I would like to see the Lions play at "home". We all know they are terrible tourists. That would be interesting.
If the Lions were a team that played together regularly they would destroy the All Blacks. The reason they have struggled is not because they are not a good group of players but because they aren't properly a team.
Lawes > any of the ABs locks... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eKmm-Y_m_W8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
That Lions midfield would fall apart. Tuilagi has already shown us at the WC that he isn't and unless he grows a brain somehow will never be a centre. At centre you need to make great decisions on when to go and when to hold back, Smith does that and it's why he's so good. Also with Carter running the lads there will be in balls to Dagg and Jane, Cuts the long midfield ball to a forward to take down Roberts, the Lions would have no show against the AB backline
Tuilagi was one of the stand out centres of the tournament...he cleared up a lot of Tindall's errors.
I would say more like the 3rd best Second five And YES, 12 and 13 are very different position to play
They must be due for an Australian tour soon yeh? I went to the game last time they were out. One of the best atmospheres I've ever been apart of.
Let's compare this team with a the WC final team and add Daniel Carter shall we: 1. Jenkins v Woodcock Both very experienced props, the same age and with 80 odd tests each. Also both about the same size. Both have the record number of test caps by a prop for their respective countries. Woodcock is however widely regarded as the world's premier loosehead and has the best range of skills of any prop on the planet. He is an immensely strong scrummager and a tireless in the tight play. He's also very mobile with good ball skills who can break out when presented with an open field. Jenkins has similar qualities but lacks the skill in open play and is a league player who only started playing when he was 13 years old. I know it's not a props job, but I am going to tip the scales in Woodcock's favour because of his knack for scoring tries. He has scored 10 test tries, including 5 against Australia. This is a record for a prop. Jenkins has scored just 5 in total. Winner: Woodcock All Blacks 1 Lions 0 2. Mealamu v Ford Mealamu: The dynamic, pocket rocket...accurate lineout thrower and strong scrummager. He's equally comfortable in the running game, where his skills and background make him almost a fourth loose forward. Ford: A converted hooker and a Scotsman. The last time the Scottish had a decent rugby player was when Gavin Hastings laced up his boots. Probably the best of a bad bunch to chose from in the British Isles however. Winner: Mealamu All Blacks 2 Lions 0 3. Franks v Jones Franks: Probably the most impressive young prop to have played for the All Blacks ever. He is known for his great scrummaging technique and mobility around the field. He is also very strong, with the ability to squat 240kg. Jones: Welsh fatty with a ridiculous haircut who is more focused on junk food and beer and hates training. No contest here. Winner: Franks All Blacks 3 Lions 0 4. Thorn v O'Connell Both hard as nails and hugely experienced. Hard to criticize either but I am sure Thorn demands more respect from both teammates and opposition. Winner: Thorn All Blacks 4 Lions 0 5. Whitelock v Lawes Two fine young locks and hard to split them so will go will give the Lions the benefit of the doubt here. Lawes seems like an overhyped basketball player in a terrible English team. I will give the Lions this round however because I'm not even out of the tight 5 yet and they are yet to have a point lol. Winner: Lawes All Blacks 4 Lions 1 6. Kaino v O'Brien Both destructive players, very fast and strong runners and great tacklers. Kaino has morphed into a rugby machine however and was unlucky to not be named world player of the year. Was pipped by Dusautoir...a debatable decision. Winner: Kaino All Blacks 5 Lions 1 7. McCaw v Warburton Don't make me laugh. McCaw is one of the greatest players to ever grace the game and showed he's still on top of his game in the World Cup when everyone siad he was on the decline. Warburton is average and cost his country a spot in the WC final with an act of stupidity. No contest here Winner: McCaw All Blacks 6 Lions 1 8. Read v Faletau Faletau had a great World Cup...no doubt...but I still think Read is a better player. One of my favourite current All Blacks and I can't rate him highly enough. He and McCaw work exceptionally well together around the field, and he has become notorious for his copy-book tackles made all game long, his superb speed and running support play around the field, and his outstanding ability in turning the ball over in ruck situations. Faletau is not a natural No.8. Winner: Read All Blacks 7 Lions 1 9. Phillips v Weepu Honestly cannot understand the hype surrounding Phillips. I think it's purely due to his size because he hasn't impressed me with his play at all. He's far to big to be playing halfback anyway. The pussy obviously decided to play halfback to avoid contact. Weepu had a poor WC final, for sure, but was instrumental in the previous games in the tournament, particularly against Argentina. He become known as "Mr Fixit" or the "saviour" after Carter was injured. Mercurial little player who also leads the haka with great mana. Winner: Weepu All Blacks 8 Lions 1 10. Carter v Hook All Blacks 9 Lions 1 11. Kahui v Ashton Ashton? Seriously? Is this the best you can come up with? He has no defenvise game, is shit under high kicks and is known for his error-strewn and at times comical play. Whereas Kahui has established himself as a complete winger...big, strong and fast and punishing in defence. Another no contest here. Winner: Kahui All Blacks 10 lions 1 12. Nonu v Roberts OK here's one guy who is quite impressive. Bullocking runner. Yet so is Nonu...and Nonu makes more breaks and scares defence a bit more. This was a close call but will still go with Nonu. Winner: Nonu All Blacks 11-1 13. Smith v Tuilagi How good does a centre need to be to keep Sonny Bill Williams out of a starting position? Ask yourself. Smith is probably the most underrated player in the side. Polished and assured in everything he does. No weaknesses in attack or defence. Tuilagi is wet behind the ears and faced deportation from the United Kingdom after it emerged that he had entered the country on a holiday visa six years earlier and had stayed on illegally!... Why is he even being mentioned in this? He's not even a very good player. Winner: Smith All Blacks 12-1 14. Jane v North Who? Seriously...so Wales have a good World Cup and suddenly some of their players are mentioned in the same breath as former Lions...and All Blacks for that matter...lol. Jane was one of the players of the tournament and shits all over this wannabe Winner: Jane All Blacks 13-1 15. Dagg v Foden The most exciting player I have seen since Cullen...and before him Lomu. Freakishly good. And he's up against who? Foden? Who? Come on! This is almost as bad as Carter v Hook Winner: Dagg All Blacks 14-1 I thinks that's quite conclusive
I just unwrapped a loaf of bread and thought about you Verigoat....and then I realised it said "Thick Cut"
