Lions 2009 - Lions Watch

Eurosport - Tue, 14 Apr 13:41:00 2009

The Heineken Cup quarter-finals offered Lions selectors plenty to pore over last weekend, and it was not all good news for the leading contenders for the tour to South Africa.

John Hayes - Munster - 0

Munster were the success story of the round as the men in red continued their march towards a third Heineken trophy with a 43-9 thumping of Ospreys.

It was a poor effort from the Ospreys and their line-up of internationals must be wondering why their form this season fails to match the individual quality in their squad.

In other games, Leicester grabbed victory at the death against arch-rivals Bath while Cardiff Blues and Leinster produced impressive rear-guard efforts to deny Toulouse and Harlequins respectively.

Wit the squad announced on Monday, it is likely Ian McGeechan and his fellow selectors will know by now most, if not all, of their 35-strong party.

Below are some of the fringe players who did their chances no harm at all with impressive displays last weekend - and several of the leading contenders who did not.

Please feel free to give us your comments below. Remember, this week we are focusing on fringe players and have not therefore mentioned the likes of Gethin Jenkins, Paul O'Connell and Martyn Williams, who were outstanding for the clubs and considered as definites for the tour.

The good

Keith Earls (Munster)

Munster fans have been raving about Earls all season and the versatile back was in fine form with a two-try display in the demolition of the Ospreys. The Lions have strength at full-back and centre so this tour may be too soon for the 22-year-old, but he nonetheless continued his fine form and could do no more to further his cause.

Ugo Monye (Harlequins)

Solid in defence and powerful in attack - on one occasion leaving Leinster's Argentine fly-half Felipe Contepomi needing treatment - Monye is showing the end-of-season form that puts him in contention for one of the four wing spots. The Lions have decent options at wing, but none with outstanding pace. Monye offers them that.

John Hayes (Munster)

Ireland's most capped player (pictured) divides opinion more than most, but the bulky tight-head was again at the heart of Munster's forward effort. Not renowned as the strongest or most technical of scrummagers, but he rarely lets Ireland or Munster down with his lineout work and general play around the field.

Sam Vesty (Leicester)

Can play any position in the back line bar scrum-half, and was again impressive for the Tigers with a man-of-the-match performance at fly-half after filling in for late injury victim Toby Flood. There are no outstanding candidates for the third fly-half spot behind Stephen Jones and Ronan O'Gara and Vesty's versatility gives him an outside chance.

Tomas O'Leary (Munster)

First-choice for Munster and Ireland ahead of Peter Stringer, O'Leary produced another fine display at Thomond Park. Mixes a strong physical presence with a decent running and kicking game that could just see him sneak in as one of the Lions' scrum-halves.

Danny Care (Harlequins)

Was on the losing side, but again showed some decent attacking touches and solid defence. The Lions will take three scrum-halves to South Africa and, depending who you talk to, the permutations are wide open. Care offers that something a little different and could still go as third choice behind two more conventional operators. The Lions will need at least one jack-in-the-box and Care could be it.

Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster)

With Ireland's Grand Slam success and now Munster's journey to the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup, O'Callaghan is another doing his Lions chances a world of good. Less conspicuous than club and country team-mate Paul O'Connell, but showing the sort of competitive spirit that would serve the Lions well. Fiery temperament could work against him, or maybe in his favour.

Andy Powell (Wales)

Did not enjoy the best of Six Nations but did an excellent job after coming on in the 65th minute for the outstanding Xavier Rush. There were questions marks over Powell's ability to play smart and stick to a game-plan, but against Toulouse he did the basics very well and was calm and composed under pressure.

The not so good

Ryan Jones (Ospreys)

Has not been on a winning side since Wales' Six Nations victory over Italy and has had to endure losses to Ireland, Gloucester and now Munster in crucial matches for club and country. Unable to make a difference against the red juggernaut, either in defence or attack, and on current form no longer a decent bet for the Lions Test team. Will want to forget one moment when he was unceremoniously marched backwards by the Munster back row.

Toby Flood (Leicester)

Has done nothing wrong but his late withdrawal with injury from the Leicester team to face Bath denied him the chance to further his cause. Still in with a chance but may regret missing the opportunity to go head to head with Bath Springbok Butch James.

Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys)

One poor game by no means makes him a bad player, but Lions selectors will have noted how the Ospreys pack was so comprehensively out-gunned by the Munster forwards. Will be having nightmares about the missed tackle that allowed Paul Warwick in for Munster's opening try.

James Hook (Ospreys)

Landed three penalties but also missed several kicks at goal on a difficult afternoon for the highly-talented Welshman. It has been some time since Hook took a high-profile game by the scruff of the neck and the Lions selectors need someone who can do more than glide - albeit sublimely - through the odd gap.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

Comment 14 - 33 of 33

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. the boks excel in the line out, not many teams can­ match them man for man in the breakdown either,
    lions­ need to pay special attention to skulk burger a work ­ horse who has no equal in the northern hemisphere
    i­ hope the selectors are not going to focus their whole­ strategy around o driscoll .or any one man for that­ matter
    with out doubt he has talent but his last lions­ tour was the shortest in memory.
    to beat the bokka the­ lions have to pull as a team, support each other when­ it gets rough, forget tribal allegiance's and­ petty bickering we get enough of that on this blog, i­ don't mind a bit of banter, a lions tour is serious­ a reflection of our standing in the rugby world, the­ boks are the world champions 2nd time around most of­ the lions players have never had a sniff of a tour or ­ world cup final, i have seen the boks at their best,­ still strong and confident, it would be great victory­ if our, and as LIONS SUPPORTER i say ALL OUR boys get­ their teeth into that springbok biltong .SALAMANDER­ HOWZIT JOU GAT SAL SIEN my maat

    From SAS, on Sat 16 May 2:26PM

  2. my starting team for the first test would be gethin­ jenkin, jerry flannery, euen murray, paul oconnel,­­ donacha ocallaghan, joe woresly, martin williams,­ jamie­ heaslip
    mike­ philips, ronan o'gara, rickey­ flutey, brian o driscoll,­ tommy bowe, shane williams,­ and lee byrne

    From brucemorrice_bambi, on Fri 17 Apr 5:11PM

  3. Salamander: I know how strong the boks are but I think­ you are under estimating the best of the home nations.­ I presume the lions pack will have a strong Munster­ representation. That pack can go toe to toe with the­ best in the world. There are few scrum halves in the­ world bigger and faster than Phillips. Out half is a­ problem but with O driscoll in centre to help to­ protect I would feel pretty confident. The home nations­ are spoilt for choice when it comes to filling the back­ lone. I think it will be a very close encounter.

    From markear1, on Fri 17 Apr 11:02AM

  4. Hi markear1 always happy to hear from a fan. Do you­ think I'm wrong? How do you see the tour going? Do­ you think the Lions can pick players to match the­ fitness, speed, strength, ability, of the players­ available to the Boks?
    Who are the British & Irish­ players capable of this? Not to mention playing at­ altitude on hard ground Boks will win and win easy.

    From Salamander, on Fri 17 Apr 9:05AM

  5. Poor Salmander, never really has anything intelligent­ to say on any forum that I see him on. I suppose what­ should we expect from a muppet.

    From markear1, on Thu 16 Apr 12:33PM

  6. South Africa will win all the tests by at least 16­ point margin.

    From Salamander, on Thu 16 Apr 9:36AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    what's the point in this Lions? and British and­ Irish.. it will be french joining next france is closer

    From Harold, on Thu 16 Apr 12:51AM

  8. Mark, no doubt the munster forwards can take the­ all-blacks to the line, would like to get a hold of­ that game on video. But when faced with the big, no;­ enourmous scrums of Argentina and France (2 years ago),­ which almost compare to the boks,,,,,then,,,it will be­ exciting to watch none the less.
    Wales'­ performance at world cup was before gatland, and ire­ has new coach too.
    Next year Munster v Saracens­ (safracens).

    From Tex, Montana, Thai, on Wed 15 Apr 9:05PM

  9. Michael, the rugby world cup was 2 years ago. Please­ tell me the relevance of your comment. Wales also had­ an awful world cup. Going by your reasoning the Lions­ team then should be made up of English and Scots. The­ Lions team is all about form this season and thats all.­ Ireland are grand slam winners and our two clubs are­ top of Magners league and in European semi final. We­ should and better have the most players on that plane.

    From markear1, on Wed 15 Apr 8:45PM

  10. don't forget irish performance at world cup.

    From Tex, Montana, Thai, on Wed 15 Apr 8:30PM

  11. I totally agree with most of what rayackwerh says.­ Chris Patterson has not missed a goal attempt in the­ last three six nations campaigns and even though he is­ left on the bench a lot for scotand when he comes on he­ shows his kicking and also his gamebreaking­ abilities.
    Even so dont rule O'Gara out of the­ squad

    From Darragh, on Wed 15 Apr 1:20PM

  12. South Africa will enjoy these tests against the Lions­ and win them with easy.

    From Salamander, on Wed 15 Apr 8:43AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    My scrum halves will definitely include Cusiter. To be­ fair, he's very unfortunate that Blair is the­ captaion for Scotland, and Cusiter will none the less­ offer superior passing service to any other scrum­ halves in the North.
    Wing is the most tightly contested­ place. All test players played very well in the 6N and­ offered differnt qualities. Flood should be my 3rd FH,­ to cover IC and offer some defensive effort, which­ would be crucial with the likes of Jean de Villiers­ running through that channel. There is a case for­ Paterson in full back. He can actually kick tactically­ rather than booting the ball up and pray. Besides, his­ running lines and tackling are as good as other­ candidates in the position. I really wonder no body­ talks about him

    From chan.vincent, on Wed 15 Apr 6:53AM

  14. i think the best pack to take for the test would be­ gethin jenkin, mathew rees, euen murray, paul oconnel,­ donacha ocallaghan, joe worsley, martin williams, jamie­ heaslip
    and as for the backs i would go for mike­ philips, steven jones, rickey flutey, brian o driscoll,­ tommy bowe, shane williams, and lee byrne

    From paul s, on Wed 15 Apr 1:42AM

  15. you cant just stick a scrum together or a pack for that­ matter because they play well for there club.....its­ the springboks , the world champions they have a huge­ pack and we need 8 of the best just to compete­ specialist scrumagers and big mobile back row i can see­ where oconnel ocallaghan would get the nod apart from­ botha and matfield they are the best second row pairing­ in the world but hayes isnt a good scrumager flanery­ and horan are to small. leamy and wallace would be in­ for a good shout but i thought joe worlsey was one of­ the best players in the six nations and martin williams­ would be on anyones team sheet

    From paul s, on Wed 15 Apr 1:34AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Against South Africa you need to accumulate points so­ the Lions will need a reliable goal kicker. Stephen­ Jones and Ronan O'Gara did not kick well when under­ pressure in the six nations, cannot really break the­ line with any pace or strength and are poor­ defensively. A fit Jonny Wilkinson would be ideal but­ this is not going to happen. An on form James Hook­ would be the next best thing.

    I think the Lions should­ take Chris Paterson and really give him a chance to­ stake a claim in training and the midweek games. He is­ a great kicker, and has excellent pace. Behind a great­ pack and with a dynamic line outside him he could be­ the key. It's not his fault he plays in a weak­ Scotland side who had a particularly useless coach in­ Frank Hadden.

    Watch clips of him before dismissing­ him.

    From rayackwerh, on Tue 14 Apr 10:27PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    malcolm 0' kelly should be selected. his­ performance in sunday's match was nothing short of­ amazing. 80 minutes of such passion and sheer­ determination from one of our greatest player's­ ever. at 35 mal is still at the top of his game. his­ shameful treatment by ireland in their glory year was­ nothing short of disgraceful. 12 years service to his­ country and what's his reward. being stabbed in the­ back. i have nothing against o' connell or donnacha­ their amazing also but big mal's my fav and just­ knowing he might be retiring soon is sad. give him one­ more big hurrah after winning the heinekin.

    From chriswhitakerisarugbygod, on Tue 14 Apr 9:19PM

  18. Lion selection must be made on current form. The­ Munster pack look awesome. Yes I would add from the the­ other nations but the core of the pack has to be­ Munster. Be in no doubt, the Boks remember being­ out-muscled, out-thought and out-played during the ­ tour of 97 (Scot Gibbs made the point perfectly) and­ remember, the Boks regard the Scrum as their specialist­ subject. We must have a cohesive, aggresive, beligerent­ and technically sound pack, bring on the Men of­ Munster.

    From go_ld2003, on Tue 14 Apr 9:01PM

  19. Re Daveandjuju: What has 61 years to do with anything?­ You must be still a bit sour after we beat ye.

    From markear1, on Tue 14 Apr 8:57PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Patterson is certainly not the answer!!!! I am an­ Ospreys FAN(REMEMBRER THE COACHIN STAFF ARE UNKNOWN­ ROOKIES) but well done to Munster on the weekend. That­ said its about time they played some good open Rugby. I­ am hopin for a Blues v Munster final. As for the lions­ the squad must be made up from all 4 nations and no­ doubt will be, just remember what the southern­ hemisphere sides did to Ireland last Autumn and one­ Slam in 61 years is not the form of legends!!!!

    From daveandjuju, on Tue 14 Apr 8:02PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account