Lions team to face Golden Lions.

[Danthefan]

British & Irish Lions (vs Golden Lions)

15. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
7. David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
5. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
4. Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland)
3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)
2. Lee Mears (Bath/England)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

Replacements

16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland)
17. Euan Murray (Northampton Saints/Scotland)
18. Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland)
19. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
20. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
21. James Hook (Ospreys/Wales)
22. Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales)



No Luke Fitz which is odd imo, considering Williams and Bowe were both in on Saturday. BOD is captain.

[Grumpy Old Man]

No O'Callaghan either.

[suisse]

Some more interesting selections...

That could be the Lions back row for the Tests, maybe the half backs (although I think Harry Ellis is a better player than the rest of them) and the Test centre partnership.....

If Bowe and Roberts have another good game, against better opposition, the positions 12 and 14 will almost be theirs.

[icebaby]

this morning's paper says Luke isn't fully well

[thecoolfreak]

read somewhere that he has a chest infection.

[leinsterlank]

he'd have to be sick or still nursing his shoulder. Thats a good looking team. I fancy hines to play alongside o'connell in the tests!

[Xanthippe]

Was just about to ask if anyone knew who would be Captain but never mind - RTE just gave me the good news - BOD to resume captaincy of Lions!!!

[boiboy]

Yeah appaprently Luke Fitz had both the remainder of a chest infection and a sore shoulder. Also FLutey was supposed to play but has a sore thigh or something. Thats why Roberts and Bowe have stayed in

[boiboy]

Also it had to be AW Jones to play with O'Connell in the test team. He was on for 5 mins the other day and scored a try!

[Comer Toes]

More pain for the Lions on the way I reckon. The team selected certainly seems more dynamic than last Saturday’s side and while I think there’ll be an improvement in performance you can sure BOD/ McGeechan would bite your hand off for another narrow win. Golden Lions will be decent and with a very vocal support, 60,000 sold out I believe.

Croft, Wallace and Heaslip is certainly an exciting combination although Golden Lions back-row has quality as well. Roberts and BOD looks a good balance. Ditto Hines & Wyn-Jones. Solid half-back pairing as well. B&I Lions by 5 I reckon.

Anyone else kinda disappointed about the maul coming back at the weekend? Almost impossible to defend legally. It will work to the Lions favour in the tests I guess…

[Darce]

More pain for the Lions on the way I reckon. The team selected certainly seems more dynamic than last Saturday’s side and while I think there’ll be an improvement in performance you can sure BOD/ McGeechan would bite your hand off for another narrow win. Golden Lions will be decent and with a very vocal support, 60,000 sold out I believe.

Croft, Wallace and Heaslip is certainly an exciting combination although Golden Lions back-row has quality as well. Roberts and BOD looks a good balance. Ditto Hines & Wyn-Jones. Solid half-back pairing as well. B&I Lions by 5 I reckon.

Anyone else kinda disappointed about the maul coming back at the weekend? Almost impossible to defend legally. It will work to the Lions favour in the tests I guess…

In fairness too, these 'Golden' Lions, are the worst franchise in SA. I would expect a massive step up from the Lions.

Saturday wasn't as bad as it sounded when you looked at the game properly. Even just a marginal increase in accuracy would have seen the Lions Butcher the Royals. Some may guilt edge chances were put down by the Lions.

It easily could have been a hammering.

Defence would be my big worry

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I've a feeling the Lions will run riot tomorrow and put in an exact opposite "performance" to Saturday's. I really like the balance to the team and there's no deadwood like Rees or Shaw from the last game so i reckon they'll win by at least 40 points but with a much better performance regardless of the score.

[Dublinner]

I've a feeling the Lions will run riot tomorrow and put in an exact opposite "performance" to Saturday's. I really like the balance to the team and there's no deadwood like Rees or Shaw from the last game so i reckon they'll win by at least 40 points but with a much better performance regardless of the score.

I Like your optimism but think its slightly misplaced. This team might have had a shite season but in front of 60,000 I think you can be guaranteed they plan to unleash a can of whoopass on the Lions. I think the Lions (B & I) will scrape it in a very physical game. Id say they would take a 1 point win at this stage if they were offered it. I would be more than happy with a narrow win and no injuries.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I've a feeling the Lions will run riot tomorrow and put in an exact opposite "performance" to Saturday's. I really like the balance to the team and there's no deadwood like Rees or Shaw from the last game so i reckon they'll win by at least 40 points but with a much better performance regardless of the score.

I Like your optimism but think its slightly misplaced. This team might have had a shite season but in front of 60,000 I think you can be guaranteed they plan to unleash a can of whoopass on the Lions. I think the Lions (B & I) will scrape it in a very physical game. Id say they would take a 1 point win at this stage if they were offered it. I would be more than happy with a narrow win and no injuries.

Actually having looked at the Lions team again ill revise the 40 point prediction down to about 20 but i really do like the look of the team so i'll stick with that.

[jezzer]

Guys,

Just think what a second string Munster did to a strong All Blacks outfit who were early in their tour. These kind of close games on tours are par for the course. You're playing a team that looks at this as the biggest game in years, while you're shaking off the rust, forging combinations and keeping yourself physically in the picture for Tests.

Factor in that South Africa is now edging out in front as the leading rugby nation and any side they send out at virtually any level will be a serious unit.

IMO we've a much better chance of winning tests if we build up slowly and peak at the first test than blazing out and losing the run of ourselves - arguably what happened in Australia.

The important thing is to keep winning and keep the fear going that you're not playing to your potential yet. Oh, and we need to ruck the shite out of anyone we play - end of. I want to see some mad b$&%@#ds start to emerge now - guys who will put themselves about in a serious way. Ferris, Hines, Jenkins, Williams - guys who will plough through the opposition. I'm not sure the squad has enough of them (Mears, Rees, Sheridan, POC, AW Jones, Wallace, Heaslip, Croft... none of these are mental in any way)

[Darce]

live streams here later on:

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?match ... art=sports

[Donny B.]

Oh dear! Bad start from Stephen Jones

[Donny B.]

First Mears Lioneout stolen.

[Donny B.]

Wallace takes a kick in the guts trying charge a ball down

[Donny B.]

Try for Roberts set up superbly by Drico!

Good work from pack in the build-up too. Jones Converts 7-0.