Irish Lions

[Hans Indaruck]

If Gatland leans any way it will be towards the Welsh - but with so many injuries there even he will be hard pushed to justify some selections. To be fair he generally has been a 'pick 'em on form' person - he has already mentioned Gilroy as coming under his radar. The key aspect the selection pool will be injuries picked up in the 6N for some and the recovery of injuries with enough quality game time for others.

I hate to say it but Engerland has probably suffered less on the injury front than the other 3 home nations - prepare to see quite a few players who wear the red rose in the selection pool (note I avoided saying Englishmen as that would narrow the pool too much!!).

[breakdown]

I know I would be a fan of angry Tom, I'm also aware that he needs to be playing for Ireland first but imho he is probably the best loose head in the British isles at the minute, when are players going to be picked on form? And not on whose Christmas card list they are on!

Cian Healy?

[Nightsoil]

Here's an interesting thought - imagine that Ireland are rubbish again in this 6N, Kidney keeps on picking his buddies etc - I can imagine Gatland quite relishing the idea of picking a couple of Ireland's performing players, rather than the ones whose names are written in lilac and underlined in Deccie's address book. So if Ulster continue to tear up trees, and for example win the HEC, then a few of our lads might make the trip anyway! Win-win - we keep them as far away from Kidney as possible, he'll look like a bell-end, and they get the recognition they deserve, what's not to like

Would be far from the first time the Lions have gone for a few players not involved in the international scene. Really not inconceivable that we end up with more players for the Lions than we do for Ireland should we do the business in the HEC.

[rumncoke]

The Lions have always taken one or two young exciting non Internationals by exciting I mean pace ball playing players.

Who get a mid week game were the opposition may not be the strongest and after the win is assured the team try to entertain.


Unfortunately with the short tour and professional teams such games are now rare.

[Russ]

Game 1 is now over

Who's on the plane?

[shamalicious]

BOD and Rory certainly in contention.

[Jackie Brown]

BOD and Rory certainly in contention.

I'd put Zebo in there too!

[shamalicious]

He was very good today.

[ruckover]

Best, Ross, O'Brien, O'Driscoll, Zebo.

[Jackie Brown]

Not Irish but the Scottish backrow are looking good.

[scrum5]

Purely on both games today it should be Cian Healy, Rory Best, SOB, Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney.....

[Snipe Watson]

Best, Ross, O'Brien, O'Driscoll, Zebo.

Ross is no Lion. Cole, Wilson and particularly Jones are all way ahead of Ross.

[rocky]

Kearney was totally outplayed by threepence ha'penny.

[Rooster]

Kearney was totally outplayed by threepence ha'penny.

No surprise there then, Kearney is as over rated as Heaslip !

[Rooster]

Chris Henry for a wildcard back row