Philips
youngs
are fine but Blair? not in a million years mate. He's so over rated its not even funny, one good season 4 years ago.
With the lack of options i would want a passing SH and reddan would fill that hole, but 3rd choice at best.
Certainly a weak point for the Lions.
Hopefully one standout emerges over the next year as it is a crucial position!
Both Youngs and Philips are overrated big time!
AUS will have Genia who will make every game a nightmare for his opposite number.
Right now I think Philips is the best we have, when on form I think that Ben Youngs is our best player here.
Its a potential weak spot, especially if Youngs form does not come back and I reckon we should take 4 players for this slot - Philips and Youngs I've mentioned as for the other two there are no blinding lights - Reddan, Dickson possibly I'd tend to avoid Blair and think O'Leary is a bit of a liability, after that I'm not sure who else there really is and certainly its an area of clear Australian superiority, especially if Youngs is off form.
So, a bit ot a rum lot but I'd go for Philips, Youngs, Reddan, Dickson - lets hope someone comes out of the wordwork soon!
My thinking exactly SARS. tho i was a bit harsh on Blair in my first post, i still believe he is not even close to being a Lions Quality SH.
On that note, I would be thinking strategy to counter the OZ 9 Genia. We will need to be super organised in defense around the fringe. You know that guy has a step and a flair for sniping. SO a decent defensive SH would seem to be in order. Philips. no question.
What is with youngs? burst on to the stage, and since the horror show in dublin last year has been little or nowhere. Confidence thing?
What is it with Youngs?
A good question indeed! He clearly has the potential, he's quick and decisive at his best but can equally appear to be a spolit brat - truculent, unreliable and needlessly aggressive.
In Australia in 2010 we saw him at his best, all to often since then it has been at his worst - though whether being dropped for the Six Nations (or most of it) will give him the kick up the backside I don't know.
Great scrum halves often have a controlled arrogance that helps them drive the scrum and irritate the opposition, if that works well the scrum is empowered and the backs enabled, if you push it too far you just get carded and look like a git. Youngs needs to reassess and refocus himself, if he can do this, he can become great, if he can't he'll go the way of Cipriani and Henson
Hell i thought it was just a confidence issue. Being hyped up a lot then fell to earth. but man, your assessment is pretty damning. He has it all tho, but missing the top 4 inches at Eddie O'Sullivan would say.
Youngs is indeed the most talented SH in the NH I feel. Lets hope he regains his form because I dont want to see Phillips in the team.
Everyone is way too harsh on Mike Philips, he is a cracking scrum half when on form and recently he has been great. He has scored some crucial tries for Wales in big games and has helped the team home. Certainly a Lions starter unless someone really ups there game or breaks onto the scene. Also, Youngs is overrated. That is all.
Perhaps you're right. He was pretty good for the lions in SA
If you want a slow pass and greed that butchers attacks, Phillips is your man!
Aristo, i think you too harsh. I see your point about the pass tho. It works with wales because they play at pace and make up for it. I think it would work for the lions also, because we can certainly produce a searingly quick back line. His passing speed would not be an issue.
On the plus side his bulk and defensive qualities would severely limit Genia and thats a factor that can't be ignored. So ye, i dont think MP is the greatest SH or even close, but he's the best we have right now, and he not half bad at what he does.
What about dragging Shane out of retirement to play there
No mention of Conor Murray?
He's coming on in leaps and bounds, was a revelation at the World Cup and continued to show well before injury ended his 6Nations.
Sure he can be prone to the odd mistake but aren't they all?
Phillips will surely start, as will a lot of Welsh boys, but Murray would be my choice.
If Youngs can manage to, lets say curb his enthusiasm, I'd bring him along as 3rd choice, if not then Dickins or Redden, probably not Blair. What ever happened to Dwayne Peel?
Tomas O'Leary shouldn't even be let watch it on telly.
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Likely Lions: Scrum Halves
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posted on 16/4/12
Philips
youngs
are fine but Blair? not in a million years mate. He's so over rated its not even funny, one good season 4 years ago.
With the lack of options i would want a passing SH and reddan would fill that hole, but 3rd choice at best.
posted on 16/4/12
Certainly a weak point for the Lions.
Hopefully one standout emerges over the next year as it is a crucial position!
Both Youngs and Philips are overrated big time!
AUS will have Genia who will make every game a nightmare for his opposite number.
posted on 16/4/12
Right now I think Philips is the best we have, when on form I think that Ben Youngs is our best player here.
Its a potential weak spot, especially if Youngs form does not come back and I reckon we should take 4 players for this slot - Philips and Youngs I've mentioned as for the other two there are no blinding lights - Reddan, Dickson possibly I'd tend to avoid Blair and think O'Leary is a bit of a liability, after that I'm not sure who else there really is and certainly its an area of clear Australian superiority, especially if Youngs is off form.
So, a bit ot a rum lot but I'd go for Philips, Youngs, Reddan, Dickson - lets hope someone comes out of the wordwork soon!
posted on 17/4/12
My thinking exactly SARS. tho i was a bit harsh on Blair in my first post, i still believe he is not even close to being a Lions Quality SH.
On that note, I would be thinking strategy to counter the OZ 9 Genia. We will need to be super organised in defense around the fringe. You know that guy has a step and a flair for sniping. SO a decent defensive SH would seem to be in order. Philips. no question.
What is with youngs? burst on to the stage, and since the horror show in dublin last year has been little or nowhere. Confidence thing?
posted on 17/4/12
What is it with Youngs?
A good question indeed! He clearly has the potential, he's quick and decisive at his best but can equally appear to be a spolit brat - truculent, unreliable and needlessly aggressive.
In Australia in 2010 we saw him at his best, all to often since then it has been at his worst - though whether being dropped for the Six Nations (or most of it) will give him the kick up the backside I don't know.
Great scrum halves often have a controlled arrogance that helps them drive the scrum and irritate the opposition, if that works well the scrum is empowered and the backs enabled, if you push it too far you just get carded and look like a git. Youngs needs to reassess and refocus himself, if he can do this, he can become great, if he can't he'll go the way of Cipriani and Henson
posted on 17/4/12
Hell i thought it was just a confidence issue. Being hyped up a lot then fell to earth. but man, your assessment is pretty damning. He has it all tho, but missing the top 4 inches at Eddie O'Sullivan would say.
posted on 17/4/12
Youngs is indeed the most talented SH in the NH I feel. Lets hope he regains his form because I dont want to see Phillips in the team.
posted on 17/4/12
Everyone is way too harsh on Mike Philips, he is a cracking scrum half when on form and recently he has been great. He has scored some crucial tries for Wales in big games and has helped the team home. Certainly a Lions starter unless someone really ups there game or breaks onto the scene. Also, Youngs is overrated. That is all.
posted on 18/4/12
Perhaps you're right. He was pretty good for the lions in SA
posted on 18/4/12
If you want a slow pass and greed that butchers attacks, Phillips is your man!
posted on 19/4/12
Aristo, i think you too harsh. I see your point about the pass tho. It works with wales because they play at pace and make up for it. I think it would work for the lions also, because we can certainly produce a searingly quick back line. His passing speed would not be an issue.
On the plus side his bulk and defensive qualities would severely limit Genia and thats a factor that can't be ignored. So ye, i dont think MP is the greatest SH or even close, but he's the best we have right now, and he not half bad at what he does.
posted on 20/4/12
What about dragging Shane out of retirement to play there
posted on 25/4/12
No mention of Conor Murray?
He's coming on in leaps and bounds, was a revelation at the World Cup and continued to show well before injury ended his 6Nations.
Sure he can be prone to the odd mistake but aren't they all?
Phillips will surely start, as will a lot of Welsh boys, but Murray would be my choice.
If Youngs can manage to, lets say curb his enthusiasm, I'd bring him along as 3rd choice, if not then Dickins or Redden, probably not Blair. What ever happened to Dwayne Peel?
Tomas O'Leary shouldn't even be let watch it on telly.
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