Rugby World Cup 2011 (Official Rugby Thread)

[Dave de Sylvia]

I didn't see Saracens-Toulon but I'm also glad I didn't. Sounds like Clermont almost bottled it again vs Munster.

Warburton for Lions captain it seems.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Joe Schmidt new Ireland coach, happy with that.

Leicester head coach Matt O'Connor apparently taking over at Leinster.

[Pastorius]

Really? I like O'Connor, don't want to see him leave

[Dave de Sylvia]

Seems he was going to leave anyway to look for a head coach job and Leinster moved quickly.

[Sanders]

I want to see Wilkinson on the Lions plane

[Dave de Sylvia]

If you're going to bring a Farrell-type player you might as well bring the original and best.

[Sanders]

I think it'll mostly depend on whether Gatland decides to take 2 or 3 10s with him

[Dave de Sylvia]

I think he's already said he'll take 2 plus I'm guessing Laidlaw as a 9/10. If he did take 3, I can't see him bringing Farrell and Wilkinson, they're too similar and neither is really a game-changer. If he brings 3 10s, it has to be Madigan.

[Dave de Sylvia]

So Warburton captain as expected. No Wilkinson, Robshaw, Best, Laidlaw or Zebo. Matt Stevens selected for some bizarre reason. Only two fly halves with no cover and no bolters. Dull selection.

Forwards:
Props: Dan Cole, Cian Healy, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Matt Stevens, Mako Vunipola
Hookers: Dylan Hartley, Richard Hibbard, Tom Youngs
Second Rows: Ian Evans, Richie Gray, Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell, Geoff Parling
Back-row: Tom Croft, Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (c)
Backs:
Fullbacks: Leigh Halfpenney, Stuart Hogg, Rob Kearney
Wings: Tommy Bowe, Alex Cuthbert, Sean Maitland, George North
Centres: Jonathan Davies, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Manu Tuilagi
Out-halves: Owen Farrell, Jonathan Sexton
Scrum Halves: Conor Murray, Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs

[Sanders]

2 fly halves is risky

What's the policy with back ups, is there a limit on them?

[Dave de Sylvia]

No, there's no limit. Which is just as well considering he's decided to bring all the most injury-prone players he could find, as well as Dylan Hartley who I assume will commit some sort of bizarre act of foul play at some point.

[Pastorius]

I'm not that upset about the squad overall. Fairly conservative but not really that old when you think about it.

Main irks - Hartley over Best, WTF OMG WTF. Hartley is so far third choice out of the hookers he's taken
- Stevens, I suppose he's been playing well for Sarries but still...
- Vunipola has been destroyed by many props. He ain't Lions standard in my eyes.

The minor irks are people being left out, Visser is a big one. But people gotta be left out.

Biggar must be gutted. The entire Welsh starting team gets picked....except him.

Plus points, Lydiate and Bowe included.

[Pastorius]

Predicted starting squad, given that people are fit.

1. Cian Healy
2. Richie Hibbard
3. Adam Jones
4. Paul O'Connell
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Johnny Sexton
11. George North
12. Manu Tuilagi
13. Brian O' Driscoll
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

[Dave de Sylvia]

I suspect Stevens, Hartley and Vunipola might all be in possibly as a political move to ensure there weren't more Irish players than England, given the countries' respective performances over the past few months.

I agree with your test team more or less to the man, except I think Roberts over Tuilagi and Heaslip over Faletau. Cuthbert is probably slightly ahead of Bowe but it's a close one.

[Pastorius]

Bowe is top notch, but I just can't leave Cuthbert out. The guy is a born finisher.

[Sanders]

Yeah the English will be outraged when Gatland fields a mainly Welsh side to start

[Pastorius]

Pfffft don't see how they can be. Apart from one half we bossed the six nations.

Stevens is only going to be a class clown and entertain the troops.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Just realised half of the entire English contingent is in the front row. And probably none of them will make the test XV.

[Pastorius]

Ain't none of them beating Adam Jones. Tom Youngs has the best chance of getting in the team, and he has to oust a very in form Hibbard.