Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
By Lion's Eye
June 8 2009
British & Irish Lions v Sharks Wed 10/6/09 - Durban Selection Thoughts Paul O'Connell will Captain a strong Lions team against the Sharks on Wednesday as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the tour of South Africa.
June 8 2009
British & Irish Lions v Sharks Wed 10/6/09 - Durban Selection Thoughts Paul O'Connell will Captain a strong Lions team against the Sharks on Wednesday as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the tour of South Africa.
British & Irish Lions v Sharks
Wed 10/6/09
Selection Thoughts
ABSA Stadium Durban
Paul O'Connell will Captain a strong Lions team against the Sharks on Wednesday as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the tour of South Africa.
Ian McGeechan, Lions head coach, has went with tested combinations in the form of Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, who was almost unstoppable in the Lions' record 74-10 victory over the Golden Lions.
Tom Croft, Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace will all start against the Sharks. England centre Riki Flutey has been included on the bench after recovering from a knee injury that almost forced him off the tour.
The Lions are also trying new starting combinations in the half backs, where Mike Phillips will link up with Ronan O'Gara, and in the front row with Lee Mears to hook between Welsh props Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins.
"I am delighted that as we head into the fourth match we only have one player who is unavailable for selection," McGeechan said. "The players and the medical staff have managed the injuries that have been sustained in a very professional manner. This is crucial as we enter matches against two of South Africa's strongest provinces in the Sharks and Western Province in the space of four days."
British & Irish Lions:
L Byrne (Ospreys & Wales); S Williams (Ospreys & Wales), B O'Driscoll (Leinster & Ireland), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues & Wales), L Fitzgerald (Leinster & Ireland); R O'Gara (Munster & Ireland), M Phillips (Ospreys & Wales); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues & Wales), L Mears (Bath & England), A Jones (Ospreys & Wales), A-W Jones (Ospreys & Wales), P O'Connell (Munster & Ireland) (Captain), T Croft (Leicester & England), D Wallace (Munster & Ireland), J Heaslip (Leinster & Ireland).
Replacements: M Rees (Scarlets & Wales), P Vickery (Wasps & England), S Shaw (Wasps & England), J Worsley (Wasps & England), M Blair (Edinburgh & Scotland), R Flutey (Wasps & England), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues & Wales).
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Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: Lions 2009 (IP Logged)
Date: 08/06/2009 13:38
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: vernonfella (IP Logged)
Date: 08/06/2009 21:25
Strongest team so far...starting to look like a test side...apart from Adam Jones of course! 
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: Isaac Dix (IP Logged)
Date: 08/06/2009 22:13
Adam Jones may well make the test side. None of the TH props have stood out have they?
I don't think Shane Williams will make the test side but it's not far off a test side is it.
I don't think Shane Williams will make the test side but it's not far off a test side is it.
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: Rich. (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 07:57
I guess like a lot of us I was surprised to see such a strong team put out for this Weds; I thought he'd play his 'test team' on Saturday against Western Province. A few places still up for grabs of course but of those not playing tomorrow Tommy Bowe and Stephen Jones look very good bets for the test team IMO. I'm looking forward to it!
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: Rich. (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 08:09
Just to add on the Shane Willaims debate - He ain't in top form that's for sure but he always tries hard and actually made some nice jinking runs to try and find space for himself against the Cheeters. Because of his profile we are all very focused on him and therefore because he got no decent ball and never looked like scoring agaisnst the Cheeters he gets lots of criticism whereas Leigh Halfpenny (who I think is fantastic) was even more anonomous than Shane. Let's see what Shane can do tomorrow (though he won't shift Bowe out of his wing slot). Again I'm not saying he's a test definate or anything (and he'd not be in my team at the moment) but I think we can often judge him in a diffeent way than we judge the other wings.
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Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: tigeroo (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 12:00
Quote:Isaac Dix
Adam Jones may well make the test side.
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: kiwitaff (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 12:42
Why do so many people seem to think Adam Jones shouldn't make the test side? I haven't seen anything bad from him despite playing in two very ordinary sides so far. He has been dominant in the scrum and is no less visible in the loose than Vickery and far better than Murray in that aspect. Until about 2 seasons back he had fitness problems but he now holds his own with anyone so I can only assume it is based on people judging him by his appearance. Maybe he ought to get his hair shaved so that people take him seriously?
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: DuncanS (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 13:06
Agree totally with Rich on the Shane Williams issue.
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: Isaac Dix (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 17:41
Quote:Tigeroo
Quote:
Isaac Dix
Adam Jones may well make the test side.
Why not? Care to join the debate?
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: Mr lumpy (IP Logged)
Date: 10/06/2009 08:37
Last season Shane Williams was one of the best players to watch.Like most players after a great year and wonderful write ups his form has dipped and he is trying too hard.Lets hope that it is only temporary and that he rattles a few cages from now on
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: kiwitaff (IP Logged)
Date: 10/06/2009 09:32
I note that whenever uses the smiley about Adam Jones they then fail to back it up with any sensible observation on why they think he is such a joke. Considering that some on here believe Sheri is a superior scrummager to Melon and Adam Jones is such a joke I am amazed that the English scrum didn't completely annihilate Wales in this season's 6N 
smiley about Adam Jones they then fail to back it up with any sensible observation on why they think he is such a joke. Considering that some on here believe Sheri is a superior scrummager to Melon and Adam Jones is such a joke I am amazed that the English scrum didn't completely annihilate Wales in this season's 6N Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: kiwitaff (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2009 18:26
Tigeroo looks even more stupid now!
Re: Lions v Sharks Team Announced - Selection Thoughts?
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2009 19:17
He certainly does.
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