Can the Lions win the test series?
The Lions were in training at a secluded forest rugby ground when the ball was booted out into the forest one of the barny army supporters rushed off to find it. While looking he came across an old oil lamp.. He rubbed it and a genie popped out.
"Oh you look like a right dick head in that silly red and white top hat...you can only have one wish...
Pulling a little map out of his pocket he said.. I have a brother in the Royal Army.. he is out here...pointing at the map of Iraq... I wish that region was in peace so he could come home....
That's way to hard for me I've been asleep to long.. said the genie yawning.
Okay I love the Lions... I wish they could beat the All Blacks in the test series ... he begged...
The genie took a backward step, put his hands on his hips and said...
Show me that map again....
Hardy Hardy Ha...
Originally posted by martin williamsYou don't count a sound drubbing of Bangladesh as sporting glory then?
I'm a Brit and a big RU fan, but if the Lions' performance against Argentina was any thing to go by, I don't think the All-Blacks have too much to worry about.
For any hope of sporting glory, my telly will be tuned to the Ashes this summer.
I see your point...
It's a shame this tour wasn't 2 years ago as the lions would have been much stronger. Remember england scoring whilst a man down against new zealand in the summer before the world cup?
Unfortunately england are in transition at the moment, scotland are weak, Ireland seem to have peaked, and wales is yet to mature and get better. Not a good time. We could do with the french i hate to admit!
France for the next world cup is another prediction, not new zealand who seem to under perform and promise everything. They should beat his lions team at home though.
Originally posted by jarrydI reckon we Irish have a couple of sound drubbings of the old saxon foe left in us yet, by the way.😛
It's a shame this tour wasn't 2 years ago as the lions would have been much stronger. Remember england scoring whilst a man down against new zealand in the summer before the world cup?
Unfortunately england are in transition at the moment, scotland are weak, Ireland seem to have peaked, and wales is yet to mature and get better. Not a good time. We could ...[text shortened]... ho seem to under perform and promise everything. They should beat his lions team at home though.
But regarding the Lions, do you really think O'Driscoll and O'Connell have peaked? They played some of their best rugby this season, and are truly out on their own.
But give the squad a while to get into it- I reckon it's too large a squad, anyway, and it will take time.
Let's hope for a good, competetive tour.
Well I watched the Super 12 Final tonight. NSW poured on the tries in the last ten minutes against a tired Canterbury team....but came up short, Well Done Canty.
The AB's have a trials match on Friday... Lots of new names being talked about. This won't be a strong well seasoned All Black Team.
It will have new combinations and new players.
The Lions will get the basics right. The All Blacks will try to fling it around at pace but hopefully Graham Henry wil instil some solidarity and cohesion sadly lacking in the Super 12.
Meanwhile 1500 camper Vans with Barmy Army Soldiers have invaded our country... Welcome Rugby Fans!!
I believe the Lions will win the Series 2-1.
The ABs must not confuse the Lions with England. Even I have to admit that since jsut before the World cup the English backs have looked pretty ordinary, with the odd exception. But the magic of O'Driscoll and Williams the immense Josh Lewsey.
Both the Lions and the ABs are going to struggle at hooker, I would not be totally surprised if Titteral made it through.
I am not too worried if the Lions lose a couple of the games on the way to the tests after all it is only the tests that will be remembered.
I think Marshall would be an idiot not to play, the orignal cut off your nose to spite your face.
Wish I was there.
Mat
Here's a wee pic I took at Waikato Stadium when the Maori gained there first win over the Lions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41668432@N00/20190931/in/set-477136/
The tour trundles along with The Lions suffering this one defeat at the hands of the Maoris which was their strongest ever team.
The Lions beat Wellington and Otago where many believed that on early tour form they could falter.
Planet Rugby Forums are up in Armies... here's a typical post
"I am so outraged at the bias towards English players that I am leaning towards the All Blacks giving us a good stuffing on Saturday. This may then make Woodward at least think about making a proper selection for the 2nd and 3rd tests.
- Tim Brown, disgruntled Taff"
Well has Sir Woodentop got it right? We'll know tomorrow night.... Come on the All Blacks.
Originally posted by Tirau DanHaven't been paying too much attention to it, but with England being the out of form team at the moment, it seems a bit crazy to make the Lions up of mainly English players.
Here's a wee pic I took at Waikato Stadium when the Maori gained there first win over the Lions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41668432@N00/20190931/in/set-477136/
The tour trundles along with The Lions suffering this one defeat at the hands of the Moaris which was their strongest ever team.
The Lions beat Wellington and Otago where many believed ...[text shortened]...
Well has Sir Woodentop got it right? We'll know tomorrow night.... Come on the All Blacks.
Don't think anyone can really argue with the forwards selection.
I would have done a couple of things differently in the backs. I would have had murphy on the wing, Lewsey at full back. Robinson would be out of the squad and Shane Willliams in.
The Wilkinson debate is interesting it might pay off but Henson was surely better then Greenwood for a bench spot.
I believe the Lions will win a tight clash tomorrow.
Originally posted by VargMy English Cousies love it.. they are pleased the English are in, but all the Rugby forums everywhere are slamming woodward.
Haven't been paying too much attention to it, but with England being the out of form team at the moment, it seems a bit crazy to make the Lions up of mainly English players.
If the "English" Lions win then Woodward will be proved right, but it seems a risky thing to leave out the only world class ball carrying forwards (Owen, Williams and Jones) - - who would think that Wales won the Grand Slam and England came a poor 4th? 13 out of a 22 man squad and not even Sir Clive could split the Peel and Jones partnership so he invented a position for "Head Boy" Jonny
It smacks of a reward to his World Cup team for winning in 2003, the fact that they are out of form and/or old seems to have been forgotten. I can't think of any good rugby reasons for including Jason Robinson in the Test team and Wilkinson playing at centre?
Let's hope the lions get awarded plenty of penalties I can't see any other way they will win
Wilkinson at centre is not as much of a gamble as people make out fly half inside centre are very similar.
I have to agree with you on Robinson he can cut a defence to ribbons, but not recently and not as recently as Williams, he is however a very efeective tackler as well. But I would not have picked him.
England did come 4th in the 6N but only by 6 points. If we had beaten Wales I think we would have won. What happened in that match imho was Wales finally remembered how to win, and confidence grew, and England forgot and confidence fell.
When I heard the Lions squad I was a but disappointed Woodward said he would pick on form, and with the backs I am not sure he did.