I don't like the format or the followers of the Lions. the thing is too obviously kept in place because it makes money, not because it makes rugby sense. It disrupts the domestic season of whichever country it visits, and wouldn't be agreed to now if it wasn't so lucrative: that in itself is reason enough to not like it. Then you look to the fans: the worst of all the fans of the Home Nations. However, this Lions tour is good for two reasons: it will be close, but they will probably lose, adding to the schadenfreude I feel at their awful fans; and secondly, as I'll probably be in the United Kingdom at the time, it'll make upmarket bars so much better to be in for me, as the most aggressive fans will be out of the country. The Lions haven't won in the professional era, with the thrashing defeat to a good but not great All Blacks Side being the most humiliating for them, The following is a team that I would choose to defeat the Lions. Selected in brackets is my predicted team that Robbie Deans will pick for the first test.
Pascal's Team (Robbie Deans Predicted Team in Brackets)
1. Benn Robinson (Benn Robinson)
2. Stephen Moore (Stephen Moore)
3. Ben Alexander (Sekope Kepu)
4. Sitaleki Timani (Rob Simmons)
5. James Horwill (Captain) (James Horwill)
6. George Smith (Dave Dennis)
7. Michael Hooper (Michael Hooper)
8. Hugh McMeniman (Wyclif Palu)
9. Will Genia (Will Genia)
10. Matt Toomua (Quade Cooper)
11. Digby Ioane (Digby Ioane)
12. Ben Tapuai (Pat McCabe)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Joe Tomane (Nick Cummins)
15. Jesse Mogg (James O' Connor)
Reserves:
16. Dan Palmer (Ben Alexander)
17. James Slipper (Liam Gill / George Smith)
18. Totafu Polota-Nau (Totafu Polota-Nau)
19. Fotu Aulua (Israel Folau)
20. Liam Gill (Kane Douglas)
21. James O'Connor (Nic White)
22. Christian Lealiifano (Jesse Mogg)
Analysis:
Front Row
A historical and assumed weakness, all that the Wallaby front row will be asked is to hold parity. This can be achieved through the improved work of the three I've picked, and the three replacements I have on the bench. The three picked are solid and have worked previously as a unit, and have able replacements coming off the bench. There is the chance that Ben Alexander will be outscrummed if his technique is called upon, and so Dan Palmer could start in the second test. TPN should be introduced later on in the games as a huge, suicidal, impact-man-on-a-mission. Slipper can provide cover for either side of the scrum, and has solid defence, as does Palmer. Paddy Ryan and Scott Sio, are unlucky to miss out, but have a great future ahead of them. Further reinforcements might come from Salesi Ma'afu, who is impressing on the West Coast.
Second Row:
Horwill is there as captain, and adds much needed grunt and leadership. Sitaleki Timani adds monstrous bulk that none in the Northern Hemisphere can match - Ritchie Grey isn't as good at using his bulk. Meanwhile, Hugh McMeniman, whom I have chosen at #6, can deputise or move to the second row in case of injury: the typical replacements (Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas) - have failed to impress in the Green and Gold. Calderyn Neville and Hugh Pyle probably need more game time before they can get on.
Back Row:
Where there are numerous replacements (think Ben Mowen, Richard Brown, any of the Western Force guys, Dave Dennis, Quark, even Higginbotham) it's blessed, even with the injury to Pocock. Despite this, I'm going for: Smith, Gill, and MMM, who are all making themselves undroppable. While Wyclif Palu is a strong favourite too, my back ups here would be for Fotu Aulua, as a wrecking ball impact player, and Michael Hooper. What is more likely to happen is that Palu will be on the starters block, with Smith and Gill on the Bench as higginbotham takes the 6. Ben Mowen is unlucky to miss out, although the incumbent at #6 Dave Dennis, will probably be picked, despite having a lacklustre career in Green and gold so far, and a disappointing season for the Waratahs too.
Backline combination.
It's inevitable that Cooper apologises to Deans and plays. If this doesn't happen for the first test, it will for the second. Will Genia is probably the first picked for the Wallabies. I didn't choose a backup for Genia because of his importance: Australia will win if he's playing, and he'll only be off if he's injured. In that case, one of the other backs can take over for him (James O'Connor, probably). I've been reasonably impressed with Kyle Godwin of the force too.
Deans tends to choose his favourites, I've gone for form instead. If his real backline is like the one I predict above this will be great evidence. Israel Folau is a great athlete and could become a great player, but I think it's tough to make a debut in a Lions series. This is probably a season too early for the big man. The work of Toomua and Leilafiiano have been too good to ignore, though they probably will be ignored for a similar reason. I think that Lealiifano would be bettersuited as a bench impact player though, while Matt Toomua would be the better starting option. The possibility of Toomua and Genia working together is a great one, as he has better control, imagination and most importantly defence than the mercurial Cooper. I don't think that Quade cooper should play, but he probably will make a grand reunion with his estranged coach Deans, especially if the first test doesn't go well. James O'Connor comes off the bench for me, as he can cover most spots on the backline, important for a 5 - 2 forward split like I've gone for. Alfi Mafi comes close to being a match day winger, after a solid year. Outside of 9 and 10, there are a myriad of options for the Wallabies.
Give credit to Deans, he's had some terrible losses (France, Samoa, Scotland x 2), and he picks his favourites regardless of form or logic, but the fact that two solid teams could be picked is testament to the work he's done.
In conclusion, I can guarantee that there is not a single friend of mine who is interested in this, and that's why it is making it to the internet. I've picked a pretty good team, although I'm sure Deans will stick with some of his favourites, it'll be a good series, and I'll be able to enjoy going to bars in British cities because most of the worst tossers will be over there instead. I'm looking forward to it.
Update: (19th April 2013) - After today's match I watched, Israel Folau should at very least be in the extended group of 30. If he'd played Union instead of AFL last year, he may well be the first back picked after Genia. A monstrous athlete.
N.B. spelling needs to be checked, particularly of names, do this later!
Pascal's Team (Robbie Deans Predicted Team in Brackets)
1. Benn Robinson (Benn Robinson)
2. Stephen Moore (Stephen Moore)
3. Ben Alexander (Sekope Kepu)
4. Sitaleki Timani (Rob Simmons)
5. James Horwill (Captain) (James Horwill)
6. George Smith (Dave Dennis)
7. Michael Hooper (Michael Hooper)
8. Hugh McMeniman (Wyclif Palu)
9. Will Genia (Will Genia)
10. Matt Toomua (Quade Cooper)
11. Digby Ioane (Digby Ioane)
12. Ben Tapuai (Pat McCabe)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Joe Tomane (Nick Cummins)
15. Jesse Mogg (James O' Connor)
Reserves:
16. Dan Palmer (Ben Alexander)
17. James Slipper (Liam Gill / George Smith)
18. Totafu Polota-Nau (Totafu Polota-Nau)
19. Fotu Aulua (Israel Folau)
20. Liam Gill (Kane Douglas)
21. James O'Connor (Nic White)
22. Christian Lealiifano (Jesse Mogg)
Analysis:
Front Row
A historical and assumed weakness, all that the Wallaby front row will be asked is to hold parity. This can be achieved through the improved work of the three I've picked, and the three replacements I have on the bench. The three picked are solid and have worked previously as a unit, and have able replacements coming off the bench. There is the chance that Ben Alexander will be outscrummed if his technique is called upon, and so Dan Palmer could start in the second test. TPN should be introduced later on in the games as a huge, suicidal, impact-man-on-a-mission. Slipper can provide cover for either side of the scrum, and has solid defence, as does Palmer. Paddy Ryan and Scott Sio, are unlucky to miss out, but have a great future ahead of them. Further reinforcements might come from Salesi Ma'afu, who is impressing on the West Coast.
Second Row:
Horwill is there as captain, and adds much needed grunt and leadership. Sitaleki Timani adds monstrous bulk that none in the Northern Hemisphere can match - Ritchie Grey isn't as good at using his bulk. Meanwhile, Hugh McMeniman, whom I have chosen at #6, can deputise or move to the second row in case of injury: the typical replacements (Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas) - have failed to impress in the Green and Gold. Calderyn Neville and Hugh Pyle probably need more game time before they can get on.
Back Row:
Where there are numerous replacements (think Ben Mowen, Richard Brown, any of the Western Force guys, Dave Dennis, Quark, even Higginbotham) it's blessed, even with the injury to Pocock. Despite this, I'm going for: Smith, Gill, and MMM, who are all making themselves undroppable. While Wyclif Palu is a strong favourite too, my back ups here would be for Fotu Aulua, as a wrecking ball impact player, and Michael Hooper. What is more likely to happen is that Palu will be on the starters block, with Smith and Gill on the Bench as higginbotham takes the 6. Ben Mowen is unlucky to miss out, although the incumbent at #6 Dave Dennis, will probably be picked, despite having a lacklustre career in Green and gold so far, and a disappointing season for the Waratahs too.
Backline combination.
It's inevitable that Cooper apologises to Deans and plays. If this doesn't happen for the first test, it will for the second. Will Genia is probably the first picked for the Wallabies. I didn't choose a backup for Genia because of his importance: Australia will win if he's playing, and he'll only be off if he's injured. In that case, one of the other backs can take over for him (James O'Connor, probably). I've been reasonably impressed with Kyle Godwin of the force too.
Deans tends to choose his favourites, I've gone for form instead. If his real backline is like the one I predict above this will be great evidence. Israel Folau is a great athlete and could become a great player, but I think it's tough to make a debut in a Lions series. This is probably a season too early for the big man. The work of Toomua and Leilafiiano have been too good to ignore, though they probably will be ignored for a similar reason. I think that Lealiifano would be bettersuited as a bench impact player though, while Matt Toomua would be the better starting option. The possibility of Toomua and Genia working together is a great one, as he has better control, imagination and most importantly defence than the mercurial Cooper. I don't think that Quade cooper should play, but he probably will make a grand reunion with his estranged coach Deans, especially if the first test doesn't go well. James O'Connor comes off the bench for me, as he can cover most spots on the backline, important for a 5 - 2 forward split like I've gone for. Alfi Mafi comes close to being a match day winger, after a solid year. Outside of 9 and 10, there are a myriad of options for the Wallabies.
Give credit to Deans, he's had some terrible losses (France, Samoa, Scotland x 2), and he picks his favourites regardless of form or logic, but the fact that two solid teams could be picked is testament to the work he's done.
In conclusion, I can guarantee that there is not a single friend of mine who is interested in this, and that's why it is making it to the internet. I've picked a pretty good team, although I'm sure Deans will stick with some of his favourites, it'll be a good series, and I'll be able to enjoy going to bars in British cities because most of the worst tossers will be over there instead. I'm looking forward to it.
Update: (19th April 2013) - After today's match I watched, Israel Folau should at very least be in the extended group of 30. If he'd played Union instead of AFL last year, he may well be the first back picked after Genia. A monstrous athlete.
N.B. spelling needs to be checked, particularly of names, do this later!
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