Lions Team for 1st Test

[tones]

Ferris, Shanklin, O'Leary, Fla and Halfpenny are massive losses when you look at it...

Yep no getting away from it. Ferris in my opinion is key.

[ronk]

Ferris, Shanklin, O'Leary, Fla and Halfpenny are massive losses when you look at it...

Yeah Ferris and Flannery would both have made that team. Happy to see Rob there but it is at Luke's expense unfortunately.

I would have had O'Leary in the XXII ahead of Ellis.

[dipper]

Yeah Ferris and Flannery would both have made that team. Happy to see Rob there but it is at Luke's expense unfortunately.

I would have had O'Leary in the XXII ahead of Ellis.

I agree with that. It's an awful shame about the injuries to the Irish lads. Matthew Rees and Harry Ellis on the bench won't scare anyone!

[ronk]

Yeah Ferris and Flannery would both have made that team. Happy to see Rob there but it is at Luke's expense unfortunately.

I would have had O'Leary in the XXII ahead of Ellis.

I agree with that. It's an awful shame about the injuries to the Irish lads. Matthew Rees and Harry Ellis on the bench won't scare anyone!

They make me nervous.

Ellis I can understand because there was a lack of alternatives. But Rory Best must really be scratching his head.

One thing this Lions tour has shown is just how good Jenkins and A Jones are. They really carry Rees and make him look a lot better.

[Vamos los azules]

No major surprises in the team. Wishing we hadn't lost Ferris, Flannery and O'Leary along the way - they're going to be missed. And I have mixed emotions about that bench - delighted to see Rob there, but gutted that Luke has missed out. I don't think he really got a fair shot to show what he can do.

[munster#1]

Yeah Ferris and Flannery would both have made that team. Happy to see Rob there but it is at Luke's expense unfortunately.[/quote]

I would have had O'Leary in the XXII ahead of Ellis.[/quote]

I agree with that. It's an awful shame about the injuries to the Irish lads. Matthew Rees and Harry Ellis on the bench won't scare anyone![/quote]

They make me nervous.

Ellis I can understand because there was a lack of alternatives. But Rory Best must really be scratching his head.

One thing this Lions tour has shown is just how good Jenkins and A Jones are. They really carry Rees and make him look a lot better.[/quote]

[leinsterlank]

Ugo monye is a disaster waiting to happen!Luke should be there! injuries have picked this team.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I don't get the complaining about Croft's selection. There are 3 players out of the tour in his position. He's a better option than Worsley and has been in form.

Sure he's lightweight, but it's not like we have a choice (any more).

I'm not sure that people are complaining about his selection because from the players who are there he's really the only option but that doesn't change the fact that he's a weakness (or at least he's a weakness imo).

[ronk]

I don't get the complaining about Croft's selection. There are 3 players out of the tour in his position. He's a better option than Worsley and has been in form.

Sure he's lightweight, but it's not like we have a choice (any more).

I'm not sure that people are complaining about his selection because from the players who are there he's really the only option but that doesn't change the fact that he's a weakness (or at least he's a weakness imo).

I only see Croft as a potential weakness. I worry about him but I know that he's capable of coming up with a big play or having a good game. He's a little lightweight but he's not work-shy or afraid to tackle and he gets low at ruck time.

You could certainly see earlier in the tour that he was trying to put himself about a bit and show his presence. He has a lot to play for, if we win and all goes well for him then he's an instant superstar. He's a young lad who's still developing, if he can add bone crushing tackles and carries over the gain-line into traffic then he's going to be some serious player.

[true blue 06]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection although DOC shouldn't be there

[ronk]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection

It's not over for Luke. He was a close selection and he's got another chance to stake a claim on Tuesday.

[ceemec]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection although DOC shouldn't be there

Why? Had the highest work rate out of the locks. Wasn't hanging out in the midfield hoping to be seen. He was making the highest number of tackles of any lock, getting stuck in supporting the ball carrier and working in the tight. Has easily overshadowed Shaw and Hines in the past 2 matches.

[red49]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection although DOC shouldn't be there

would have to agree with you,doc shouldnt be on the bench,he should be starting

[sewa]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection

It's not over for Luke. He was a close selection and he's got another chance to stake a claim on Tuesday.

if we wanted someone to kick badly and over run passes then he'd be a shoe in. I won't ask you how many Lions games you have seen this year as its already clear

[suisse]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection

It's not over for Luke. He was a close selection and he's got another chance to stake a claim on Tuesday.

if we wanted someone to kick badly and over run passes then he'd be a shoe in. I won't ask you how many Lions games you have seen this year as its already clear

The same amount as you?

[ronk]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection

It's not over for Luke. He was a close selection and he's got another chance to stake a claim on Tuesday.

if we wanted someone to kick badly and over run passes then he'd be a shoe in. I won't ask you how many Lions games you have seen this year as its already clear

Tell me about it, he made Earls look like an idiot with that supporting line to butcher that golden chance 22 mins in against the Southern Kings. Fecking egg ended up going 5m forward

Monye is playing well but he's had most of his tries handed to him on a silver platter. He backed off on O'Gara's crossfield kick because he wasn't confident enough on the high ball but was fortunate to get another bite at the cherry.

[Leezer]

lads its only the first test, if monye doesnt play well, Luke will be in.

if Lee Byrne has a catastrophic game, the same goes for Kearney.

[dipper]

if we wanted someone to kick badly and over run passes then he'd be a shoe in. I won't ask you how many Lions games you have seen this year as its already clear

Tell me about it, he made Earls look like an idiot with that supporting line to butcher that golden chance 22 mins in against the Southern Kings. Fecking egg ended up going 5m forward

Monye is playing well but he's had most of his tries handed to him on a silver platter. He backed off on O'Gara's crossfield kick because he wasn't confident enough on the high ball but was fortunate to get another bite at the cherry.

Monye has made a bigger impression than Luke on the tour so far so that's why he's in there. Luke's over runs were very obvious to all of us and probably ruined his chances of making the test team. His chances of making the team for the 2nd and 3rd tests are not over though.

Monye's very quick in a straight line but he doesn't appear to be elusive and looks awkward with the boot. He looks like the weak link in the back line and I can see the Springboks targeting him with some kicks. He could be found out but maybe he'll prove me wrong.

[Danthefan]

luke will be dissapointed, he's better than monye, other than that its a solid enough selection

It's not over for Luke. He was a close selection and he's got another chance to stake a claim on Tuesday.

if we wanted someone to kick badly and over run passes then he'd be a shoe in. I won't ask you how many Lions games you have seen this year as its already clear

Who's ''we" sewer? I can distinctly remember at the start of the season you saying something like 'Ireland can go f%~k themselves', so you don't support your country yet you support the Lions? Strange.

[Munsterboy]

I wouldn't get too worked up over Fitz. He and Earls are both more talented footballers than Monye but neither took their chance (and they both did get enough game time to show what they could do).

Monye is a fairly average footballer but he played to his strengths and was maybe a bit lucky not to have his weaknesses exposed thus far.

Delighted for the rest of the Irish lads. Particularly glad Geech and co recognise the value of a grafter like DOC. He doesn't do the flash stuff but puts in a huge amount of work to complement the likes of POC/AWJ. If things get rough, he's a good option to bring in to take on the likes of Botha. Excellent tan too.