Who put their hand up?

Yes its another Lions thread

Who do you feel has grabbed Mr Gatts attention over the last month?

I've only really had time to watch England's Games this AI in full ,but for me these players defiantly head into 2012 with one foot on the plane to Oz.

Manu Tuilagi: Only today did he show what he is truly capable of he was not only outstanding in the Nz victory but he was constantly solid in defence and one of Englands positives through out this Years AI's. If The lions are being picked on form there is no 13 in world rugby ahead of him, let along in the Home nations.

Dan cole: He acts like an extra Flanker in the Breakdown and constantly wins Penalties/Turnovers. Most importantly he is a immense Scrummager. He does everything a prop is suppose to do and more.

Owen Farrell: He has his critics but there is no No.10 who is as reliable in their defence and Goal Kicking than young Faz. I don't think he will be starting for the Lions but to have him on the bench and being able to bring him on to close a game out is extremely valuable. If im completely honest i don't think he is that bad in attack either, he is by no means the most attacking No.10 around but it isn't an area of his game that is absolutely terrible.

Tom Youngs:My Bolter for starting the First Test, Line out throwing was 100% for the first two games not sure what percentage he ended on but it certainly wasn't a weakness as many had predicted. Solid Scrummager and a complete Demond in the loose.

if you could put forward 4/5 players for next year who would they be ?

Launchbury, Tom Wood, Freddie Burns

Don't know.

For me, looking at potential Lions from the England team after the November Internationals, I see Tom Wood, Tuilagi (as you wrote) and Dan Cole (also as you wrote).

For me the was Cole's best performance for exactly the reason you stated. He was all over the pitch and was excellent at the breakdown. Wood was terrific overall and showed what England have been missing whilst out with injury or recovering.

From an England perspective, Tom Wood is clearly a class act. Tuilagi, Launchbury and Cole would be strong contenders, and I think Mike Brown could be our version of Rob Kearney.

I'm still not sure about our halfbacks. Neither Youngs or Care have produced their best club form for England for quite a while, and the tactical kicking from Youngs and Farrell was a bit loose yesterday, but depending on who is Six Nations first choice I'd say that either Youngs or Care, and Farrell or Burns, will be pushing quite hard.

Jonathan Davies for Wales, needs to get some more game time to sort out some of the missed tackles hes had recently. Really showed how much we missed him in attack.

IronMike wrote:Jonathan Davies for Wales, needs to get some more game time to sort out some of the missed tackles hes had recently. Really showed how much we missed him in attack.

How do Welsh fans feel about him at 12? I think that a Davies/Tuilagi centre partnership could work.

His normal position is 12 for the Scarlets, him and Tuilagi would be my lions pair

yup, Davies/Tuilagi looks a very promising pairing to me at this stage. Can Davies run a defensive backline?

for England (who I watched the most of): Launchbury looks classy, Dan Cole of course (but most already knew that), Corbisiero had two solid outings, Farrell showed a really cool head under pressure, Wood and Robshaw had a great couple of games, Tom Youngs looks a decent find too (though throwing a bit shakey still).

For Wales: Halfpenny and JD2, that's about it. Warburton had a great 20-30 minutes against NZ it must be said.

Didn't really watch any of the other home nations games.

Ignoring the last few weeks, this should be the team:

1. Corbs
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Richie Gray
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts (form is temporary, class is permanent)
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Final selection for the 1993 Lions was heavily influenced by the results in the last round of that year's five Nations. I suspect next year will be the same.

Gatland probably isn't yet convinced by the individual qualities of the England team (Most England supporters are only recent converts). If they sputter during the Six Nations, then he'll probably pass on filling his squad with too many of Lancaster's men.

Mr Taff wrote:Ignoring the last few weeks, this should be the team:

1. Corbs
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Richie Gray
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts (form is temporary, class is permanent)
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Ignoring a series of international test matches sounds perfectly reasonable

England's win against NZ was a one match wonder. Come the six nations, we will see the usual sluggish English performances. The celtic players have proven quality unlike the English.

Mr Taff wrote:Ignoring the last few weeks, this should be the team:

1. Corbs
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Richie Gray
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts (form is temporary, class is permanent)
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Yeah, why not ignore all results, form and international temperament?

What a ridiculous post!

EnglishReign wrote:

Mr Taff wrote:Ignoring the last few weeks, this should be the team:

1. Corbs
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Richie Gray
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts (form is temporary, class is permanent)
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Yeah, why not ignore all results, form and international temperament?

What a ridiculous post!

Okay, who would you play instead? It was only a week ago when you English were lambasting Lancaster, Robshaw etc etc. Make your minds up.

right now, I'd have

Corbs
Best
Cole
Launchbury
Gray
Wood
Robshaw
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Cuthbert
JD2
Tuilagi
Bowe
any of Kearney/Halfpenny/Goode

Mr Taff wrote:Ignoring the last few weeks, this should be the team:

1. Corbs
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Richie Gray
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts (form is temporary, class is permanent)
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Just 9 Welsh players then? Are you sure you don't want to put a few more in to ensure we really give the Aussies a walloping?

Mad for Chelsea wrote:right now, I'd have

Corbs
Best
Cole
Launchbury
Gray
Wood
Robshaw
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Cuthbert
JD2
Tuilagi
Bowe
any of Kearney/Halfpenny/Goode

Looks weak.

Mr Taff wrote:

EnglishReign wrote:

Mr Taff wrote:Ignoring the last few weeks, this should be the team:

1. Corbs
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Richie Gray
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts (form is temporary, class is permanent)
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Yeah, why not ignore all results, form and international temperament?

What a ridiculous post!

Okay, who would you play instead? It was only a week ago when you English were lambasting Lancaster, Robshaw etc etc. Make your minds up.

I'm not sure many people were lambasting Lancaster, and criticising Robshaw for one decision doesn't equate to saying almost no English players should be in the Lions team. The English performance vs SA was alongside Ireland's at the time as the best Lions nation performance against the Big 3, and England have since beaten the ABs. Not including Tuilagi or Tom Wood at this stage is just silly.

Launchbury vs Gray could be a big battle for the 4 spot. I'm not sure you could play both, as neither has been an international lineout captain that I'm aware of (both great options of course, but not tacticians).

Okay, chuck Tuilagi in at centre with Jonathan Davies. Can't comment on Launchbury, haven't seen much of him.

I think Mike Brown has been outstanding this AI's out of position...

Mike who?

Mr Taff wrote:England's win against NZ was a one match wonder. Come the six nations, we will see the usual sluggish English performances. The celtic players have proven quality unlike the English.

Apologies, I thought I was replying to a serious post before, my mistake for not realising you are a WUM

Taff,

Hes a player that hasnt lost four on the trot versus Australia who the lions are playing next year.....

GeordieFalcon wrote:Taff,

Hes a player that hasnt lost four on the trot versus Australia who the lions are playing next year.....

Six on the trot

I think Parling has done a lot for his possible Lions inclusion over the AIs - came in with a reputation as a good line-out forward but little else, but over the last couple of matches has shown real athleticism and workrate around the park. Shaky in the lineout against the Boks (Youngs radar not at its best, but also exceptional play by the SA 2nd rows to challenge for everything and win quite a few steals), but back to his best against the ABs.

Not sure he's my choice for the first XV, but has moved himself from the 'unlikely to tour' pile to the ' should be in the squad' pile.

I think Ben Youngs moved himself forwards as well on Saturday - much better tempo, made some ground ball in hand and got the backline flying. Not sure SH is a particularly strong position (Murray and Phillips have both been OK but not better than that).

I do think that a few players have had their Lions credentials enhanced by their absence from matches - Lydiate for one was clearly a big miss for Wales, and has come out of the Autumn with reputation enhanced.

However, if picking on performances over the last few weeks, for me the Lions line-up would look something like:

1 - Healy (sightly ahead of Corbs)
2 - Strauss
3 - Cole
4 - Gray
5 - Ryan
6 - Wood
7 - Robshaw
8 - Heaslip

9 - Youngs
10 - Sexton
11 - Gilroy
12 - JD2 (heck, only played on game for Wales and gave them much more invention and 'heads up' play than the previous 3 matches)
13 - Tuillagi
14 - Bowe
15 - 1/2p

Clearly a few of those will change over the course of the 6Ns with injured or currently off-form players coming back, so Best may well come in at 2, Rennie or Warburton at 7, Lydiate, Ferris and SOB possibly at 6 (there's some strength for the Lions there...), Kearney and Foden at 15 (especially if 1/2p has to keep making half a dozen try saving tackles per game - he's going to be as badly broken as Wilkinson after 2003).