A Neutral Lions XV - no bias allowed!

Following on from this thread https://www.606v2.com/t38651-an-australian-s-neutral-pick-of-the-lions

Imagine you are the Lions selector and you've been told that you need to select an equal representation from each of the 4 nations involved to promote harmony and interest, etc. Is it possible to pick a strong team that has the chance of beating Oz? It must be a 4-4-4-3 to get a (nearly) equal split between the nations. Here's mine:

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Jones
4. Gray
5. Hamilton
6. Robshaw
7. Rennie
8. Heaslip
9. Care
10. Sexton
11. Visser
12. Davies
13. Tuilagi
14. North
15. Halfpenny

Think that is pretty decent. Lots of different permutations that could happen I guess. Not sure about Hamilton in the 2nd row - could swap in maybe Denton at 8 to allow an Irish lock???

Thoughts?

1.Healy
2.Ford
3.Jones
4.Gray
5.Parling
6.Ferris
7.Robshaw
8.Denton

9.Youngs
10.Sexton

11.North
12.Roberts
13.Tuilagi
14.Bowe
15.Halfpenny

The backline is actually what I'd pick at the moment regardless of an equal split. In the forwards I'd usually take Heaslip over Denton, Ford over Best and I'm split on Cole/Jones. I'm more than happy we have both to chose from though!

I forgot about Ferris somehow! That's a good looking team there King. I think it's possible to get an even split without weakening the team too much. Not sure if Gatland will see it the same way, but would be nice to see a good representation from everyone.

1- Healey
2- Best
3- Cole
4- Gray
5- Hamilton
6- SOB
7- Robshaw
8- Denton
9- Care
10- Sexton
11- North
12- JD2
13- Tuilagi
14- Visser
15- Halfpenny (k.)


16- Ryan Grant
17- Hartley
18- Jones A
19- POC/Ryan
20- Jones R
21- Laidlaw
22- BOD
23- Foden

I'll have a go;

Sheridan, Ford, Bomb, 2xEnglish, O'Brien, Morgan, Rennie, Phillips, Hook, Visser, Roberts, BOD, Bowe, Kearney

= first series win since the 90s.

Picked by prioritising the players I really want first (so the likes of Healy, Sexton, Cole and Manu) and then fitting others around to make the 4-4-4-3 split:

Healy
Best
Cole
Gray
Ian Evans
Ferris (SOB if Ferris unfit)
Rennie
Denton

Youngs
Sexton
North
JD2 (Roberts if fit and on form)
Manu T
Ashton
1/2p

My suspicion is that this isn't that much weaker than the likely first choice side - currently looks like the first choice front row, 2nd and back row are very competetive and will be dependent on 6Ns form, but I wouldn't be too unhappy with this pick.

Back division I'd prefer Bowe to Ashton if he's fit (Bowe is out of the 6Ns apparently), and it will be interesting to see if Gilroy continues to impress after his strong showing in the AIs. Otherwise, I think that's close to my preferred line-up at this stage (scrum half is again very much a case of pick whoever is in the best form at the end of the 6Ns)

Why is everyone picking 1/2 at full back?
Good player but I don't see him as a Lions FB

1. Woodcock 2. Hore 3. Franks
4. Romano 5. Whitelock
6. Messam 7. McCaw 8. Read
9. Smith 10. Carter 12. Nonu 13. Smith
11. Savea 14. Jane 15. Dagg

Neutrality pure and simple there and plenty of experience at beating Australia.

Otherwise this is my 2c.
1. Cian Healy 2. Best 3. Jones
4. Gray 5. POC
6. Ferris 7. Wood 8. Denton
9. Care 10. Farrell
12. Davies 13. Tuilagi
11. North 14.Bowe 15. Kearney

Reserves (are you allowed two props in this series? Cole, Jenkins if so), Ford, Launchbury, SOB, Phillips, Sexton, Halfpenny

Prefer the first team though.

Because we disagree with you?

There are better options than 1/2p

Yeah but not much better and I ha too many Irish people if I started Kearney

Put a team down then Victor and let's see what you think.

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Cole
4. Gray
5. Launchbury
6. Ferris
7. Wood
8. Denton
9. Youngs
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Davies
13. Tuilagi
14. Visser
15. Foden

Good man.

Your team's rubbish.

Maybe, but it's only Aus we're playing

Touché.

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Dan Cole
4. Richie Gray
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Chris Robshaw
8. David Denton
9. Mike Phillips
10. Flood
11. Tim Visser
12. Manu Tuilagi
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

2/2/2/2 split bench

16. Ross Ford
17. Alex Corbisero
18. Adam Jones
19. Jim Hamiton
20. Sean O'Brien
21. Ben Youngs
22. Jonathan Sexton
23. Jamie Roberts

1 Corbersero
2 Youngs (T)
3 Cole
4 Lauchberry
5 Donnacan Ryan
6 Wood
7 Robshaw/S Armatage
8 Heaslip
9 Youngs/Care
10 Wilkinson
11 Ashton
12 ?
13 Tualaghi
14 Trimble
15 Goode

I don't think you followed the rules there maj.

I was only picking players that was (FULLY FIT) and playing now.

I dont see the point in picking players like Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe Rob Kearney. Adam has played no part in the Ais. Tommy Bowe got injured and will not play in the 6ns. And Rob Kearney? is he still injured?

Of course the 6ns will give more of a guidence on who will, will not be good enough to go on the Lions tour.

majesticimperialman wrote:I was only picking players that was (FULLY FIT) and playing now.

I dont see the point in picking players like Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe Rob Kearney. Adam has played no part in the Ais. Tommy Bowe got injured and will not play in the 6ns. And Rob Kearney? is he still injured?

Of course the 6ns will give more of a guidence on who will, will not be good enough to go on the Lions tour.

You were only supposed to pick 4 (or 3 in one case) from each country though Maj

Adam Jones came on and turned the scrum round against Toulouse the other day. He'll be fine for Aus.

1.Healy
2.Best
3.Cole
4.Gray
5.Lawes
6.Ferris
7.Robshaw (c)
8.Denton
9.Care
10.Sexton
11.Ashton
12.Davies
13.Tuliagi
14.North
15.Halfpenny

VictorU3 wrote:1. Healy
2. Best
3. Cole
4. Gray
5. Launchbury
6. Ferris
7. Wood
8. Denton
9. Youngs
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Davies
13. Tuilagi
14. Visser
15. Foden

But you've violated the 4-4-4-3 rule and chosen 6 English. Otherwise you'd probably go with 1/2p.

They could even play against a Rugby Championship side with a 4-4-4-3 split.

1.Ayerza - Roncero just retired
2.Du Plessis
3.Franks
4.Bekker - Sharpe retired
5.Etzebeth
6.Pocock
7.McCaw
8.Lobbe

9.Genia
10.Carter

11.Habana
12.McCabe
13.Smith
14.O'Connor
15.Hernandez - I'm a big Dagg and Beale fan as well though!

My crack at it:
Healy
Hartley
Cole
Gray
Evans
Ferris
Rennie
SOB
Youngs
Sexton
Visser
Davies
Manu
North
Halfpenny

For right or wrong, at this stage I consider Ferris, O'Brien, Healy and Cole as the players most likely to cause us damage.

Sticking to the rules, I would say:

1. Healy (Ireland)
2. Rees (Wales)
3. Cole (England)
4. Gray (Scotland)
5. Evans (Wales)
6. Ferris (Ireland)
7. Rennie (Scotland)
8. O'Brien (Ireland)
9. Youngs (England)
10. Sexton (Ireland)
11. North (Wales)
12. Davies (Wales)
13. Tuilagi (England)
14. Visser (Scotland)
15. Foden (England)

Without wishing to overstate matters, that team would kick the @rse out of any Aussie team you'd currently care to name.

Also sticking to the rules, I would say:

1. Healy (Ireland)
2. Best (Ireland)
3. Cole (England)
4. Gray (Scotland)
5. Evans (Wales)
6.Wood (England)
7. Rennie (Scotland)
8. R Jones (Wales)
9. Youngs (England)
10. Sexton (Ireland)
11. North (Wales)
12. Davies (Wales)
13. BOD (Ireland)
14. Visser (Scotland)
15. Foden (England)

I picked all NH players, R Jones provides line out cover, bulk and hard work.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:I was only picking players that was (FULLY FIT) and playing now.

I dont see the point in picking players like Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe Rob Kearney. Adam has played no part in the Ais. Tommy Bowe got injured and will not play in the 6ns. And Rob Kearney? is he still injured?

Of course the 6ns will give more of a guidence on who will, will not be good enough to go on the Lions tour.

You were only supposed to pick 4 (or 3 in one case) from each country though Maj

It does explain why he keeps moaning about Gatland picking Welsh players though.

Risca Rev wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:I was only picking players that was (FULLY FIT) and playing now.

I dont see the point in picking players like Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe Rob Kearney. Adam has played no part in the Ais. Tommy Bowe got injured and will not play in the 6ns. And Rob Kearney? is he still injured?

Of course the 6ns will give more of a guidence on who will, will not be good enough to go on the Lions tour.

You were only supposed to pick 4 (or 3 in one case) from each country though Maj

It does explain why he keeps moaning about Gatland picking Welsh players though.

If you was head coach, would you take any player/s that are not on form and not fully fit either.

Or because you are Welsh would you them any way?

majesticimperialman wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:I was only picking players that was (FULLY FIT) and playing now.

I dont see the point in picking players like Adam Jones, Tommy Bowe Rob Kearney. Adam has played no part in the Ais. Tommy Bowe got injured and will not play in the 6ns. And Rob Kearney? is he still injured?

Of course the 6ns will give more of a guidence on who will, will not be good enough to go on the Lions tour.

You were only supposed to pick 4 (or 3 in one case) from each country though Maj

It does explain why he keeps moaning about Gatland picking Welsh players though.

If you was head coach, would you take any player/s that are not on form and not fully fit either.

Or because you are Welsh would you them any way?

It's incredibly biased. Halfpenny is on form for starters, if you want me to name somebody. Healy would be most people's choice for loosehead. You also contradict yourself massively when you say about players like Adam Jones not playing in the AI's and then pick Armitage and Wilkinson. Apart from that, good side.

Risca Rev

I did not pick Adam Jones because he has not played in the Ais due to being injured.
At least Wilkinson and Armatage have being playing. A be it in France and not England.