Lions Team

The question is 17-15 - did they actual play a game or is that the average number of pints sunk, and if so, what percentage were done by Jason Leonard and Nick Popplewell?

Mike Tindall (dwarf tossing alcoholic)
Danny Care (drink driving, public urination, general affray)
Gareth Chilcott (hospitalised for drinking a pint of aftershave out of the Calcutta Cup)
Danny Cipriani (serial offender, plus there'd by Kelly Brook's latest replacement in the stand)
Delon Armitage (assault, general mayhem)
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4)Shaw
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(if only )


Sure there's an argument to play Hook instead of Flutey or Wilkinson instead of Parks
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On the Irish side we'd have to bring Trevor Brennan out of retirement for this alternative team.
Running into the stands to punch out a disorderly supporter AND he owns his own pub in Toulouse.

DBM, I'm the resident French corespondant and I can tell you the French are being surprisingly unfrench about the shambles that was their 6Nations. No real calls for PSA's head.
"Place aux jeunes" is PSA's message and there's a general feeling that he was, to an extent, handcuffed to the World Cup finalists for this year.
Wesley Fofana and Yoann Maestri were the only new boys called in for the 6Nations and were France's best 2 players by a margin. Jean-Marcellin Buttin was called up for the last game and I'd expect to see a lot more of him.
Of the old guard, don't hold your breath waiting to see much more of Bonnaire (retired), Servat, Poux, Nallet, Chabal (recently sacked by Racing) or Harinordoquy in the pack and Yachvili, Rougerie and Clerc will be unlikely to feature much in PSA's plans as he builds for 2015.

That is interesting Taras, and i shall not forget its urself who is the inside man on the continent

On PSA, he is trying to have them play much more structured English style rugby, or so Coner O'Shea has been saying. But that kind of goes against "the french way" of playing don't it?

Anyway I suppose PSA will get a reasonable amount of time in the job to put his plans in to motion. So we wait and see.

On Trevor Brennan, very well liked guy he is. That was a serious case of red mist that day, but as i understand it the "fan" was hurling some serious abuse at him. Bring his family into it and so on. I know what Brennan did was stupid, but im not sure i could say that i would turn the other cheek either.

Front row: Toss up between the English and Welsh front-rows, with Ross Ford probably getting a look in at hooker as Rees has done nothing and Hartley although solid still lacks maturity.

1. Jenkins > Corbisiero
2. Ford > Hartley
3. Cole > A Jones

Second row picks itself, O'connell if fit and Gray for his outstanding performances this 6N, Lawes when fit as back-up and AW Jones if he regains form. Ryan has a chance if he continues his form

4. Gray > Lawes
5. O'Connell > AW Jones

Back row: ridiculously difficult, so much talent. Cant really look past Lydiate and Warburton as flankers although Croft and Ferris are more than ready to step in. Massive jostle for number 8 with Morgan, Denton in brilliant form. Heaslip although off the pace is still quality. Not impressed by Faletau.. easy job with
Warburton and Lydiate beside him.

6. Lydiate = Croft, could go for either
7. Warburton > Ferris, maybe Rennie
8. Heaslip = Morgan = Denton ..too hard, Heaslip if he regains form.

Halfbacks: Phillips, but we lack quality at 9 unless Youngs regains his X factor from the Aussie tests. Farrell no10, dont rate Priestland and Sexton had difficult 6N

9. Phillips > Cusiter/Blair. Youngs could easily force his way in.

10. Farrell > Sexton

Midfield: Roberts far too one dimensional, really dont rate him. Tuilagi can do what he does x10. O'Driscoll has to be considered when fit, not automatic anymore. J Davies is decent. Keith Earls has done well, good versatility.

12. Tuilagi > Barritt, need a natural 12 and would actually prefer Barritt to Roberts.
13. O'Driscoll > Davies

Back three: Wingers, shoot out between welsh boys North and Cuthbert for the no11, too similar to be played together, probs go for North. Bowe has to be the other winger, great rugby brain. Halfpenny and Kearny for full back slot are favs, although Foden is up there.

11. North > Cuthbert
15. Kearney > Foden
14. Bowe > Halfpenny

After having had a think about this here is my side based on them being fully fit

15 - Ben Foden - Need a great catcher and returner to counter the Aussie speed

14 - Chris Ashton - Though badly out of form I think he'll come back and hsi power and spped will be important

13 - Manu Tuilagi - As with Ashton, can be used to pulverise them before bringing on Brian O'Driscoll around the 60 minute mark, the old head to calm the back line and clinically take them apart at the death

12 - Jamie Roberts - No real obvious alternative

11 - George North - Unleash the Kraken!

10 - Owen Farrell - Slight concern about his ability to unleash a powerful backline, but he's improving and I think will be the man

9 - Ben Youngs - I can hear people yelling "What!" and "English bias" but I think he'll come back and he's the best option we have to ignite the backs


1 - Alex Corbisiero - Sheer power will be used as a spearhead

2 - Matthew Rees - Again not an area of enormous strength for us, but a powerful and accurate player

3 - Adam Jones - Experience, power he's the total package and will be a great leader

4 - Richie Gray - Excellent in the line out and loose and a formidable scrummager

5 - Paul O'Connell - Vast experience, a natural leader who knows and understands the Lions principles

6 - Tom Croft - I'd take Croft over Lydiate due to his play in the open, which will be key to countering their speed and to open up opportunities for us

7 - Sam Warburton - Great to have him behind O'Connell, great training for a potential future captain

8 - Jamie Heaslip - Has been off form, but I think his power and drive will come back

"Ye well Bowe won't be offering anything from the left wing. Top try scorer or not"

You honestly think an international class winger will become rubbish on the opposite wing? They swap all the time...

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