'British' Lions? No, not really.
By Gary Watton
July 5 2013
Gary gives the Lions selection a grilling for us?
The omission of Brian O'Driscoll not just from the team, but from the matchday squad for the Lions' third test in Sydney has raised a lot of eyebrows. However, I am particularly peeved that Gatland and Howley all too predictably have packed the so-called 'British' Lions team with ten Welshmen, a figure that I find completely over the top.
Of course, Wales have been the dominant British nation since the last World Cup in 2011. Although no-one can deny that, one should bear in mind that the Welsh clubs remain mediocre also-rans in both the Heineken Cup and the Pro12. Secondly, the rampant Welsh team that stood head and shoulders above the other home nations in the 1970s didn't even enjoy such over-representation in the Lions tests of 1971, 1974, and 1977. The current talented pool of Welsh players is not yet on the same level of their illustrious predecessors of the 'seventies.
Okay, let us analyse the injustice and downright favouritism a bit more closely:
Is Jonathan Davies really better than Manu Tuilagi or O'Driscoll.
Is Toby Faletau really better than Ben Morgan or Heaslip?
Is Alan Wyn-Jones really better than the criminally overlooked Richie Gray?
Is Leigh Halfpenny much more preferable than the dynamic Rob Kearney?
Presumably, if Sam Warburton had been available, we would be treated to no less than eleven Welsh players in the starting XV.
Perhaps if Gethin Jenkins had not incurred injury, the total would spiral to twelve! Remarkably, JPR Williams has moaned that Justin Tipuric should also have been included. Admittedly, I do rate Tipuric [perhaps a better openside than Warburton?], but seriously, I don't think that the Welsh contingent can have much cause for complaint! I for one won't lose any sleep over whether or not the so-called British Lions defeat those
humble, modest Australians. The third test is after all effectively Australia versus Wales. It's almost scandalous. Win or lose, I couldn't care less.
Anyhow, supposing the Welsh Lions and Australia draw
15 Catherine Zeta Jones
14 Tom Jones
13 Katherine Jenkins
12 Ryan Giggs
11 Neil Kinnock
10 Rob Brydon
9 Max Boyce
8 Robbie Savage
7 John Toshack
6 Shirley Bassey
5 Aaron Ramsey
4 Craig Bellamy
3 Glenys Kinnock
2 Cerys Matthews
1 Sian Lloyd
[David Lloyd George would have made my starting line-up, but he's a
bit 'unavailable']
by Gary Watton; author; historian, and sports statistician;
http://gw930.blog.com
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Quote:Is Alan Wyn-Jones really better than the criminally overlooked Richie Gray?
Is Leigh Halfpenny much more preferable than the dynamic Rob Kearney?
Both about ten times better, yes.
Not sure what the point of this article is. If you'd argued that Gatlandball has consistently failed against the 3N for the past five years, that would have been a good start for example.
Quote:TouchLine
I bet the author didn't complain when England had 11 in the Lions starting 15 in the past.
Difference is they deserved to be there.
The author really shouldn't have bothered with the make-up of the squad though, and focused instead on the mind numbingly awful 'Gatlandball' we've been bored to tears with. Not like it's had any success against the 3N teams in the last 5 years...
Stuart
Former ed.
Well done done Wales on the lions test series win........
It's so funny this original post! My god. How much humble pie this guy stuffing down his neck right now.
Johnathan Davies has been the best centre for the lions this tour. He is immense. As proven in 6 nations and lions tour.
Faletau better? Come on guys. Watch the highlights.
AWJ better. Zzzzzzzz
Halfpenny or Kearney? I can't believe I'm even answering this question. But let me seeeeee ummm. just a tat.
I think Gats did his best to avoid controversy by selecting as many English and Irish guys as possible in the lions starting 15's as possible, to avoid this@#$%&we are reading from the poster. In the 3rd test he chose to give up the politically correct bull**** and selected wino he knew and believed were the best 15.
The result speaks for itself
Guys sort our act out and get over it. 2003 was a long time ago.
[www.rugbynetwork.net]
also if I knew he was going to publish the same article I would not have put this up but hey got you all going didn't he
)Quote:Is Alan Wyn-Jones really better than the criminally overlooked Richie Gray?
Based on the last 12 months, 75% of second rows in the Prem and Rabo leagues are better than Gray.
Criminally selected if you ask me!
Quite frankly I'm waiting for the AI's. That will tell us what we need to know. Where are England and how threatening are the SH sides. What rule changes are there and how will we have to adapt.
Thanks to Gatland for getting the Welsh to peak. I hope you boys don't live to regret it in 2015.
Quote:cardiffblue
So all Wales?
Well done done Wales on the lions test series win........
It's so funny this original post! My god. How much humble pie this guy stuffing down his neck right now.
Johnathan Davies has been the best centre for the lions this tour. He is immense. As proven in 6 nations and lions tour.
Faletau better? Come on guys. Watch the highlights.
AWJ better. Zzzzzzzz
Halfpenny or Kearney? I can't believe I'm even answering this question. But let me seeeeee ummm. just a tat.
I think Gats did his best to avoid controversy by selecting as many English and Irish guys as possible in the lions starting 15's as possible, to avoid this@#$%&we are reading from the poster. In the 3rd test he chose to give up the politically correct bull**** and selected wino he knew and believed were the best 15.
The result speaks for itself
Guys sort our act out and get over it. 2003 was a long time ago.
Hmmmn, one eyeism abounds.
JD "best centre" .......... that he may have been amongst those that toured! Not many of em covered in glory TBF and just think how good the "best centre" may have been had he bothered his backside to tackle.
Gatland guilty of some god awful selection pre tour, too many selected based on 1 six nations game and when all said and done the Lions were lucky to go into the decider on equal terms. Had he not left some quality at home who knows how it may have panned out!
Seems everyone wants Gatland's babies based on one game, a trend here and really ............. the result doesn't "really speak for itself".
The Lions got lucky and as for Gatland, he got lucky too.
Mark my words, had this tour been in NZ we would have got hammered with the Kiwi eejit in charge.
Quote:luddite
So how did it all go?
The script could have been written really. Gatland picked a squad, they went to play a rugby playing nation who were in poor fettle, the Lions should have lost the series 2-1 but they got lucky and now half of Wales wants Gatland Knighted or his babies and Wales are suddenly world beaters and the big natural leveller is that by the end of the next six nations the Welsh will turn on each other again, same old same old.
Quote:cardiffblue
Ha ha. Dear oh dear.
Well there you go ............... two months to respond and that's all you can manage!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:19:50:55 by Hardlymyfaultisit.