Where they stand in terms of selection

[TrapperChamonix]

Here's what I'd consider the relative position on the various palyers in terms of making the test team.

Odds on to make Match Day 22
POC
BOD
Jamie Roberts
Lee Byrne
Mike Phillips
Jamie Heaslip
Tom Croft
Stephen Ferris
Gethin Jenkins
Alun Wyn Jones
Stephen Jones
Lee Mears

Fighting to be included
Tommy Bowe
Nathan Hines
James Hook
Adam Jones
Ugo Moyne
Euan Murray
Donnacha O’Callaghan
Ronan O’Gara
Mathew Rees
Andrew Sheriden
Phil Vickery
Martyn Willaims
David Wallace


A Lot to Do
Gordon D’Arcy
Harry Ellis
Luke Fitzgerald
Riki Flutey
Ross Ford
Leigh Halfpenny
Rob Kearney
Shane Williams

Out of Test Contention
Mike Blair
Keith Earls
Simon Shaw
Andy Powell
Joe Worsley

Perhaps, its a bit harsh on Earls, but time is running out. Shane Williams should be out of contention but isn't.

[crash_000]

Bit harsh on Bowe to be honest - if you can consider Roberts tied in, you've got to consider Bowe - especially with the fact that the other wingers in the squad prefer to play at 11 rather than 14.

[Danthefan]

Kearney and D'Arcy seem to be out of contention imo. Bowe as certain as anyone who isn't BOD or POC to start the first test.

[Terraceman]

Yeah Tommy Bowe must be an almost certain starter. Thought Simon Shaw was good in the first match when few others stood up. DOC hasn't been the best. Say he could get in to the 22 in front of DOC.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Yeah Tommy Bowe must be an almost certain starter. Thought Simon Shaw was good in the first match when few others stood up. DOC hasn't been the best. Say he could get in to the 22 in front of DOC.

Thought Shaw was rubbish myself! imo AWJ is the second best lock in the squad but that doesn't mean he should play with POC so unless he has an absolute stormer on Wednesday I'd have Hines in my test team.

[leinsterlank]

Ye I'd agree with th guts of that. I'd have hines in my team and provided fitzy does some good things on wed I think he should be in. I'm disappointed darcy isnt starting wednesday. He played very well for the ten mins he was on and seems in great form, althhough who could argue with roberts.

[Leezer]

it will be

15. Byrne.
14. Bowe.
13. Bod
12. Roberts
11. Williams
10 ROG
9 Phillips
8 Heaslip
7. Wally
6. Ferris/Croft
5 POC
4 Alun Wyn
3. A jones
2. Mears
1.Sheridan

[suisse]

I think, rightly or wrongly, we are looking at this being an extremely Welsh dominated team. I love the Lions, and every 4 years, I really look forward to them touring. But it's amazing how often, when the tour comes about, we feel sorry for individual players, as they seem to be poorly treated. It was Shane Horgan 4 years ago, and 2009 is looking like the year of the Kearney and/or Monye. Each Lion debutant will tell you getting selected is the biggest honour of their career, but sometimes you wonder if some players are getting more out of this than others. Kearney will see his rival for the 15 jersey, Lee Byrne, in action for 3 of the opening matches, and he must be wondering of he'll ever get a chance. Fitzgerald and Monye are forced to sit back as Shane Williams plays every game. You can see why a lot of players become disillusioned by the whole thing. The Lions tour BOD, Dallaglio, Wood and Johnson went on may not be the same as some of the other guys.

Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, AWL, Martyn Williams, Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne, I feel, will start the first test.

Front row, second row, back row, half backs, centres, wing and full back - every position on the pitch is covered by one Welsh player. The influence of Shaun Edwards, Warren Gatland and Robert Howley is extreme. No Irish or English (scrum coach, aside) coaches are involved. Form may not dictate the selection, again!

[tackle-bag]

Bowe has quite clearly already done enough to earn the number 14 shirt, there is no other reason why they would rest him for two successive games. It is between Fitz, Monye and Williams for the other wing slot, although Williams has been utter dogsh!t and would be out of contention were it not for his reputation.

[ceemec]

Would think the only players nailed on are BOD, POC, Byrne, Heaslip, Bowe, Roberts and possibly Jenkins (Sheridan receiving a lot of praise so I'm loathe to discount him entirely despite my personal opinions). Several positions are still up for grabs. Partner for POC is wide open. Wallace is looking likely but Williams hasn't really had much chance yet. Expect him to start on Saturday. Wallace is yet to really play as well as he can and if Williams has a great game on Saturday then it's wide open. Croft/Ferris is turning into the most talked about selection of the tour. May as well toss a coin at the moment I think. Second wing position is wide open but I'm starting to think Luke is going to get it if he performs well tomorrow. I'm a big fan of Monye but think his lack of versatility might see him not make it. He's either in the 15 or out of the 22 altogether. I think the player McGeechan is really looking at is ROG. He's got the pack in front of him and the class outside him. It's serious opposition so he'll be scrutinised. Phillips should be more or less the man for the 9 jersey but don't rule out Ellis yet. He's a tenacious little git and, in fairness, his team gave him f*ck all at the breakdown at the weekend. Phillips was alright last week....nothing more for me. Vickery and Mears should take the other spots in the front row given performances so far but nothing would surprise me. There's going to be at least one or two surprise calls. Possibly something like Shaw partnering POC or Ellis at 9. Can't see there being only 1 English player in the test 15.

[Munsterboy]

I'd agree with those rating bar Croft and Ferris who are fighting it out for 6. The back row is extremely competitive and any one of Williams, Wally, Ferris and Croft could miss out of a place in the 22 depending on other selections.

Bowe is in the team. No question.

[Danthefan]

it will be

15. Byrne.
14. Bowe.
13. Bod
12. Roberts
11. Williams
10 ROG
9 Phillips
8 Heaslip
7. Wally
6. Ferris/Croft
5 POC
4 Alun Wyn
3. A jones
2. Mears
1.Sheridan

Will be eh? I really hope not.

[tackle-bag]

it will be

15. Byrne.
14. Bowe.
13. Bod
12. Roberts
11. Williams
10 ROG
9 Phillips
8 Heaslip
7. Wally
6. Ferris/Croft
5 POC
4 Alun Wyn
3. A jones
2. Mears
1.Sheridan

You're mostly on the money there but your call of Adam Jones is a shocker to be fair. He's in a different postal district to Vickery and Murray on the road to selection and is likely to wind up subbing for the midweek team.

Apart from that, Fitz on form (Saturday aside, he wasn't playing in his regular position) deserves the left wing slot. I also think Jones will nick in ahead of ROG, although both were quite good in the games they played.

[gfo]

it wont be picked on form, it'll be picked on reputation, plus the standard smattering of Englishmen not matter how badly they play.

Byrne, BOD, POC, Williams, Jones and Sheridan will be in, and the rest will be Welsh-dominated

[Leezer]

it will be

15. Byrne.
14. Bowe.
13. Bod
12. Roberts
11. Williams
10 ROG
9 Phillips
8 Heaslip
7. Wally
6. Ferris/Croft
5 POC
4 Alun Wyn
3. A jones
2. Mears
1.Sheridan

You're mostly on the money there but your call of Adam Jones is a shocker to be fair. He's in a different postal district to Vickery and Murray on the road to selection and is likely to wind up subbing for the midweek team.

Apart from that, Fitz on form (Saturday aside, he wasn't playing in his regular position) deserves the left wing slot. I also think Jones will nick in ahead of ROG, although both were quite good in the games they played.

lol yea, ill give you the Adam Jones one!

[dipper]

Here's what I'd consider the relative position on the various palyers in terms of making the test team.

Odds on to make Match Day 22
POC
BOD
Jamie Roberts
Lee Byrne
Mike Phillips
Jamie Heaslip
Tom Croft
Stephen Ferris
Gethin Jenkins
Alun Wyn Jones
Stephen Jones
Lee Mears

Fighting to be included
Tommy Bowe
Nathan Hines
James Hook
Adam Jones
Ugo Moyne
Euan Murray
Donnacha O’Callaghan
Ronan O’Gara
Mathew Rees
Andrew Sheriden
Phil Vickery
Martyn Willaims
David Wallace


A Lot to Do
Gordon D’Arcy
Harry Ellis
Luke Fitzgerald
Riki Flutey
Ross Ford
Leigh Halfpenny
Rob Kearney
Shane Williams

Out of Test Contention
Mike Blair
Keith Earls
Simon Shaw
Andy Powell
Joe Worsley

Perhaps, its a bit harsh on Earls, but time is running out. Shane Williams should be out of contention but isn't.

How can you have both Ferris and Croft in the odds on section? Both are playing for blindside flanker. Ferris is the man for the shirt IMO. Tommy Bowe is nailed on for the 14 shirt.

[TrapperChamonix]

Here's what I'd consider the relative position on the various palyers in terms of making the test team.

Odds on to make Match Day 22
POC
BOD
Jamie Roberts
Lee Byrne
Mike Phillips
Jamie Heaslip
Tom Croft
Stephen Ferris
Gethin Jenkins
Alun Wyn Jones
Stephen Jones
Lee Mears

Fighting to be included
Tommy Bowe
Nathan Hines
James Hook
Adam Jones
Ugo Moyne
Euan Murray
Donnacha O’Callaghan
Ronan O’Gara
Mathew Rees
Andrew Sheriden
Phil Vickery
Martyn Willaims
David Wallace


A Lot to Do
Gordon D’Arcy
Harry Ellis
Luke Fitzgerald
Riki Flutey
Ross Ford
Leigh Halfpenny
Rob Kearney
Shane Williams

Out of Test Contention
Mike Blair
Keith Earls
Simon Shaw
Andy Powell
Joe Worsley

Perhaps, its a bit harsh on Earls, but time is running out. Shane Williams should be out of contention but isn't.

How can you have both Ferris and Croft in the odds on section? Both are playing for blindside flanker. Ferris is the man for the shirt IMO. Tommy Bowe is nailed on for the 14 shirt.

Perhaps it cause I think one of them will play outhalf or perhaps its casue I think one will start and the other will be on the bench.
Regarding the general feeling that Tommy Bowe is a certain starter, I wonder. He's certainly been the stand out performer on the wing but I'm not sure that McGeechin might not do something unexpected here. The atttempt to keep playing Shane Williams untill he finds some form would worry me.

[Benji]

Fitz and Bowe will be wings. Shane Williams form as been poor all year and him and Monye dont really have a kicking game. Bowe's kicking game isnt great but his form lines of running and support have him in the top five lions on the tour at the moment .


O'GARA will be test starter imo as his defence will be helped by ferris wallace philips and big roberts .
His a superior kicker that jones and with the Boks not picking a specialised 15 this could be crucial

[tones]

Kearney and D'Arcy seem to be out of contention imo. Bowe as certain as anyone who isn't BOD or POC to start the first test.

Pretty much it too. Between Wallace and Willaims for 7, would say it'll be Wallace to start and Williams after 50/60 mins, Heaslip still in a very good shout to start too.

[ceemec]

Well, now with Ferris out that may have a significant impact on selections. If Croft starts you would have to think Wallace will start for his additional physicality. Croft is an accomplished line out jumper so that may see someone like Hines start for the tests rather than the more agile AWJ. I don't think Croft's will have such massive implications but I think it may cross the coaches minds that there's a less physical back row now to protect a defensively suspect outhalf.