1 - Gethin Jenkins
2 - Lee Mears
3 - Adam Jones
4 - Paul O'Conell
5 - Alun Wyn jones
6 - Ryan Jones
7 - Martyn Williams/Wallace
8 - Jamie Heaslip
9 - Mike Phillips
10 - Stephen Jones
11 - Shane Williams
12 - Gavin Henson
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (c)
14 - Tommy Bowe
15 - Lee Byrne

That is the team I would like, but the test team will be decided by what happens on the tour, not what happens before, that only plays a role in making the squad.

Edited by forum moderator sporting, at 13:14 Sun 22/03/09 (GMT)

One thing I would like to point out,that this is just who I think is the best in their position to play S.Africa. That team, in my opinion would do best.

I would happily see no Welsh players selected for the tour

11 welsh players lol, slightly biased there mate

1 - M. Horan
2 - L. Mears
3 - G. Jenkins
4 - A W Jones
5 - P O' Connell
6 - R. Jones
7 - D Wallace
8 - J Heasilp
9 - M Blair/Phillips
10 - R O' Gara
11 - S. Williams
12 - G D'arcy/L Fitzgerald
13 - God (C)
14 - T Bowe
15 - L Byrne

Replacements
16 - J. Flannery
17 - P. Vickery
18 - S Borthwick
19 - A Hogg
20 - Blair/Phillips
21 - S Jones
22 - J Roberts/D Armitage
Henson? LOL...he's a cocky waste of space, he's lazy, all he has is a big boot, no pace, something which D' Arcy and Fitzgerald have in abundance, and either one of those will no doubt start alongside O' Driscoll. I'd have Jamie Roberts ahead of Henson for a start. Lee Mears is a far better hooker than Flannery or Rees, and should start there. Not many English players have really done enough to make the starting 15, strangely enough . Mike Blair and Mike Phillips will have a good battle for scrum-half, Stephen Jones will not start ahead of the 6 Nations all-time points scorer. But yeah like you said, anything could happen between now and then, but I honestly believe if all these players are fully fit this will be the team.

Lol ! That team would get eaten up up and spat out for good measure. I always see this as pointless and I aint arguing your team other than I'll bet my house that wont be the team.

As for Henson, go look in depth at a rugby match and tell me there is a better solution at twelve, if you go by pace, I'm happy you are not the Lions coach

And as for O'gara over Jones because he is the all time points scorer, is only fitting for one word, joke !

Nope, I aint going to go into details about that team and my team, it's pointless. If you talk about a Lions squad, then maybe that's worth talking about.

Edited at 21:00 Sat 21/03/09 (GMT)

For a start, Jamie Roberts has shown me more than Henson ever has. D' Arcy is a far better inside centre than Henson will ever be, and he compliments O' Driscoll better than Henson ever could! I didn't choose D' Arcy/ Fitzgerald over Henson because they are quicker, I chose them because they are better in that position than Henson is. He's a liability in defence too, something which D' Arcy and Fitzgerald both excel at. You could argue Tommy Bowe's try today was Henson's fault, a laughable attempt at a tackle on him.

Why would you ever choose 11 Welsh players when they were outclassed in their own backyard by a superior Irish team?! Doesn't make sense to me, but we'll see

Lol, just a ridiculous post.

Let me just say this, Roberts coming into the centre cost us the game. Henson had O'driscoll under control, was all over him and we were well in control of the game until Roberts came on and O'Driscoll had a field day.

There is not one better play maker and naturaly gifted player in the NH than Henson. O'Driscoll and Henson is a partnership this planet has been waiting to see for years, it could be immense. You have a beef with Henson maybe because he is a celebrity or something like that, because what you say about him is mental, unless of course you don't actually look for things other than flashy barn storming runs. Sit down and analyse a Henson rugby match, then I gurantee your opinion will change. He was out of position today and still done solid job. I just beg you to think before slating players of his calibre, especially has he could well prove the difference for the Lions ,especially now he is fit and getting game time.



That bench aint gonna make an impact isit? C'mon Niall, your not stupid, this is S.Africa not Ehtiopia.

You change Horan (who got smashed in the scrum today) Put Jones ahead of O'gara as he has been the best 10 in the NH all season, and change your inside centre, and put O'Connell to front jumper. Your starting 15 is probably the current best. Your bench, is mentalist standard, Borthwick, Hog?!? Vickery?!? Roberts?!? They probably wont even tour !

Same way I find it disturbingly ridiculous you put 11 Welsh players in your team, they only finished 4th in the 6 Nations after all

I'll leave it with that, don't wanna start a pointless argument, either way I think "we" will beat South Africa when "we" do tour

Lol, I was never going to argue, just want to put right your wrongs Ireland have done well and deserve all the credit, but you can't overlook these Welsh players because of one poor tournament.

You're wrong to say your putting right my wrongs, nobody is ever wrong here, it's all opinion

One person that I would add possibly to that list that both have missed out is the joint top try scorer in the Six Nations, that being England's Riki Flutey

What a wonderful day of Rugby we had today.....well done Ireland...

Indeed.

Just saying what you said on Henson was wrong, didn't think it was an opinon, what you stated was completely faulse

I'll give the Lions squad a go, maybe that will be a more accurate debate as a test team is just very premature.

Props:
Jenkins (WAL) Jones (WAL) Murray (SCO) Sheridan (ENG)



Hooker
Mears (ENG) Flannery (IRE) Ford(SCO)

Second row:
O'Connel (IRE) Alun-Wyn-Jones (WAL) O'Callaghan (IRE) Kennedy (ENG)

Back-row
Williams (WAL) Wallace (IRE) Jones (WAL) Croft (ENG) Powell (WAL) Heaslip (IRE)


Scrum half
Blair (SCO) Phillips (WAL) O'Leary (IRE)


Fly Half
Jones (WAL) Hook (WAL) O'Gara (IRE)


Centre
O'Driscoll (IRE) Flutey (ENG) Henson (WAL) Shanklin (WAL) D'Arcy (Ire)


Wing
Williams (WAL) Bowe (IRE)Fitzgerald (IRE) Sackey (ENG) Roberts (WAL)



Fullback
Byrne (WAL) Kearney (Ire) Armitage (ENG)


Standby
Hayes (IRE)
Vickery(ENG)
Rees (WAL)
Gough (WAL)
Ferris(IRE)
Daf Jones (WAL)
Cusiter(SCO)
Cipriani (ENG)
Tait (ENG)
Halpenny (WAL)


Maybe a bit of a big initial squad, if it is to be cut to 32 players then I think D'Arcy and Roberts will miss out, out of that bunch. But I'm sure 36 will probably be the final number and that will more or less be the Lions squad this summer. Some tough calls, especially in the back-row, but Croft will pip Ferris due to his athleticsm in the line-out, and that will be S.Africas attacking point other than the srcum. They will want to dominate Lions set-play. That could also see Rees in for Mears due to scrummaging abilities.

Well Done Ireland, wonderful stuff!!

Well done England, 2nd place!

Have you watched any rugby Kris? If so, why is Powell, O'Gara, Hook, Phillips, Kennedy, Jenkins, Cipriani, Tait, Daf Jones and Vickery in the squad?

All of the above players have played poor if at all. To be fair, Cipriani and Hook haven't really played an awful lot so I suppose it's unfair to say anything about them two. And when Hook has played he's looked good.

I also think Monye is in with a shout over Sackey. He's been super impressive over the past two games, couldn't understand why he went of for Tait, who in my opinion costs England games!

I don't get all the England bashing, I think since playing Italy there has been a steady improvement. I think there has been a few outstanding players, Flutey, Croft, Ellis, Worsely and Monye. I also think others are starting to show what they can do, Flood, Cueto, Mears.

Unlucky on coming 4th Wales, you big bunch of outstanding players, at least you beat the English! (With a little help...)

(Is SOOOOOOOOO loving this thread now) :-P

I still think it will be a big Celt selection. I hope to God Blair, who in my opinion is the best Scrum-half this side of the world, is picked over that idiot Phillips. Has anyone ever seen Philips pass the ball whilst running? Is actually Capable of it? I'd sooner see Stringer in the squad.

O'Gara isn't that great....... :-P :-P

what about john hayes??

does he no tplay L:ions or something or am i missing something here? he was immense this 6 nations.

fantastic game yesterday and i am delighted we won!!

Powell will go, he offerss more of an attacking threat than anyone else, but will probably be a dirt tracker because he can be a liability. The Lions will not be picked over this 6N, it will be picked over the last 2 seasons and coming months.

O'Gara will go, he controls the game better than anyone and is there actually anyone better than him other than Jones?

Phillips offers physicality, passion and and your face rugby. Even if off form he will go as he offers something different, and the Lions advantage is they will have lots of choices and the luxury of difference. The same reason Hook will go. It will either be him or Cipriani and Hook is more developed under pressure. Hook will be the fly half that starts the tests, imo. He will edge into the squad and show his class out there. The South Africans will target set piece and mainly our line-outs, Kennedy gets picked for that, and I think he is so much better than half the English pack, treated very unfairly and if Borthwick was not captain, he would have started every game. Where you have Jenkins, if you mean Gethin Jenkins, then I highly doubt you have watched the rugby lol. Prop of the tournament by a country mile, averages into double figures for tackles per game and making a shed loads of carries, whilst beating his opposition at scrum time in every game. He is the best loose head prop in the world, you don't leave him here if you want to win.
Vickery and Daf Jones are solid players. And I don't have them in the squad they are on my standby list. Daf jones offers alot around the park and has really stepped up, if you watch the game yesterday he stopped Ireland from getting like a million tries by being a real newsence and made ground with good carries, also a good option at the lineout.

Monye, one good game yesterday will not get him in the Lions squad, he will be recognised and watched I'm sure, but not even close to the tour squad at the minute, but long way to go. Worsley definitely has a great shout and could well make it, he has been immense as with Cueto I just couldn't find room for them. Flood is not good enough, not a hope in holy hell will he tour unless injuries, like Ellis. Mears is in my squad as is Croft and Flutey.

You will need horses for courses, you need options. My squad offers options. This tournament has helped players play into contention, others out and others into the squad, but they will look back to 2008 where Mcgeechan was boss...... Continued next post

And decide from there and the coming months. You cannot say you're pciking on form by going by this championship because the tour is in a few months, if your going to pick on form then pick the two Heineken cup finalists.

As for the Welsh finishing fourth, we deserved it. As for what seems to be the English one up man-ship, well, there is not very much logic in that is there? I mean you were out of the Championship after round three, we had a chance to win it in literally the last minute of the tournament, oh yea, and you lost to us, hmm go figure (suppose to be banter) But going by perofrmance, fourth is about right for us, the only thing keeping us above Scotland is our 60 minutes of perfect rugby


Back to my Lions selection. These tours are great, the nations get together and have one big debate, but it will come down to two men, and one will have the final decision. I think my squad is the best available with the best players for a certain plan and other that offer a different plan. All the players in that squad have proven themselves at the highest level. If it be in a rubbish team and standing out,a team punching above its weight, a team that has really given the NH respect until this championship or a team that has really shown great character and proved they are one of the best rugby teams and can fight with the big boys, all be it after a very long time. It will not be picked on this tournament, everyone should know that, but this tournament sure has helped the Irish and English get a few players into contention, possibly the squad, much more than the other nations.

A long way to go and I'm sure my squad will change in time.

Looking at my standby list, just ignore it, it's crap.

He is all Ireland have. He got demolished in the scrums by Adam Jones, doesn't offer much around the park. He is just a good basic player that does the basics for a prop I.E rucking and tackling. Also, last Lions tour, he was a disaster.

Bit harsh that, on a few levels. Firstly, Marcus Horan offers a lot more than Hayes does in my opinion. Horan is a massive ball carrier and winner, far more combative and athletic than John Hayes, but Hayes has been wonderful for Ireland, 49 consecutive 6 Nations games is outstanding. I think Horan will go, and will pip Adam Jones to loosehead prop, he's wonderful in that position!

Adam Jones is a tighthead

If Horan is to pip anyone it will be either Gethin Jenkins or Sheridan, I'm sure he will run Sheridan close but I think Sheridan will get the nod due to his size and power.

John hayes will without a doubt go down as an Irish ledgend and deserves to have that honour. Though there is no hiding that competition for his place in the Irish team has been very weak.
He is not as good as the other choices at tighthead, and had a shock horror when picked last time, so I don't think he will get selected. He did have one of his better days in the loose yesterday, but a tough time in the scrums.

Whoops, so many Jones' and what not on the Welsh team, hard to keep track

In that case Hayes will certainly run Adam Jones close for a start, but yeah Gethin Jenkins is a better loosehead than Horan, so he should get the nod there!