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British Lions
Hopefully Lions can win in spite of Warren Gatland not because of him.Biased little so and so.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Biased, why? Because he has chosen 10 of the squad that won the 6 nations Championship? 10 players who trounced England by a record margin some 5 months ago?
In stark contrast to those who have likened him to Clive Woodward, when he chose the Lions squad? Woodward took the England 'old and bold' squad and his personal favourites whilst choosing to largely ignore the Welsh Grand Slam winning team. What happened? The Lions lost 3-0, so Gats is already up on that score.
As for dropping BOD, it was the right decision IMHO. Brilliant player though he has been, at times mercurial and mesmerising in equal measure, his form of late is that of a pro at the very end of his international career.
Look at BOD's Lions record:
Tours: 4 (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013)
Matches: 18 (8 Tests)
Tries: 9 (1 in Tests)
Captain: 7 times (1 Test)
Test record: 2 wins, 6 defeats
He has done very little in both Tests thus far, so Gatland grasped the nettle. When all is said and done yes, it's not a nice way to end a Lions dynasty but he may very well be part of a winning Lions touring side at last, so it's not all sackcloth and ashes.
In stark contrast to those who have likened him to Clive Woodward, when he chose the Lions squad? Woodward took the England 'old and bold' squad and his personal favourites whilst choosing to largely ignore the Welsh Grand Slam winning team. What happened? The Lions lost 3-0, so Gats is already up on that score.
As for dropping BOD, it was the right decision IMHO. Brilliant player though he has been, at times mercurial and mesmerising in equal measure, his form of late is that of a pro at the very end of his international career.
Look at BOD's Lions record:
Tours: 4 (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013)
Matches: 18 (8 Tests)
Tries: 9 (1 in Tests)
Captain: 7 times (1 Test)
Test record: 2 wins, 6 defeats
He has done very little in both Tests thus far, so Gatland grasped the nettle. When all is said and done yes, it's not a nice way to end a Lions dynasty but he may very well be part of a winning Lions touring side at last, so it's not all sackcloth and ashes.
I take it your from the principality Chill.Would you not agree though that gatland is also biased with some of the Welsh selections.How come he went for Dan Lydiate when Justin Tipuric,who looked one of the liveliest players in some early games, has hardly had a look in since.Also,Alex Cuthbert,whose family home is not far from me,was unlucky to be dropped to accomodate a hardly match fit Tommy Bowe.
With you, ChillDoubt, with nearly all of your post.
Woodward, if he was a true gentleman, would have offered his knighthood back to the Queen after his Lions Tour. Basing a team around an 'out of form' England squad and being blind to a Grand Slam winning Welsh squad was unforgivable (and, somewhat embarrassing, as an Englishman living in Wales).
However, Brian O'Driscoll deserves to be on the bench for his last Lions game (as a player). In my humble opinion.
Woodward, if he was a true gentleman, would have offered his knighthood back to the Queen after his Lions Tour. Basing a team around an 'out of form' England squad and being blind to a Grand Slam winning Welsh squad was unforgivable (and, somewhat embarrassing, as an Englishman living in Wales).
However, Brian O'Driscoll deserves to be on the bench for his last Lions game (as a player). In my humble opinion.
I feel for him WyeDyed, I really do. He has been probably Ireland's greatest player of all time and a truly world class centre but it's been fairly obvious on this tour he has been more a talisman than a threat and Gats is going sh*t or bust on the last Test.
As I say, fingers crossed we win it and BOD can take his place among the Lions all-time greats as part of a winning tour.
Won't it be great to put all this behind them and be all smiles at the final whistle on Saturday?
As I say, fingers crossed we win it and BOD can take his place among the Lions all-time greats as part of a winning tour.
Won't it be great to put all this behind them and be all smiles at the final whistle on Saturday?
But to be fair gumpy, Lydiate is a blind side flanker, Tips an open. They only shuffle around when they really have to, Gats had other options with specialist 6/7 flankers.
As for Cuthbert he can feel a little miffed, has done nothing wrong and scored a try, I just think Bowe gives more attacking options and probably just edges matters defensively.
As for Cuthbert he can feel a little miffed, has done nothing wrong and scored a try, I just think Bowe gives more attacking options and probably just edges matters defensively.