barbarians, 1 June (Both teams named)

British & Irish Lions v Barbarians
Saturday 1 June, 19.30 local (11.30 GMT)
So Kon Po Stadium (a.k.a. the Hong Kong Stadium), Central, Hong Kong

Match officials:
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Assessor: Scott Young/Andrew Cole (Australia)

1. TEAMS

Barbarians:

15 Jared Payne
14 Joe Rokocoko
13 Elliot Daly
12 Casey Laulala
11 Taku Ngwenya
10 Nick Evans
9 Dimitri Yachvili

8 Sergio Parisse
7 Sam Jones
6 Samu Manoa
5 Dean Mumm
4 Marco Wentzel
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
2 Schalk Brits
1 Paul James

Replacements:
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Duncan Jones
18 Jim Hamilton
19 Imanol Harinordoquy
20 Andrea Lo Cicero
21 Kahn Fotuali'i
22 James Hook
23 Mike Tindall / [Rowan Varty if Tindall's injury prevents him playing]

British & Irish Lions

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets/Wales)
12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
11. Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

10. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)
9. Mike Phillips (Bayonne/Wales)

1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens/England)
2. Richard Hibbard (Ospreys/Wales)
3. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
4. Richie Gray (Scotland)
5. Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland, captain)
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons/Wales)
7. Justin Tuperic (Ospreys/Wales)
8. Toby Faletau (Dragons/Wales)

Replacements
16. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Ireland)
18. Matt Stevens (Saracens/England)
19. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys/wales)
20. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Ireland)
22. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/Ireland)
23. George North (Scarlets/Wales)


2. BARBARIANS SQUAD

Backs:

Jared Payne (Ulster),
Rowan Varty (DeA Tigers & Hong Kong),
Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympique & USA),
Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier & Fiji),
Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand),
Elliot Daly (London Wasps),
James Hook (Perpignan & Wales),
Nick Evans (Harlequins & New Zealand),
Kahn Fotuali'i (Ospreys & Samoa),
Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks & Wales),
Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz Olympique & France)

Forwards:

Duncan Jones (Ospreys & Wales),
BJ Botha (Munster & South Africa),
Paul James (Bath Rugby & Wales),
Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester & Italy),
Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro 92 & Italy),
Matthew Rees (Scarlets & Wales),
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso & Italy),
Schalk Brits (Saracens & South Africa),
Marco Wentzel (London Wasps & South Africa),
Jim Hamilton (Gloucester Rugby & Scotland),
Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs & Australia),
Samu Manoa (Northampton & USA),
Francois Louw (Bath Rugby & South Africa),
Sam Jones (London Wasps),
Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso & Italy),
Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais & Italy),
Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz Olympique & France)

3. LIONS SQUAD

Fullbacks:
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales, Cardiff Blues),
Stuart Hogg (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors),
Rob Kearney (Ireland, Leinster)

Wings:
Tommy Bowe (Ireland, Ulster),
Alex Cuthbert (Wales, Cardiff Blues),
Sean Maitland (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors),
George North (Wales, Scarlets)

Centres:
Jonathan Davies (Wales, Scarlets),
Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, Leinster),
Jamie Roberts (Wales, Cardiff Blues),
Manusamoa Tuilagi (England, Leicester Tigers)

Fly-halves:
Owen Farrell (England, Saracens),
Jonathan Sexton (Ireland, Leinster)

Scrum-halves:
Conor Murray (Ireland, Munster),
Mike Phillips (Wales, Bayonne),
Ben Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers)

Props:
Dan Cole (England, Leicester Tigers),
Cian Healy (Ireland, Leinster),
Gethin Jenkins (Wales, Toulon),
Adam Jones (Wales, Ospreys),
Matt Stevens (England, Saracens),
Mako Vunipola (England, Saracens)

Hookers:
Dylan Hartley (England, Northampton Saints),
Richard Hibbard (Wales, Ospreys),
Tom Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers)

Second rows:
Ian Evans (Wales, Ospreys),
Richie Gray (Scotland, Sale Sharks),
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, Ospreys),
Paul O'Connell (Ireland, Munster),
Geoff Parling (England, Leicester Tigers)

Back rows:
Tom Croft (England, Leicester Tigers),
Toby Faletau (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons),
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland, Leinster),
Dan Lydiate (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons),
Sean O'Brien (Ireland, Leinster),
Justin Tipuric (Wales, Ospreys),
Sam Warburton (Wales, Cardiff Blues)

Wont the Lions side depend on what players are potentially unavailable through prospective finals?

Good thread GC. For me I think we need to do the following for the Ba Bas game:

Win! (obviously...)

Get players short on game time immediately into the fray

Give the young inexperienced players an early game

Try some combinations out.


Now Gatland has already said the first game is likely to not include players who have missed out on some of the earlier training camps, so on the basis that Leinster, Ulster, Sarries and Leicester make the finals of their leagues I would go with the following:

1 Jenkins
2 Hibbard
3 Jones
4 Gray (gametime)
5 O'Connoll (need his experience)
6 Lydiate (gametime)
7 Warbuton (got to start your captain for the first game)
8 Faletau
9 Phillips (experience to go with Farrel)
10 Farrell
11 North
12 Roberts
13 JD2
14 Maitland
15 Hogg (get him early gametime, and put him with Maitland for familiarity)

Bench: Healy, Hartley, Cole, AWJ, SOB, Youngs, Sexton, 1/2p

Now that's 10 Welsh and 5 others, which is a lot, but I think that's what he'll go for as all of the starting XV will have been at every training camp.

Big, powerful side and pressure on the Welsh to perform and justify so many of them going!

Why is this game played in Hong Kong?

Biltong wrote:Why is this game played in Hong Kong?

££££££££££££££££

Biltong wrote:Why is this game played in Hong Kong?

Q. Who is the Lions' principal sponsor?
A. HSBC

So, clearly no rats to be smelled there.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Biltong wrote:Why is this game played in Hong Kong?

££££££££££££££££

HSBC are the Lions sponsors - definitely the money!

But since I live in Singapore and it is the first decent (hopefully) rugby I will have seen live in a year and a half - game on!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Good thread GC. For me I think we need to do the following for the Ba Bas game:

Win! (obviously...)

Get players short on game time immediately into the fray

Give the young inexperienced players an early game

Try some combinations out.


Now Gatland has already said the first game is likely to not include players who have missed out on some of the earlier training camps, so on the basis that Leinster, Ulster, Sarries and Leicester make the finals of their leagues I would go with the following:

1 Jenkins
2 Hibbard
3 Jones
4 Gray (gametime)
5 O'Connoll (need his experience)
6 Lydiate (gametime)
7 Warbuton (got to start your captain for the first game)
8 Faletau
9 Phillips (experience to go with Farrel)
10 Farrell
11 North
12 Roberts
13 JD2
14 Maitland
15 Hogg (get him early gametime, and put him with Maitland for familiarity)

Bench: Healy, Hartley, Cole, AWJ, SOB, Youngs, Sexton, 1/2p

Now that's 10 Welsh and 5 others, which is a lot, but I think that's what he'll go for as all of the starting XV will have been at every training camp.

Big, powerful side and pressure on the Welsh to perform and justify so many of them going!

Can't fault your thinking, RDW.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Good thread GC. For me I think we need to do the following for the Ba Bas game:

Win! (obviously...)

Get players short on game time immediately into the fray

Give the young inexperienced players an early game

Try some combinations out.


Now Gatland has already said the first game is likely to not include players who have missed out on some of the earlier training camps, so on the basis that Leinster, Ulster, Sarries and Leicester make the finals of their leagues I would go with the following:

Shame on you, RDW.

Yeah it was a tough decision GC, but I had to go with the head not the heart!

Plus it will mean Hogg and Maitland can lay claim to the test spot...

Nice to see Rowan Varty getting the call up for the Ba-Ba's, I hope he gets a decent run out in HK.

Lets be honest, this game is a bit of a money spinner, but actually I think its a good thing to have an extra game to get the players up to speed with what Gatland wants from them. This will surely be more effective than an extra week of training.

Jaque Fourie was listed in the news originally but has been left out of the most recent announcement. They also said they will still be adding to the squad.

If he is added it looks a very dangerous side indeed with a potential team of

James, Rees, Castrogiovanni, Hamiliton, Wentzel, Harinordique, Louw, Parisse, Yachvili, Evans, Rokocoko, Hook, Fourie, Ngwenya, Payne.

Probably the most competitive Baa baas side I've seen in 20 years.... recent years players have had big reputations but have been has-beens.... very few has-beens in this lineup....with yet more to come.

Given Gatland has said he is not select any players who are involved in the latter stages of domestic cup competitions... so lets say its a Leicester vs. Saracens AP final and a Ulster vs. Leinster Rabo final.

That takes out

Tuilagi, Farrell, Youngs, Cole, Stevens, Vunipola, Youngs, Parling, Croft, Bowe, Kearney, O'Driscoll, Sexton, Healy, Heaslip & O'Brien.

Could mean the lions are fielding a near all welsh XV... which in some ways would be good as they would be well drilled and used to each other... although who plays 10?

from the players available it could be

Jenkins, Hibbard, Jones, Jones, O'Connell, Warburton, Tipuric, Faletau, Murray, "A flyhalf", North, Roberts, Davies, Maitland, Hogg.

In some ways I think the lions will be favourites as the near all welsh XV would be so used to each other it would be like another test match for them with a few exceptions.
However with James and Rees especially it will mess with their calls and I think the Baabaas can upset them in the set piece.
The backrow of the Baabaas looks especially good and the backline looks lethal.

If the Baabaas play in their way I think they could force the lions into an open match and that could upset the lions gameplan and could make things very difficult for them.

Lions have the edge at the moment IMO but I think the Baabaas have a very good chance of snatching victory... both teams will be green, the Welsh XV with a non welsh playmaker will take time to adjust so it won't be all plain sailing. Whoever plays flyhalf for the lions will be playing 2 games in 8 days.... enough perhaps for a player who knows the calls but with travel etc they won't be able to start training until Monday at the earliest, perhaps even Tuesday. A loss here could upset the entire tour. Its a very important match and interestingly enough, the most difficult of the non test matches.

I think the Baa baas will win, think back to 2005 and the Lions were lucky to draw against a 2/3rd choice Argentina team in their 1st game.

Looking at the baa baas possible team, it isn't a bad team at all.

Went to that match, everyone was still trying to be upbeat post game but somehow we all knew it wasn't going to be a great tour.... if you can't beat Argentina at home what are your chances vs. NZ away???

This match is as big as a Northern Transvaal/NZ Maori match (i.e. the unofficial test match in the series)... that fact its up first and Gatland has only 1 week with his players will make it worrying.

The Baabaas will be fresh and the players they have chosen... guys like Parisse, Harinordique, Evans, Fourie etc... they're all wily old characters who are very experienced and skillful.... what you need in these environments. I don't see similar skill/experience levels in the possible lions backline (considering no players from Leicester/Leinster/Saracens and Ulster).

Good tough opener for the Lions, it will be mostly players not in Finals starting right?

That Baabaas team has the potential to turn us over given that the Lions will not have much longer to bond than they do (unless they go for a lot of combos)

sadly with all the possible missing players it might be a Wales select xv with hogg at 10...

that would take away from the ethos of the lions IMHO, so I would like to see at least Hartley, Grey, POC, Murray, Maitland all in the starting lineup.

My team would go...

Jenkins
Hartley
Jones
Grey
Evans
Lydiate
Warburton
Falatau
Murray
Hogg
North
Roberts
Davies
Maitland
1/2p

Hibbard
Vunipola
Cole
POC
Tipuric
Phillips
Sexton
Cuthbert

God we're light at 10 from the off!!!

I agree we're likely to see a Welsh Select XV with a handful of other players. I think something along the following:

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Richard Hibbard
03 Adam Jones
04 Alun Wyn Jones
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Dan Lydiate
07 Sam Warburton
08 Jamie Heaslip
09 Mike Phillips
10 Stuart Hogg
11 Alex Cuthebert
12 Jamie Roberts
13 Jonathan Davies
14 Sean Maitland
15 Leigh Halfpenny

16 Dylan Hartley
17 Mako Vunipola
18 Matt Stevens
19 Richie Gray
20 Sean O'Brien
21 Conor Murray
22 Jonathan Sexton
23 Manu Tuilagi

Strikes me as a game where we will see a lot of change. I could see an all Welsh front row starting with an all English one finishing the game.

Personally the backrow needs either Heaslip or Croft. Falatau, Lydiate and Warburton lacks a lineout option. O'Brien is the ultimate backrow sub.

The decision for number 10 will be interesting. Hogg will play there I'm sure with Halfpenny taking the kicks. It might just work but I seriously hope we dont come near using it in a test match.

Hogg's last start at 10 was in school rugby right??? and will be facing a backrow of Parisse, Louw and Harinordique.... ouch!

Would love to see James, and Rees really take it to lions front row... both should feel unforunate esp. James. By the end of the match they may be swapping kits depending on injuries.

Am I right in thinking that Jenkins may well be in the Top14 Final which would rule him out of this game?

There are potentially a lot of missing names due to the Rabo and Aviva Finals.

I hear there is some talk in the papers about Hook getting called in for this game

For starters this is a MUST win, the 05 draw with argie set the tone for a farcical tour in NZ...this has to be a convincing W so i expect a wales team plus impact bench....POC will figure as will BOD and the 9/10 axis worries me. The ba ba squad looks average in the backs and the Lions should win comfortably

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Am I right in thinking that Jenkins may well be in the Top14 Final which would rule him out of this game?

There are potentially a lot of missing names due to the Rabo and Aviva Finals.

Jenkins is being granted release as he is leaving Toulon at end of season. So he won't be playing in the Top14 finals... may be cleaning Andy Sheridans spare pair of boots in the HC final mind.

100%beefy wrote:For starters this is a MUST win, the 05 draw with argie set the tone for a farcical tour in NZ...this has to be a convincing W so i expect a wales team plus impact bench....POC will figure as will BOD and the 9/10 axis worries me. The ba ba squad looks average in the backs and the Lions should win comfortably

Average in the backs???

9. Yachvilli
10. Evans
11. Rokocoko
12. Hook
13. Fourie
14. Ngwenya
15. Payne

Yep, average.

no way BOD will feature either if Leinster play in the Rabo final.

At his age he needs to be managed... until the tests come along he can't play a domestic final then the biggest and most competitive lions match prior to the tests in 8 days.... unless you want Brad Barritt to replace him???

I'm sure that fella from Hong Kong will start just for the local support. Anyone know what position he is?

fa0019 wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Am I right in thinking that Jenkins may well be in the Top14 Final which would rule him out of this game?

There are potentially a lot of missing names due to the Rabo and Aviva Finals.

Jenkins is being granted release as he is leaving Toulon at end of season. So he won't be playing in the Top14 finals... may be cleaning Andy Sheridans spare pair of boots in the HC final mind.

Oh great, thanks for the info.

I'm expecting

Jenkins-Hibbard-Jones
POC-Gray
Croft-Faletau-Tipuric
Murray-Hogg
Roberts-Davies
North-Halfpenny-Maitland

That being said that could all completely change if Leicester/Saracens/Leinster/Ulster don't make it to their respective finals

Pete I cant see a situation where Sam Warburton the captain is not selected.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I'm sure that fella from Hong Kong will start just for the local support. Anyone know what position he is?

Varty is a 7s specialist - they won't play him anywhere other than a wing.

They should have included more "bitter" Lions rejects in the Baa Baas squad.

Imagine the tension had Robshaw and Brown been on the Baa Baas flanks against Dan Lydiate - or Rory Best versus Dylan Hartley. Or Danny Care against Connor Murray.

This could have been a great grudge match. Missed opportunity.

We'll have to settle for James Hook demonstrating to Owen Farrell how to pass a rugby ball instead.....

red_stag wrote:Pete I cant see a situation where Sam Warburton the captain is not selected.

Excellent point. Totally forgot about that minor detail!

Wow, Sam Jones is in the Baa Baa's squad.

Dai Young is head coach so I guess that's why. A fantastic learning curve for another young genuine 7. Why didn't Lancaster realise that England needed one?



Gats has pretty much said that it will be mainly Welsh lads in the Lions team for this one. He would also be wise to put in POC (and Hartley if available) for some other leaders on the field, as Warburton hasn't captained for a few games.

That's not a criticism of Warbs btw, before some of you more sensitive souls start hammering away at your keyboards.

I'm just looking at the need to get the tour off to a good start.

First game, Warburton should start if fit.... especially in the biggest match of the non tests.

You need your captain to perform in tough environments both as a player and as a leader... not utilise his skill only in 50-0 drubbings vs. the 2nd team of the Force and Rebels (i.e. 2 of the worst teams in SR... and that's their 1st team).... hell, guys like Austin Healey would look like a good captain in those matches.

funnyExiledScot wrote:We'll have to settle for James Hook demonstrating to Owen Farrell how to pass a rugby ball to an opposition centre instead.....

There's every chance.

fa0019 wrote:

100%beefy wrote:For starters this is a MUST win, the 05 draw with argie set the tone for a farcical tour in NZ...this has to be a convincing W so i expect a wales team plus impact bench....POC will figure as will BOD and the 9/10 axis worries me. The ba ba squad looks average in the backs and the Lions should win comfortably

Average in the backs???

9. Yachvilli
10. Evans
11. Rokocoko
12. Hook
13. Fourie
14. Ngwenya
15. Payne

Yep, average.

and that's ignoring Fotuali'I

OP updated for the full Ba-ba's squad.

funnyExiledScot wrote:They should have included more "bitter" Lions rejects in the Baa Baas squad.

Imagine the tension had Robshaw and Brown been on the Baa Baas flanks against Dan Lydiate - or Rory Best versus Dylan Hartley. Or Danny Care against Connor Murray.

This could have been a great grudge match. Missed opportunity.

We'll have to settle for James Hook demonstrating to Owen Farrell how to pass a rugby ball instead.....

If Care and Robshaw are playing rugby this summer then it might as well be for England though.

Saracens' loss now means that Vunipola, Farrell and Stevens will be available for training, so we've (depending on your point of view) dodged a bullet with the fly half situation.

Hope they fly Air New Zealand if the game is in Hong Kong.

Seems a good way to break up the journey and minimise the effects of jet lag. Plus a good side will hopefully bring out the best in the Lions selected and put them in the right frame of mind for the tour. No point in playing a rubbish side. Get the minds focused on performance and getting the basics right.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Hope they fly Air New Zealand if the game is in Hong Kong.

Seems a good way to break up the journey and minimise the effects of jet lag. Plus a good side will hopefully bring out the best in the Lions selected and put them in the right frame of mind for the tour. No point in playing a rubbish side. Get the minds focused on performance and getting the basics right.

Air NZ closed that route in March Kia - a couple of friends of mine (London based air hostesses) lost their jobs as a result.


Otherwise, yep, good stopover.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Hope they fly Air New Zealand if the game is in Hong Kong.

Seems a good way to break up the journey and minimise the effects of jet lag. Plus a good side will hopefully bring out the best in the Lions selected and put them in the right frame of mind for the tour. No point in playing a rubbish side. Get the minds focused on performance and getting the basics right.

Air NZ closed that route in March Kia - a couple of friends of mine (London based air hostesses) lost their jobs as a result.


Otherwise, yep, good stopover.

Actually, do the Lions have an airline for a sponsor?

I saw an ad the other day saying they were "powered by Windows8" which was almost enough to make me start supporting the Wallabies on the spot*, such is my dislike for Microsoft's newest OS


* I've reserved judgement in case an Aussie sponsor is equally distasteful

So there's no way to fly through Asia with them now Pete? That sucks! Flying through the States is a pain in the proverbial even if you're allowed twice the luggage. Will just have to put up with Singapore Airlines then.

Pete... come on dude...the Aussies are the worst surely for sponsorship plugs.

Its Quantas Wallabies this Quantas Wallabies that. Every time a player is interviewed they thank the sponsors. Same in Super Rugby.

You see it in AUS tennis too... I'm sure in the Australian Open they force the players (most of whom aren't Australian) to plug the sponsors... "buy a kia" etc on finals day.

You cannot buy me. Unless you pay me a really big amount!

not as bad mind as that nike swoosh the RFU tricked the England fans into raising before a game a while back.... that was the worst plug of all time. Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You cannot buy me. Unless you pay me a really big amount!

Don't worry dude... on 606 you are priceless.

Those from/in the SH are a rare commodity on this "Wales are the best in the world" forum... without the odd SH chap I think we might as well all move to Cardiff, change the colours of the forum to red and marry our cousins!

Oh you'll pay for that remark.

Thats a ferocious looking Barbarians front row.

Paul James, Schalk Brits, Martin Castrogiovanni, Andrea lo Cicero, Matthew Rees, BJ Botha, Duncan Jones, Leonardo Ghilardini

That will really test the Lions in the scrum.

fa0019 wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You cannot buy me. Unless you pay me a really big amount!

Don't worry dude... on 606 you are priceless.

Those from/in the SH are a rare commodity on this "Wales are the best in the world" forum... without the odd SH chap I think we might as well all move to Cardiff, change the colours of the forum to red and marry our cousins!

Oh no you didn't, girlfriend. It was nice knowing you...

Barbarians by 15-20. Worst Lions squad in living memory, if they where playing in the garden I'd close the curtains.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You cannot buy me. Unless you pay me a really big amount!

An old teacher of mine used to say... Every man has his price, mine is lower than most...

This is the second Baa Baas game (after England) assuming all this seasons games will be finished, so with that in mind I would suggest this as the starting 15 and bench


That was damn hard to select especially the bench, must have changed my mind half a dozen times........ phew!