The 606v2 Lions Selection TH Lock

Alright guys!

I figured we could get this going to give us a bit of a heads up on the general consensus of opinions for Lions Test shirts. We'll have a starting XV in no time BUT I am going to leave vote cancelling on so people can change their minds over the next 8 days or so.

Keep the debate honest and punch above the belt.  

ps: remember this is not a prediction, it is a "who would YOU select" poll.

Evans
To me Evans has looked relatively poor on tour which is at odds to how well he played during the 6Nations. He has made some very basic errors, he has fallen off more tackles than he will want to think about and hasn't really imposed himself on the game. That being said in a tougher game his graft and undoubted power may be very useful

O'Connell
Has played really well since coming back from injury. Looks physically stronger in the upper body and with Penny has developed some good skills. He is exceptional at lineout time and adds a lot to the scrum too. He is not that great with ball in hand but if the Lions want to dominate the tight exchanges  (and they do - they really, really do) then Paul is the man to go with. His leadership skills are also very impressive.


Ok guys get the debate started and get the votes coming in. 
Much love.
Buachaill

POC + the captaincy for me, and he is playing better this tour than he did in 2009 when he was captain. Sorry Sam but unless you recapture your RWC 2011 form I don't think you should be starting the test matches.

Gatland will of course be of a different opinion.

POC & capt. Think he is a natural leader and his form demands that he start the tests.

I would give the captaincy to Paul too as I wouldn't have Warbs in the team. I think a combination of Paul and Hibbard will really take it to the Aussies in the tight. I think the maul, scrum and pick and drives will all be better with him in the team

O'Connell

What do people think of Paul as Captain?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:What do people think of Paul as Captain?

I'd have made him squad captain as soon as it was clear he was fully recovered from his injury (as selecting Warbs as captain means he has to be picked despite not necessarily being in the best available XV). Right out of the Johnno school of captaincy - hard as nails and leads by example, and will get his team mates to do everything it takes to win.

There is the comment about the best team needing piano shifters and piano tuners - POC is the best piano shifter we have.

I completely agree with the piano shifter analogy. So with where we are now, would you make POC the captain?

O'Connell. Should be captain as well, no way that Warburton deserves to start over Tipuric.

Duty281 wrote:O'Connell. Should be captain as well, no way that Warburton deserves to start over Tipuric.

That is coming out in the votes now too

POC is a good captain
BOD is a good captain
AWJ is a good captain

THE CAPTAIN OF THE LIONS WAS SELECTED A FEW MONTHS AGO!

By the way its WARBURTON deffo the man for the job, and fair dos to POC even he has said how surprised he is with the application of Warburton

This all getting a tad silly

If Warbs doesn't play probably POC or BOD will be capt

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Duty281 wrote:O'Connell. Should be captain as well, no way that Warburton deserves to start over Tipuric.

That is coming out in the votes now too

Warburton and Tipuric can start and reform the awesome backrow that was so successful in the six nations, looked like they complimented each other perfectly.

maestegmafia wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Duty281 wrote:O'Connell. Should be captain as well, no way that Warburton deserves to start over Tipuric.

That is coming out in the votes now too

Warburton and Tipuric can start and reform the awesome backrow that was so successful in the six nations, looked like they complimented each other perfectly.

Very true they can indeed. The votes so far are showing a SOB-Heaslip-Tipuric backrow. Then again if Warbs is in the team he will be captain.