The Times' opinion on the Lions

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Making other plans

Chris Ashton
Ben Foden
Sean Lamont
Andrew Trimble
Rhys Priestland
James Hook
Andrew Sheridan
Ross Ford
Stephen Ferris
Geoff Parling

Waiting by the phone

Conor Murray
Jonny Wilkinson
Craig Gilroy
Matt Scott
Simon Zebo
Dan Lydiate
Tom Croft
Billy Vunipola
Johnnie Beattie
Ryan Grant

In the departure lounge

Tim Visser
Alex Cuthbert
Sean Maitland
Jamie Roberts
Greig Laidlaw
Jonathan Davies
Dan Biggar
Dan Cole
Euan Murray
Tom Youngs
Dylan Hartley
Jim Hamilton
Paul O’Connell
Donnacha Ryan
Richie Gray
Ian Evans
Jamie Heaslip
Chris Robshaw
Kelly Brown

On the plane

Leigh Halfpenny
Rob Kearney
Stuart Hogg
George North
Brian O'Driscoll
Manu Tuilagi
Ben Youngs
Mike Phillips
Jonathan Sexton
Owen Farrell
Adam Jones
Gethin Jenkins
Cian Healey
Rory Best
Richard Hibbard
Alun Wyn Jones
Joe Launchbury
Sam Warburton
Justin Tipuric
Sean O’Brien
Tom Wood
Toby Faletau

Thoughts? Harsh on Parling and Paul James and Ryan Jones (not even mentioned)? Kind on one of Tom Youngs and Hartley (fair to assume two English hookers won't go).

Cuthbert scores three tries in two championship winning matches in back to back seasons. There's nobody better at the moment. Plus he's enormous.

Suits you, Sir.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

100%beefy wrote:

reallybored wrote:As a Scot, I'd take Farrell ahead of Biggar every day of the week because quite simply he is a better class of player.

elaborate

He's not Welsh, so his laziness won't drag the tour down.

he is lazy...when did England last score a try?

13579 dan biggar is the real deal, believe me. it's not his fault howley persisted with priestland in the autumn , ( we lost!!!!!) this guy has only had 5 consecutive games for wales and only his first 6 nations. COMMMMME ON!!!!!

WHO CAME OUT ON TOP ( same amount of caps) under pressure FARRELL OR BIGGAR. AS DEAN RYAN SAID ON TV TONIGHT 'DAN BIGGAR HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN THE CREDIT HE DESERVES .

wise up every one this guy has got the package to make it really big. trust me . english pundits shouting farrell , its all they see. dont see dan week in week out , kicking terrific points for the ospreys, sexton on experience,but dan over farrell any day

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:I wouldn't have said Launchbury was ahead of Ian Evans, and surely Dan Cole goes as second choice tighthead behind Adam Jones (is there another credible candidate??).

I really don't think BOD is "on the plane" either. Needs a big finish to the season with Leinster in my view.

I think Jonny Wilkinson will be waiting by the phone a very very long time.

No I would have Dan Cole as starting tighthead. Jones may shade Cole in the scrum but Cole is better in every other way and that will pay dividends v Australia IMO who arent known for their scrummaging.

Fair enough. The point I was making is that both Jones and Cole are utter certainties to tour. I think you'll be able to sift between them on the tour itself.

100%beefy wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

100%beefy wrote:

reallybored wrote:As a Scot, I'd take Farrell ahead of Biggar every day of the week because quite simply he is a better class of player.

elaborate

He's not Welsh, so his laziness won't drag the tour down.

he is lazy...when did England last score a try?

I was joking. I thought that would be obvious......