2009 Lions Party for Tour to South Africa

[mathepac]

14 Irish players named with Paul O'Connell as captain, our biggest representation by far.

Any surprises / disappointments?

 

[Sunny]

Alan Quinlan was a shock. Delighted for him though.

 

[DavyJones]

Alan Quinlan and to a lesser extent Earls.

Am also surprised that they have only chosen two out halfs in the form of O Gara and Jones, who in my book are very similar players.

 

[baldyman27]

Alan Quinlan and to a lesser extent Earls.

Agreed. Also thought that Hayes would have been an outside chance and disappointed for the man.

 

[mathepac]

Irish Lions -

• Forwards:
  • Ferris
  • Flannery
  • Heaslip
  • O'Callaghan
  • O'Connell (capt.)
  • Quinlan
  • Wallace
• Lady boys:
  • Bowe (1st Monaghan Lion?)
  • Earls
  • Fitzgerald
  • Kearney
  • O'Driscoll
  • O'Gara
  • O'Leary

Hayes was unlucky, but age was against him, although Simon Shaw (mid-week captain?) is a couple of years older.
IRL 14, WAL 13, ENG 8, SCO 2

 

[TarfHead]

.. age was against him, although Simon Shaw (mid-week captain?) is a couple of years older.

Hayes is not rated outside of Ireland.

And I assume Vickery is being brought to be mid-week captain ?

 

[The_Banker]

There appears to be more Lions from Munster than from the whole of England.

 

[TarfHead]

There appears to be more Lions from Munster than from the whole of England.

8 each - more Leinster than Scots !

 

[Sunny]

Hayes is not rated outside of Ireland.

And I assume Vickery is being brought to be mid-week captain ?

I agree. Unfortunately for Hayes, he doesn't get the credit for the work he does in the lineout lifting O'Connell. Also outstanding work on the fringes of rucks. I guess as a prop though you are judged on one thing and that is the scrum and as good as he has become in recent years, he is still liable to have the odd bad game. Cian Healy destroyed him recently. He is a legend though!

My test team at the moment:
Byrne
Williams
Bowe
O'Driscoll
Shanklin
Philips
Jones
Heaslip
Wallace
Williams
Jones
O'Connell
Jenkins
Flannery
Sheridan

Couple of close calls there as well. You could certainly imagine Kearney, Earls, O'Gara, O'Callaghan playing their way on to the test team

 

[DavyJones]

Hayes is not rated outside of Ireland.

more to do with his age I think, He did travel with the Lions in 05.

 

[DavyJones]

1. Jenkins
2. Flannery
3. Murray
4. Jones
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. Williams
8. Wallace

9. Philips
10. O Gara
11. Williams
12. Roberts
13. O Driscoll
14. Bowe
15. Byrne

At 10, it's much of a muchness. Tough call for 12, with flutely and Shanklin.

 

[csirl]

Should be renamed the "Irish & British Lions"

 

[Purple]

Should be renamed the "Irish & British Lions"

Or the Irish and Welsh Lions?

 

[DavyJones]

Or the Irish and Welsh Lions?

Or the Munster Lions plus guests.

 

[Purple]

Or the Munster Lions plus guests.

8 out of 37... might be a bit of a stretch.

 

[Caveat]

Should be renamed the "Irish & British Lions"

I thought the squad actually was referred to as this at one stage - no?

 

[DavyJones]

8 out of 37... might be a bit of a stretch.

maybe, but eight from a club/provincal team is pretty impressive.

 

[DavyJones]

I thought the squad actually was referred to as this at one stage - no?

British and Irish Lions.

 

[Purple]

maybe, but eight from a club/provincal team is pretty impressive.

It's very impressive but then again Munster is the best club/provincial team (by a mile) in the Northern hemisphere so it's only right that this is reflected in the Lions selection.

 

[mathepac]

It's very impressive but then again Munster is the best club/provincial team (by a mile) in the Northern hemisphere ...

Apparently the word has spread to Southern hemisphere players that its the pinnacle of Northern hemisphere rugby and the team to be involved with.