The home nations are out of the RWC: looking forward to the Lions in Aus!

After that interesting and mixed World Cup campaign from the home nations, the next big rugby event is the Lions in 2013. After witnessing a great Welsh charge (arguably ended by the ref), seeing England capitulate down under, Scotland limply walk out with out much of a fight and Ireland not quite deliver what was promised, it is an interesting time to start drafting your Lions squad to take on Aus. In my opinion at the moment there is incredible strength in the Back Row and Centre's, but not so much in the Second Row for the home nations. So your Ian McGeechan go and pick your squad after 4 weeks of intense rugby competition. I have picked my starting XV from a thirty man squad.

15. Ben Foden
14. George North
13. Manu Tuilangi
12. Jamie Roberts
11.Tommy Bowe
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Mike Phillips
8. Jamie Healslip
7. Sam Warburton
6. Tom Croft
5. Richie Gray
4. Courtney Lawes
3. Geoff Cross
2. Huw Bennet
1. Cian Healy

16. Dan Cole
17. Ross Ford
18. Gethin Jenkins
19. Alastair Kellock
20. Alan Wyn Jones
21. Sean O Brien
22. John Barclay
23. Toby Faletau
24. Ben Youngs
25. Rhys Priestland
26. Chris Ashton
27. Johnathon Davis
28. Brian O Driscoll
29. Max Evans
30. Leigh Halfpenny

So what would your team be aftert that RWC?

15- Half/Foden.
14-North.
13-Manu.
12-Roberts.
11-Bowe
10-Preistland.
9-Phillips.
8- Heaslip.
7- Warburton.
6- Lydiate.
5- Charteris.
4- Gray.
3- Adam Jones.
2- Rees.
1- Jenkins.

Front Row- All three of these players should be around still, and all three were great in 09 and despite him being injured for this WC, Rees is still a quality hooker when fit and I'd choose him over Hartley anyday.

Second Row- Charteris was immense, and Gray definitely has the class to be a great player for the Lions (Though he didn't have the greatest WC).

Back Row- Heaslip has the experience and skill to get us forward, with the Warburton/Lydiate team working well for Wales this year, I think it could become a useful pairing. Warbs for captain.

9/10- Both players managed to get the potential out of Wales' previously stagnant backs.

Centres- Speed, strength and defensively sound. MAybe lacking creativity but as was seen with Wales Priestland can get two uncreative centres working.

Wings- North goes without saying really, Bowe is a great player and deserves the spot.

FB- Halfpenny lacks experience but was fantastic when put under pressure and was allowed to roam, Foden is a very on/off player but he can inject the pace and attack into the game that could be needed.

Huw Bennet? Did you watch the gmae?7

1. Cian Healy (edges out Gethin)
2. Huw Bennett (amazingly)
3. Adam Jones (peerless)
4. Ritchie Gray (will only get better, may not make the starting 15)
5. Charteris/AWJ (without POC and DOC there are few options, charteris and AWJ look immense at the moment though)
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton (superb combination)
8. Sean O'Brein (Heaslip hasnt impressed, SOB is immense)
9. Mike Phillips (Best SH in the world at present?)
10. Rhys Preistland (Sexton and Flood are still under shadows, Preistland is likely to be first choice and will only get better)
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts (peerless)
13. ??? Tuilangi or Davies, neither had done enough
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny (can see him making a huge impact for Wales/Blues here)

16. Gethin Jenkins
17. Mike Ross
18. Dylan Hartley/(Cronin? - Wildcard)
19. AWJ/Charteris
20. Toby Faletau
21. Eion Reddan
22. Jonny Sexton
23. Davies/Tuilagi

rug568 wrote:Huw Bennet? Did you watch the gmae?7

Did you watch the tournement?

Bennett had a good game today, his jumpers were bested though

No Lawes or Croft in those Squads Wales?

trebellbobaggins wrote:No Lawes or Croft in those Squads Wales?

Lawes was VERY unimpressive this world cup (and the warmups), Croft is not good enough when compared to the talent available in the backrows.

No -one going for Kelly Brown who can cover 6,7, and 8 ?