Barbarians team vs The Lions

OK Barbarians were awful against England. Truly shocking. Came to life a bit when the likes of Yachvilli and Dean Mumm came on.
Anyway I really want the Barbarians to push the Lions as far as they can. They have the players they just need a platform and some back room staff to help them.
So I am intrigued to see what other people's Barbarians team will be next week who can do a job on the Lions, as they need to be tested if they are to win the series in Australia.
Here is my Barbarians team for next week:
1. Paul James
2. Matthew Rees
3. Martin Castrogiovanni
4. Jim Hamilton (yes he played bad today but I think he will step up against the lions as he would be upset not to get in the lions team)
5. Samu Manoa
6. Alessandro Zanni
7. Fracois Louw
8. Parisse

9. Dimitri Yachvilli
10. Nick Evans
11. Joe Rockocoko
12. Jaque Fourie
13. Casey Laulala
14. Takudzwa Ngwenya
15. Jared Payne

16. Ghiraldini, 17. Lo Cicireo, 18. James Johnstone, 19. Dean Mumm, 20. Imanol, 21. Kahn Fotuali, 22. James Hook, 23. Mike Tindall

A strong scrum is needed next week and with the Lions looshead likely to be Vunipolo as Gatland has expressed that he will not start people playing the week before. So Gethin was set to play Toulsue but dropped out injured before the game and Cian played in the final of the Rabo. So Vunipolo will be a weakness in the scrum. A player like Castro can do some damage but the problem is that the great one is likely to start (Adam Jones by the way), but if Paul can just hold him of the Barbarians can get a descent platform to release Parisse from the scrum. Something they missed today.

That Baa Baas back 3 of Rokocoko, Ngwenya and Payne looks absolutely lethal.

People often speculate about the Lions being outdated and irrelevant in the modern era, i'm afraid that it's the Baa Baa brand that may end up on the block if that was anything to go by.

Afraid i don't see MV as a wekaness in the scrum! Your team looks right to me though, that's a helluva pack on paper but can they work as a unit.

100%beefy wrote:People often speculate about the Lions being outdated and irrelevant in the modern era, i'm afraid that it's the Baa Baa brand that may end up on the block if that was anything to go by.

Afraid i don't see MV as a wekaness in the scrum! Your team looks right to me though, that's a helluva pack on paper but can they work as a unit.

Vunipolo is a great prop is the loose, so talented. But his strength in the loose isn't going to help him in the scrum. Nearly every game have seen hi in he has been outstanding in the loose but when it came to scrum time he seems to struggle against some of the bigger teams like Ulster, Harlequins and Leicester. The Aussies even though their scrum has been criticised can still be a danger.
Just look back at last autumn. The following week they got destroyed in the scrum against France, England were publically saying they would target the Aussie scrum which must have rattled the like of Benn Robinson and Alexander because they made ends meat of Cole and Co at the scrum. I just feel that if Vunipolo does start a Test he won't be able to make up in the loose for what he does in the scrum. He is still young and props at his age aren't strong, he needs more time. Way too young for a prop to be going on a lions tour.

Below is what I'd field:

1.James
2.Brits
3.Castro
4.Hamilton - Had a bad game but offers huge physical presence so I'd stick with him
5.Mumm
6.Zanni
7.Louw
8.Parrise

9.Fotuali'i
10.Evans

11.Rokocoko
12.Hook
13.Laulala
14.Ngwenya
15.Payne

16.Ghiraldini
17.Lo Cicero
18.Johnstone
19.Manoa
20.Harinordoquy
21.Yachvili
22.Fourie
23.Daly

Taking into account Gatland stating he wont pick players who played this weekend I'd say the below team is fairly likely and could struggle against the Barbarians if they play heads up attacking rugby.

1.Jenkins 2.Hibbard 3.Jones 4.Gray 5.POC 6.Lydiate 7.Warburton 8.Faletau
9.Phillips 10.Farrell 11.North 12.Roberts 13.Davies 14.Cuthbert 15.Halfpenny
16.Best 17.Vunipola 18.Stevens 19.Wyn Jones 20.Tipuric 21.Murray 22.Hogg 23.Maitland

With so many players playing this weekend I'd say above won't be a million miles from the side we'll see against the Barbarians.

The Lions who played the week before are Best, Jenkins, Healy, Cole, Youngs, Parling, Croft, O'Brien, Heaslip, Youngs, Sexton, O'Driscoll and Tuilagi as well a Kearney who pulled out through injury which leaves the Lions with just one hooker who will know all the calls.
I'd personally go for:
1. Vunipola
2. Hibbard
3. Jones
4. Gray
5. O'Connell
6. Warburton
7. Tipuric
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Farrell
11. North
12. Roberts
13. Davies
14. Maitland
15. Halfpenny

16. Jenkins
17. Either Youngs or Best
18. Stevens
19. Jones
20. Lydiate
21. Murray
22. Hogg
23. Cuthbert

Mike Tindall captained the Ba Baas, does he stay as Captain for the next game or is the honour shared around, cos if hes captain again then he'll have to start

Kingshu wrote:Mike Tindall captained the Ba Baas, does he stay as Captain for the next game or is the honour shared around, cos if hes captain again then he'll have to start

They'll probably play as many British/Irish players as possible as they're likely to be more psyched up for the game,

Kingshu wrote:Mike Tindall captained the Ba Baas, does he stay as Captain for the next game or is the honour shared around, cos if hes captain again then he'll have to start

I have a feeling that Pariise will be captain, they saved him last week for a reason.

Also Gethin Jenkins is likely to miss the Hong Kong game. He strained his calf last week and is set to be out for up to 4 days. He might make the bench but he will definitely not be starting. I hope they rest him to be honest because I want him to be 100% for the tour and not have this niggle all the way thtough, he is a too good of a player to take a chance on him for the Hong Kong game. Let him rest.
This means that Vunipolo is now set to start meaning that Carsto MUST start for the barbarians. Their will be a weakness their and the Barbarians need to target him at the scrum.

Rokococo doesnt have the pace anymore to be on the wing. He fact he has successfully converted to 13 for bayonne after a first dreadfull season.

Against England the defence was so porous... every one in ones and twos with no structure at all, not coming up in a line or anything. And then they were second to every breakdown. If they don't sort it out it will be the easiest match on tour.

It would be a shame if the BaaBaas didn't improve because with the talent they have this should be a cracker.

Tindall and Rokocoko are likely to start at 11 and 12 and thats a bit of a problem because they are pretty slow and ineffective now. Rokocoko to 13 would be fine but Lualala was their best back at Twickenham.

Notch wrote:Against England the defence was so porous... every one in ones and twos with no structure at all, not coming up in a line or anything. And then they were second to every breakdown. If they don't sort it out it will be the easiest match on tour.

It would be a shame if the BaaBaas didn't improve because with the talent they have this should be a cracker.

Exactly they didn't even have simple pods of 3 which is primary school rugby. The whole layout of their attack and defence was a mess. Don't know what Dai Young has been doing with them but it hasn't been rugby training or bonding. Maybe a few games of tick tack toe and darts after their performance.

That Baabaa's team does look good.

In the B'rians defence they found a lot more structure and rhythm in the final 15 or so against England, started making a few inroads in attack and giving more time and space to Daly. Evans, Kahn and Yachvili will help massively, Tins/Lalala not being centre's will help as well, maybe Hook at 12 because he was Poopie at 10? Parisse and Castro could both be massive helps as well and Louw is a wrecking ball, he'll actually add some direction and leadership and if he brings his aggression levels to the Barbarians then they'll hopefully be an entirely different beast.

I'd still have Daly on one wing and not play Rococoko.

Rumours Jenkins may not be available due to calf injury suffered playing for Toulon.

Finally I know it's just wishfull thinking but i'd have loved to have seen a couple more B&I players in the baabaa's.

Guys like Varndell, Care and Robshaw would have given far more i'm sure against Eng and the Baabaa's then some of these SH or French players who seem to not give a damn.

wade would have been great to see

yappysnap wrote:Finally I know it's just wishfull thinking but i'd have loved to have seen a couple more B&I players in the baabaa's.

Guys like Varndell, Care and Robshaw would have given far more i'm sure against Eng and the Baabaa's then some of these SH or French players who seem to not give a damn.

Totally agree Yappy.

I was secretly hoping for a Ba-bas backline that looked like this:

9. Nikola Matawalu (Fiji)
10. Freddie Burns (England)
11. Takudzwa Ngwenya (USA)
12. Luke Marshall (Ireland)
13. Jaque Fourie (South Africa)
14. Christian Wade (England)
15. Jared Payne (New Zealand)

bedfordwelsh wrote:Rumours Jenkins may not be available due to calf injury suffered playing for Toulon.

Seems that he has now been definitely ruled out from the opener.

Gutting for Gethin, but he will be back so no worries for all the welsh fans out there. So Vunipolo it is
Seems like a got it wrong with Rockoko, I just set him n beuase he had the experience at this level but I haven't been watching him so I trust the majority.
Daly did impress me in the second half, a bit weak in the first half which is why I have my worries. May change my selection slightly then from Rockocko to Daly, I hope you are all right about Daly.

The likes of Burns and Wade who are on tour with England sadly wouldn't be available but guys such as Care, Robshaw and Ryan Jones would have been great to see:

1.James
2.Brits
3.Castro
4.Hamilton
5.Mumm
6.Jones
7.Robshaw
8.Parisse

9.Care
10.Evans

11.Ngwenya
12.Hook
13.Lualala
14.Simpson-Daniel
15.Byrne

Stronger team this week

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.

http://www.planetrugby.com/lions/story/0,25883,16024_8740886,00.html

Do we know when the Lions side is going to be announced?

Jhamer25 wrote:

100%beefy wrote:People often speculate about the Lions being outdated and irrelevant in the modern era, i'm afraid that it's the Baa Baa brand that may end up on the block if that was anything to go by.

Afraid i don't see MV as a wekaness in the scrum! Your team looks right to me though, that's a helluva pack on paper but can they work as a unit.

Vunipolo is a great prop is the loose, so talented. But his strength in the loose isn't going to help him in the scrum. Nearly every game have seen hi in he has been outstanding in the loose but when it came to scrum time he seems to struggle against some of the bigger teams like Ulster, Harlequins and Leicester. The Aussies even though their scrum has been criticised can still be a danger.
Just look back at last autumn. The following week they got destroyed in the scrum against France, England were publically saying they would target the Aussie scrum which must have rattled the like of Benn Robinson and Alexander because they made ends meat of Cole and Co at the scrum. I just feel that if Vunipolo does start a Test he won't be able to make up in the loose for what he does in the scrum. He is still young and props at his age aren't strong, he needs more time. Way too young for a prop to be going on a lions tour.

The Ozzies played a very different tight five against France compared to the team fielded against England. Marler was the one really struggling and I felt that Vaunipola did a lot better when he came on.
As ever though - there is a lot riding on referees interpretation.

LondonTiger wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Rumours Jenkins may not be available due to calf injury suffered playing for Toulon.

Seems that he has now been definitely ruled out from the opener.

Gats could try Toulon's no 1 loose head instead.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Do we know when the Lions side is going to be announced?

Tomorrow.

Slight issue with Sam Warburton, who picked up a knock and is going to be assessed tomorrow. Hope he is okay.

I think when Oz played France they had Palota-Nau, Kepu and one other that I cant remember.
For the England game they had - Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Very much a 1st team front row - that's what the Lions will have to deal with.

Jhamer - why do you think Castro will be too strong for Vunipola? Castro may still be first choice for Italy (with Cittadini pressing him hard), but he has only started 7-8 games for Tigers this season*.

There's a reason for that; his best years are behind him. *He has now left the Tigers citing his lack of starts as the reason, but as far as I know no team has come in for him. Surely that says something about him.

A decent enough t/h in his day, but not any more.

Jhamer25 wrote:Gutting for Gethin, but he will be back so no worries for all the welsh fans out there. So Vunipolo it is
Seems like a got it wrong with Rockoko, I just set him n beuase he had the experience at this level but I haven't been watching him so I trust the majority.
Daly did impress me in the second half, a bit weak in the first half which is why I have my worries. May change my selection slightly then from Rockocko to Daly, I hope you are all right about Daly.

Yeh but we have heard that before ain't necessarily so.

dragonbreath wrote:

Jhamer25 wrote:Gutting for Gethin, but he will be back so no worries for all the welsh fans out there. So Vunipolo it is
Seems like a got it wrong with Rockoko, I just set him n beuase he had the experience at this level but I haven't been watching him so I trust the majority.
Daly did impress me in the second half, a bit weak in the first half which is why I have my worries. May change my selection slightly then from Rockocko to Daly, I hope you are all right about Daly.

Yeh but we have heard that before ain't necessarily so.

Gethin will apparently be back for the next game, he just loses his headstart over Cian Healy

Hound of Harrow wrote:Jhamer - why do you think Castro will be too strong for Vunipola? Castro may still be first choice for Italy (with Cittadini pressing him hard), but he has only started 7-8 games for Tigers this season*.

There's a reason for that; his best years are behind him. *He has now left the Tigers citing his lack of starts as the reason, but as far as I know no team has come in for him. Surely that says something about him.

A decent enough t/h in his day, but not any more.

I think with Castro its a money thing - Clubs cant afford him although plenty would be happy to have him in their squads.
Its not easy to fit an international TH into an already full salary cap for a lot of teams.

wales606 wrote:Stronger team this week

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.

http://www.planetrugby.com/lions/story/0,25883,16024_8740886,00.html

Doesn't seem to be a TH on the bench, it seems a big ask to ask Castro to play 80 with so little Rugby this year. They obviously think Vunipola is a lightweight. Oh wait a minute he is

dragonbreath wrote:

wales606 wrote:Stronger team this week

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.

http://www.planetrugby.com/lions/story/0,25883,16024_8740886,00.html

Doesn't seem to be a TH on the bench, it seems a big ask to ask Castro to play 80 with so little Rugby this year. They obviously think Vunipola is a lightweight. Oh wait a minute he is

It does seem strange, Paul James is the THP cover - so either he or Castro will have to play 80 minutes.

If the Baabaas scrum gets some weight then they should be able to hold the Lions front row, Paul James is a very good loosehead and Castro should be able to hold Vunipola.

propdavid_london wrote:I think when Oz played France they had Palota-Nau, Kepu and one other that I cant remember.
For the England game they had - Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Very much a 1st team front row - that's what the Lions will have to deal with.

They also had a lot of help against England from the Assistant Refs, who persistently missed binding on the hem of the sleeve. I can understand if a ref doesn't blow for an armpit bind, but the Aussie tactic was so blatant it's hard to understand how they missed it. Still, I doubt the Lions refs will be any more observant...

True Poorfour - The Oz pack (when they have their 1st choice out) is incredibly good at dealing with big well drilled pack. I don't want to call it cheating (there is no cheating in the front row), but negative tactics.

Be it slipping binds, boring in or getting an early nudge on.
Dropping the scrum as soon as the ball is at the no.8's feet so the ref wont reset etc.
(If the refs are accurate then Oz should be pinged off the park - but as we know southern hemi refs tend to like letting the game flow - which means ignoring most of these)

All negative tactics that work well for Oz - Lions pack have to be technically skilful as well as just bringing brute power to the table.

Warburton possibly out of the Barbarians match:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22701786

Tindall possibly out too - Rowan Varty is on standby to replace him in front of his home crowd.

Some odd selections I think, I mean they don't use fourie or hook who are more experienced at centres, Daly is good but I would say his defence is one of his weaknesses. Why the he'll is there 2 loosehead cover. Where is louw and why isn't he even in the team.

It a bit of a surprise Jenkins isn't on the bench. Unless he's injured(?), he will undoubtedly start on Tuesday with probably MV on the bench.

It looks like a strong indicator that Healy will be the first choice Loosehead and despite him playing last Saturday, Gatland may be wanting to get him on the weekend cycle asap.

Jhamer25 wrote:Some odd selections I think, I mean they don't use fourie or hook who are more experienced at centres, Daly is good but I would say his defence is one of his weaknesses. Why the he'll is there 2 loosehead cover. Where is louw and why isn't he even in the team.

Louw is confusing I agree, Fourie I think isn't actually in the squad. Daly is better at defending at Centre than his size and age would imply and I think he's a better centre than a FB. Hook was literally dire last week which is probably why he isn't starting

I'd have Daly over Tins at 13 every day, he can actually keep up with play and is sensational ball in hand.

The Great Aukster wrote:It a bit of a surprise Jenkins isn't on the bench. Unless he's injured(?), he will undoubtedly start on Tuesday with probably MV on the bench.

It looks like a strong indicator that Healy will be the first choice Loosehead and despite him playing last Saturday, Gatland may be wanting to get him on the weekend cycle asap.

are you on the international space station? just asking.

The Great Aukster wrote:It a bit of a surprise Jenkins isn't on the bench. Unless he's injured(?), he will undoubtedly start on Tuesday with probably MV on the bench.

It looks like a strong indicator that Healy will be the first choice Loosehead and despite him playing last Saturday, Gatland may be wanting to get him on the weekend cycle asap.

Gethin is injured, Healy is the only other available LHP

Yes Jenkins will be back for the next game on the bench I would say, then he will start the next one.
But it depends on whether he is back for Tuesday game
Anyway he is the bet loosehead going on that tour.
So don't worry he will be fine