British & Irish Lions

[duke3016]

Your probably correct same goes with Shaw there bring him on later for more of an impact

Jones will get the nod for his experience, but Hook will be on the bench for his added flair, and as you say his extra kicking range.

I have a feeling that impact will have to be from the first whistle and a lot of power and aggression will be required early doors to keep the Boks in check. That is why I think my Pack pick is a right balance of speed and agression with Shaw/O"Callagahan/Mears in reserve to keep the power (and raw aggression) going.

The backs is more difficult as I see the main game in a tight 10 from the Boks. I will concede that a fit Roberts in the center should be the pick with Flutey/D"arcy as back up as they are both good impact players.

Tough call to be honest

[technolog]

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Lee Mears
3. Phil Vickery
4. Simon Shaw
5. Paul O"Connell (on reputation, not current form ldo)
6. Tom Croft
7. Martin Williams
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips (just)
10. Stephen Jones
11. Ugo Monye
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Brian O"Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Lee Byrne

16. Euan Murray
17. Matthew Rees
18. Alan Wynn Jones
19. David Wallace
20. Harry Ellis
21. Ronan O"Gara
22. Rob Kearney

[duke3016]

is croft over wallace emotional (or is my wallace emotional) as I feel Wallace"s ball carrying is immense

[technolog]

It may be a slightly imbalanced perspective. I see so much of Tigers (from the recliner ldo) and rate him as one of the best around.

[Mikeyboy9361]

I think Croft will start, for the line out option he gives, and I agree O,Connell plays cos he is skipper, but on current form he probs wouldn"t have made the starting 15.

[sleeves]

I think Croft will start, for the line out option he gives, and I agree O,Connell plays cos he is skipper, but on current form he probs wouldn"t have made the starting 15.

second that...O"Driscoll should have been made captain

[duke3016]

Hmm The team has been picked for today"s match and traditionally the match before the test is the "B" team which should give us some indication of the final team. That knocks three of my picks on the head. Must give the management a ring    n.b. Williams is suffering from a tummy bug tho and might not feature

K Earls (Munster & Ireland);
S Williams (Ospreys & Wales),
R Flutey (Wasps & England),
G D"Arcy (Leinster & Ireland),
L Fitzgerald (Leinster & Ireland),
J Hook (Ospreys & Wales),
M Blair (Edinburgh & Scotland);
A Sheridan (Sale Sharks & England),
R Ford (Edinburgh & Scotland),
E Murray (Northampton & Scotland),
S Shaw (Wasps & England),
D O"Callaghan (Munster & Ireland) (capt),
N Hines (Perpignan & Scotland),
J Worsley (Wasps & England),
A Powell (Cardiff Blues & Wales).

[Mikeyboy9361]

Wow those boys know they,ve been in a game. A real warning about the physicality that awaits on Saturday. Simon Shaw had a good game as did Worsley and Powell, Blair did well without protection, and I still like Fitzgerald for a spot on the bench. O"Gara kicked well off the floor, but was iffy out of hand, and doesn"t get the back line moving the same as Jones.
So still happy with my 15.  

[duke3016]

Sometimes I dispair.

Quote from Ronan O"Gara after yesterdays match "They were more interested in kicking lumps out of us than scoring or keeping the score down," he told BBC Sport.

It"s the nature of the game - deal with it, stop moaning, it"s the way the Southern Hemisphere is, get your retaliation in first FFS.

[Logie66]

No more debate about Hook, injured and not available for the 1st Test.  I reckon Jones will get the nod with O"Gara on the bench.

[Mikeyboy9361]

Trouble is with getting your retaliation in first Ger, is that on this tour you could then be sent off, and your tours over, where as the Kings could do what they wanted with no repercussions.
But I understand where your coming from, it is going to be even tougher on Saturday.

[Mikeyboy9361]

So the starting 15 is pretty much as predicted, just Wallace for Williams, which was a big decision. Can"t believe Fitzgerald isn"t on the bench, gone with Kearney instead, other than that no complaints.
Now bring it on..... can"t wait!

[duke3016]

[X] Armchair booked
[X] Fridge re stocked
[X] TV commandered (Not easy to pry the x box off the wee man, still being bigger than him helps)

• Confident - its a lttle x -- I think it"s a must win at sea level if we have any chance of the series
  
  This game will be won at the base of the scrum with Roberts and the flankers getting in the face of the rusty SA halfbacks. I think Kearney is on the bench for the options he bring to the backs in case of injury. The SA fullback is not a specialist full back and is suspect under the ball, expect a shiite load of high balls early doors. O"Connell will have to raise his game against Matfield, agruably the best lineout player in the world at the moment. Jenkins must get stuck in to Smit whose move from Hooker to tighthead was not really surprising given Du Plessis"s fine form.
  
  Will be in fine voice and 80 minutes of pain and pressure is required....
  
  bring it on

[duke3016]

[Eck]

Ref isn"t doing us a lot of favours and it doesn"t look good against very good boks side. Not all over but we will need to use the ball better in the 2nd half too much aimless kicking.