1st test.. Who's your pick?

15 Halfpenny kicked
14 Cuthbert
13 ODirscoll
12 Roberts
11 North
10 Sexton/Hogg if sexton inj
9 Phillips
8 Heaslip
7 warburton
6 Tipuric
5 Gray
4 OConnell
3 Jones
2 Hibbard
1 Vunipola

really cant see tipuric starting and its a shame, better than warburton in my opinion, but dont think they will play him at 6.

First thoughts on that side would be Faletau would be really really unlucky to miss out, stood out on the tour as the guy who makes the hard yards so far for me.

rest of it looks pretty sound except I doubt Gray will start. Front row/9,wings,fb is nailed on imo

I don't particularly like Farrell but Hogg is going to have to play in a tougher game than that to be considered backup for a test place at 10

o'brien for tipuric
Faletau for heaslip
Aw jones for Gray and there you have it. Not sure if North will start.

15 Halfpenny kicked
14 Cuthbert
13 ODirscoll
12 Roberts
11 North
10 Sexton/Hogg if sexton inj
9 Phillips
8 Heaslip
7 warburton
6 Tipuric
5 Gray
4 OConnell
3 Jones
2 Hibbard
1 Vunipola

There are some things there which are shocking!

Hogg to start ahead of Farrell at 10? No! Just no! He played against semi professional players so it should have been easy.
Tipuric will not start ahead of lydiate. He will take 6 as gatland loves him and rightfully so. Warburton will be pushed every step of the way for his position. Heaslip will be lucky to beat Toby to 8.

I can't see Gray taking the second row position next to oconnell if I'm honest but he wouldn't play badly if he is chosen.

Think cuthbert is lucky that bowe got injured as he would have been first choice on the wing.

Farrell to hot headed under pressure...

f**k THE EGG

f**k THE EGG

no lets have them back at CCS. CCFC

f**k THE EGG

no lets have them back at CCS. CCFC

Couldn't stop yourself from posting on this not football post.

15. Halfpenny
14. Cuthbert
13. O' Driscoll
12. Roberts
11. North
10. Farrell
9. Phillips

8. Toby
7. Warburton(c)
6. Lydiate
5.Gray
4. O'Connell
3. Jones
2. Hibbard
1. Vunipola

10 Welsh players
2 Irish
2 English
1 Scottish

Farrell to hot headed under pressure...

But he has more quality than Hogg has at 10... If you would think Hogg would start at 10 in any of the tests then I am unsure if you saw the standard of those players yesterday :/

Forum here at the link, wrong sport for this site.>>>>>>> http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/foru ... Lions-Tour

15. Halfpenny
14. Cuthbert
13. O' Driscoll
12. Roberts
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Phillips

8. Toby
7. Warburton(c)
6. O'brien
5.Gray
4. O'Connell
3. Jones
2. Hibbard
1. Vunipola

8 Welsh players
4 Irish
2 English
1 Scottish

Sexton will start, o brien in for lydiate, more irish players the better as they seem to know how to beat australia more than us welsh do

15. Halfpenny
14. Cuthbert
13. O' Driscoll
12. Roberts
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Phillips

8. Toby
7. Warburton(c)
6. O'brien
5.Gray
4. O'Connell
3. Jones
2. Hibbard
1. Vunipola

8 Welsh players
4 Irish
2 English
1 Scottish

Sexton will start, o brien in for lydiate, more irish players the better as they seem to know how to beat australia more than us welsh do

I can't see anyway other than if he's injured that Lydiate won't start this game. He's class makes great tackles and does all te dirty work that is crucial for success in fact I'd go as far as to say he's currently the best 6 in the world

15 Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert
13 ODirscoll
12 Roberts
11 North
10 Sexton
9 Phillips

8 Faletau
7 warburton
6 Croft (only in in front of lydiate as an extra line out option)
5 O'Connell
4 AW Jones
3 Jones
2 Hibbard
1 Vunipola

wyn-jones for gray
youngs for hibbard
lydiate for tiperic

and jon parkin for adam jones

Crofts will start ahead of Lydiatte simply for the extra option in the line out. And unfortunatly Farell will probably start if Sexton isnt fit in time.

15 halfpenny
14 north
13 o driscoll
12 roberts
11 zebo
10 sexton
9 phillips
8 heaslip
7 warburton
6 crofts
5 wyn jones
4 o connell
3 adam jones
2 rory best
1 vuinpolo

Going to watch the Lions v Waratahs Saturday night, a few beers in Paddo before the game.

Justin Tipuric is the best openside flanker in the northern hemisphere imo, arguably even the worlds best. His ball handling skills are probably better than most of the backs in the lions squad Lol the speed in which he covers ground and gets up in support is second to none. I hope he starts. I just think His game is suited perfectly to play against Australia... A team who tend to move it away from the forwards and play a more open expansive game. Wales really are spoilt for choice in the backrow postions at the moment

Justin Tipuric is the best openside flanker in the northern hemisphere imo, arguably even the worlds best. His ball handling skills are probably better than most of the backs in the lions squad Lol the speed in which he covers ground and gets up in support is second to none. I hope he starts. I just think His game is suited perfectly to play against Australia... A team who tend to move it away from the forwards and play a more open expansive game. Wales really are spoilt for choice in the backrow postions at the moment

totally agree, but with warburton as captain he wont get a look in.

Cant see toby starting at number 8 ahead of heaslip either.

15. halfpenny
14 bowe ( if fit) otherwise cuthbert
13.o driscoll
12. roberts
11.north
10.sexton
9.phillips
8.heaslip
7.warburton
6.lydiate (tipuric last 30)
5.a.w jones
4 .o connell
3.jones
2.hibbard
1.vunipola

Justin Tipuric is the best openside flanker in the northern hemisphere imo, arguably even the worlds best. His ball handling skills are probably better than most of the backs in the lions squad Lol the speed in which he covers ground and gets up in support is second to none. I hope he starts. I just think His game is suited perfectly to play against Australia... A team who tend to move it away from the forwards and play a more open expansive game. Wales really are spoilt for choice in the backrow postions at the moment

totally agree, but with warburton as captain he wont get a look in.

Cant see toby starting at number 8 ahead of heaslip either.

I THINK HE'LL BE ON THE BENCH AND DEF GET ON AS HE CAN GO ON EITHER SIDE FOR WARBY OR LYDS AND WITH 30 MINS OR MORE TO GO HE'LL BE ALL OVER THE PITCH

Bowe if fit? He's broken his hand, will be lucky to see the 3rd test.

Whoever is picking Gray before A.W. Jones needs their head testing!

15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 George North, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Mike Phillips, 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Tom Youngs, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Tom Croft, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Sean Maitland

Surprised that youngs beat hibbard into the side, also shocked at mano's omission but I can understand if they are looking at securing the scrum. Croft and heaslip beat lydiate and Toby due to carrying ability I would guess but to have lydiate on the bench is a credit for the lions strength.

I am surprised that maitland is on the bench but that is down to him being able to cover the wing or full back I guess and Hogg is so over rated! I am glad he missed out. Not too much of a shock team really.

Most importantly

8 Welsh (+2 on bench)
4 Irish (0 on bench)
3 English (+4 on bench)
0 Scots (+2 on bench)

Lets get the ICC Trophy out of the way first ,love to see us win it then go stuff the Aussies.