Thread: Lions Tour of South Africa 2009.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Nathan Fucken Grey is still a Grade a tosser in my book.

Now, now Bob you won the debate and you don't have to start getting nasty now................. or showing your true colours?

true colours, I'm a genuinely nasty whinging little bitch.

I might join Bob!

Are they serving humble pie?

It'll be Aussie Beef all the way I am sure.....

Scotland captain Mike Blair has been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad to replace injured scrum-half Tomas O'Leary. The 28-year-old has been promoted from the reserve list after O'Leary suffered a broken ankle when playing for Munster against the Scarlets on 24 April.
"I'm really pleased to have been given the opportunity to tour, it is a massive honour," he said. "Mike is an excellent addition to the squad," head coach Ian McGeechan added. "As a national captain he is well respected by his peers and a very capable and experienced scrum-half."
Blair's countryman Chris Cusiter, Welshman Dwayne Peel, England's Danny Care and Ireland's Peter Stringer were also thought to be in the frame to replace O'Leary.

Blair's initial omission made him one of three national team captains to be left out along with England's Steve Borthwick and Wales' Ryan Jones.
But he has remained confident after overseeing a run of form that has carried Edinburgh to third place in the Magners League.
"The call-up just goes to show how quickly everything can change in rugby and I'm determined to seize my chance and make an impact," he said. "Since the original squad was announced, I've just focused on playing well for Edinburgh and helping the team climb up the Magners League and fortunately that has helped me to get selected."
Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson, who toured with the Lions as both a player and a coach, fully endorsed his captain's selection.
"Mike has matured into an outstanding leader, for both Edinburgh and Scotland, and he is an intelligent player with a lot to offer the Lions selectors," he said.
The addition of Blair to the party takes the Scottish contingent to three players, with prop Euan Murray and second-row Nathan Hines already travelling.

Good choice, now we have two scrum halves who can challenge for the test slot.

Jamie Roberts, Shanklin's centre partner also seems to agree with Loy Toys assessment of Lions tours and got himself injured to avoid wasting time over the summer. He has injured his shoulder as Cardiff beat Munster in the Magners League on Sunday.

He's not out of the tour yet but has some worrying days ahead seeing how the shoulder will respond to treatment.

"If it responds to treatment" said Roberts "I'm buggered, I'll have to go and waste my time pretending the Lions mean something. I'm hoping it'll require surgery so like Tom I can get out of this meaningless trivia"

Seriously though, lets hope he makes it, I think he could fornm a great partneship with O'Driscoll. Shanklin at OC was always going to have difficulty getting in the test team with BOD on board.

Quinlan banned for 12 weeks for eye gouging in the Leinster Munster HEC Semi Final.

So he's out of the Lions Tour as well.

Ryan Jones or Tom Croft for the back row position?

At least he didn't have to get himself hurt to avoid going......

My bet is Tom Croft.....if he is available!!

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Ryan Jones or Tom Croft for the back row position?

Either of them should've been above Quinlan anyway. Nice get out from him though. I wonder who else will do something silly so they don't have to waste a few weeks in SA?

Cardiff will not pick their Lions for any remaining games now they have the automatic Heineken cup place.

Still a few big games left for the English players.

Shame about Quinlan, I would suggest Croft as the replacement, but maybe Leamy has an outside chance?

Originally Posted by Bobcock

"If it responds to treatment" said Roberts "I'm buggered, I'll have to go and waste my time pretending the Lions mean something.

Apparently all of these professionals don't feel the same way as those one eyed, fervent spectators Bob.

Look my serve Thai Pom, and it looks like I aced him.

Game on!

Oh...referee........

Jerry Flannery has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa after suffering a chipped bone in his left elbow, the team management confirmed.
As the injuries start to mount up ahead of Sunday's departure, Flannery picked up the injury during training on Wednesday.
A later scan on Flannery's elbow revealed the extent of the damage and the Munster hooker will now require surgery.
The news is yet another blow for Lions boss Ian McGeechan, after Alan Quinlan's suspension for eye gouging was upheld, resulting in Tom Croft being called up as a replacement.
Scotland captain Mike Blair has also been called up as a replacement for injured Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary, while centre Tom Shanklin has also been ruled out and fellow Welshman Leigh Halfpenny will miss at least the first two games of the tour.
Lions management have yet to name a replacement but must choose between Ireland's Rory Best and Ross Ford of Scotland, who are on the standby list for the position.
Set-piece specialist Best, who has markedly improved his all-round game in recent seasons, was a contender to make the initial 37-strong squad despite his position behind Flannery in Ireland's pecking order.
The Ulster skipper is currently leading Ireland's tour to Canada and the United States and had been included in the starting line-up for Saturday's Test against the Canucks.
Ford was another front-rower in contention to make the original party and the abrasive 25-year-old was considered unlucky to miss out.

Wall Street and Tenderloins in Soi 33 are where the rugby crowd watch.

Tenderloins if the wife is with you.

Wall street if she isn't.

Soi 8 Bar also.

BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Wood laments Lions loss of Flannery

A serious loss for the Lions, with Flannery now injured.

Flannery was the least worse by a long way of 3 shit hookers.

If Rory Best joins he will not be the worst of the 3 three remaining.

Anyone else that does will be.

Scotland hooker Ross Ford has been called into the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour to South Africa.
Ford was drafted on Friday in as a replacement for the injured Jerry Flannery after the Ireland and Munster star tore elbow ligaments in training on Wednesday.
Flannery, who was set to undergo surgery after visiting a specialist on Thursday, is the fourth player from the original squad to be ruled out of the tour.
Edinburgh forward Ford, 25, was thought to be close to making the original 36-man squad and his call-up has come as no surprise.
His inclusion doubles the number of Scots named in the initial squad, equalling the total of four who toured with the Lions in 2005.
Lions tour manager Gerald Davies said: "Munster hooker Jerry Flannery tore ligaments in his left elbow in training on Wednesday that unfortunately ruled him out of the tour.
"His place in the tour squad is taken by Edinburgh's 25-year old hooker Ross Ford, who played in all five of Scotland's 2009 Six Nations championship matches."
Head coach Ian McGeechan added: "Jerry has had a terrific season and he anchored the Irish scrum during Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam season.

even better James Hook is in in place of Halfpenny.

This guy brings everything to the party and i would include him in any squad for his versatility.

He will even make a push for the Test number 10 spot.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

even better James Hook is in in place of Halfpenny.

That's a shame really. I though Mr HP had a good 6 Nations and deserved his place in the squad.

He will be there, he will only miss the first two weeks of the tour.

Hook is there to cover that and the loss of Shanklin.

To clarify, I meant Hook coming was even better than the addition of Ross Ford, not Hook bing a better addition than Halfpenny, who is a superb player in my book.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Halfpenny, who is a superb player in my book.

Hate to say it but I agree

British and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has named captain Paul O'Connell in his starting XV for the first tour match against a Royal XV on Saturday.
The Ireland lock will lead a powerful line-up that includes seven Wales internationals, while Keith Earls and Jamie Roberts both make Lions debuts in midfield.
McGeechan has also chosen an all-Ospreys back three of Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams, with Ireland Grand Slam-winner Ronan O'Gara operating at fly-half.
There is also an immediate chance for Scotland skipper and scrum-half Mike Blair, who was called into the squad as a last-minute replacement for Munster's Tomas O'Leary.
O'Connell will be partnered in the second row by England's Simon Shaw. The Wasps lock and O'Connell are among only eight players in the matchday 22 to have featured on a previous Lions tour.
Commenting on the team selection McGeechan said: "I think it is really exciting that we have a lot of players making their debuts. I remember my debut against Western Transvaal at Potchefstroom in 1974 and it is a career highlight.
"For young men such as Keith Earls and Jamie Roberts it will be a day to remember and they will be thrilled to get an early taste of match action on the tour. Outside these guys is the proven experienced combination of the Ospreys' back three of Byrne, Bowe and Shane Williams.
"While we have a lot of players making their Lions debuts there is a huge amount of international experience in the team.
"The average age is 28 that reflects the maturity we have in the squad. On Saturday we have in the team Martyn Williams, Ronan O'Gara and Simon Shaw who are on their third Lions' tour.
"They know exactly what is in store in terms of the provincial matches. Scottish captain Mike Blair is at scrum-half while players of the calibre of Paul O'Connell, Joe Worsley and Adam Jones have played over 50 Tests each.
"Following excellent preparation and a period of acclimatisation in South Africa I know the lads are raring to go on Saturday against the Royal XV and will be anxious to get the tour off to the best possible start."
British and Irish Lions: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Mike Blair; 1 Andrew Sheridan, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Paul O'Connell, Joe Worsley, 7 Martyn Williams, 8 Andy Powell.
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Phil Vickery, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 Stephen Ferris, 20 Mike Phillips, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Riki Flutey

It all depends on how much politics comes into play in this tour. So far 'snor' de Villers has chosen someone who faild to make the Stormer's bench in Morgan Newman and the TERRIBLE Earl Rose. Expect the 'unofficial quota system to play a huge role here...

Originally Posted by Charl1972

Expect the 'unofficial quota system to play a huge role here...

Sad in this day and age