Healy cited for 'stamp'

Perhaps our difference of opinion comes from knowing different people, who hold different thoughts on Phillips? I did say "the only fans I know", rather than every fan in the world. The "proper rugby fans" that you mention may think differently, but I think that dig is a little unnecessary - someone can't be a proper rugby fan if they don't rate Phillips?

I didn't say other people couldn't think him a great player, I said I don't like him and don't think he's a great player these days. I wasn't speaking for anyone but myself and the people I know. No need to tell me I'm wrong, unfair or bizarre because you happen to disagree, its simply my opinion that I'm entitled to hold.

Apologies for sliding off-topic.

IMHO one of the best blindside flankers the World game produced since the retirement of Richard Hill has been forced to finish his career early through injury.

Good luck with your future Juan Smith

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...494207,00.html

Well, my opinion stems really from watching him play, seeing what he brings to the game and forming a conclusion. Its just that you seemed to say only that the spangly cowboy hat brigade (not proper rugby fans in my opinion) rated him and I totally disagreed. That's all I meant. I didn't mean to suggest you were not a proper rugby fan or didn't have any understanding of the game and I completely apologise.

Its okay, I might have been a bit rash myself. Nevermind

So... 2 rounds through... what are people thinking for the Lions Team... it's too easy to pick a squad as they take so bloody many... from what we've seen so far the below would be my squad. I am basing this on domestic rugby, autumn internationals and the 2 rounds... Also, I think Sheridan has a chance of going so may be picked off the back of training but for me, no test rugby now, no lions spot...

15. Hogg - electrifying, young and will surprise the Aussies
14. 1/2p -
13. BOD - keeps this for now, Roberts may come back into the fold but needs to do more.
12. Tuilagi
11. Visser - after another try on the weekend, his 5 in 7 Internationals plus top scorer Celtic league for 2 or 3 seasons is compelling.
10. Farrell - clear ground now, Sexton will have the Heineken Cup to make his point.
9. Youngs - as above, Laidlaw looking to push
8. Faletau - sorry Heaslip, but you weren't great
7. Robshaw - Capt, just keeps answering the questions
6. O'Brien - Lydiate has been unlucky with injury
5. Evans
4. Launchbury - could interchange with Parling.
3. Jones or Cole...
2. Best - no-one close yet.
1. Healy - or Marler...

Gatland = Utter pratt.

Hes already cocked it up months out.

I think Jones is going to be on the bench, Cole is the best in the world at the moment. Same with Healy he is head and shoulders above any other loosehead. Apart from with his feet!

What is Gatland thinking coming out with this rubbish about the England players?

The guy is a tool, used to really respect him but his actions are all stupid mind games and they really havent worked for him in the past. Why does he insist on giving oppostions fuel for the fire?

If I was an England camp I would have his quotes pinned on the wall for the rest of the six nations.

Not exactly going to make the england players confident about why they might be or not be picked.

Did seem strange...the stuff at the world cup involved only a small number of players and its up to the coaches to install the correct disclipline...

He's not wrong though is he. Trouble is, he said it in the first place allowing people and the press to completely take it out of context. He should always engage brain before speaking to the press. He has form for it after all. All you non Welsh lucky you didn't have to put up with this at the eve of every international.

Australian press will jump over any discretion no matter how small and it wont matter what the nationality of the player. Say for example if Andy Powell (thankfully not) was a tourist, you can bet your bottom dollar that the press would roll out the M4 golf buggy episode again. A few English players drew the ire of the RFU and the NZ press lapped it up, looking for any story. Aussie newspaper journalists will be rooting through the hotel bins looking for juicy gossip. All it takes is for one tourist to put a foot wrong. If the majority of tourists are English....that was his point, but he should have not even made it.

I hope Adam tours.

Last week against France, Clancy with his usual incompetence pinged him 4 times when it was quite clear that the turf ripped up behind him. How can a player scrummage on that surface. I don't think that match should be used as a barometer for how he is doing.

As for Jones v Cole, who cares as long as both are on the plane.

I wouldnt mind but its not as if welsh players have a glowing off pitch behaviour record.

Powell should have been made the Captain for the M4 antics... that's what I want my rugby players to be doing and damned be to the press...

in what way?

As I said at the time, the whole RWC stuff was a lot of nonsense driven by media.
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Looks like Warren is backtracking somewhat

Evening Standard Sport

Cole has 3 nailed down as it stands. 1/2P too good to take out of FB, have my doubts about Visser defensively, and don't think Robshaw will start let alone be captain, he'll make a fine midweek captain though

Leinster out of HCup by the way, but this injury could cost him the 10 shirt. Bod will be captain if he's fit I'd imagine

Healy is way, way ahead of Marler. Corbisiero if fit should be back up, Jenkins third choice but I like your call on Sheridan

Healy gets 3 week ban for stamp

I'm hoping they'll be out of the Amlin too

There'll be a fair England contingent to the squad and test line ups in Australia, no matter what Gatland says. Judging by how some of his quotes have been spun already by various press outlets, I just hope we don't get anything like the events of the last Lions tour to Oz. When Dawson and Healey, or at least their ghost writers openly criticised the Lions management and opposition players through the media.

I think it's now pretty obvious that Gatland once again was horribly mis-quoted by the BBC tabloid press (it really is getting worse and worse).

If you read his interview with the Telegraph from today, you can see how annoyed he was as he swears at them. He pointed to how much media focus follows the England team and used stuff like dwarfgate as an example of how stories are more sought after when it's England and so more likely to leak and disrupt.

What he didn't do is connect that to team or squad selection policy in any way, which was the headline that the BBC used. In fact, I think he says something along the lines of, 'mate, I took over the Welsh team and almost immediately fielded a team with 13 Ospreys in it, you think I give a shit about how many of what team are in my 15?'

I think the England team now are more media savy than any other, and they have to be.

England have to accept all manner of criticicm from all angles but if they dare to say anything themselves then they are jumped on as "arrogant".

I want a lions team with players that are on form. That is all I want.

In that the press will do and try anything to get a scoop about badly behaved tourists.

Isn't that what Gatland is on about?

Lets not all fall for the bollocks the press spout.

Eddie Butler I believe.

I know that, but if there is more English than any other nationality where will the focus be on?

Like you as long as the Lions are filled with the best players for each position, who cares where they come from.

Apart from a handful of players, I very much doubt whether the Australian public will know the nationality of each player. They will just regard them as British.

What is the make-up of the Lions squad . Are we taking 32 or 40 players? I very much hope the former , to give each player a realistic chance of a Test place. Nothing worse than having ten players hanging around with no prospect of a game

Or god forbid, as Poms.

Healey was very lucky, IMO, to only get a 3 week (in effect 2 match) ban.

Glad to see Warren Gatland 'qualified' his comments. I fear that he may not quite 'get' the Lions ethos (send him round to Willie-John McBride, Bill Beaumont and Ian McGeechan for a chat) in the same way that Graham Henry failed. The 2001 tour had plenty of discord - not just that reported by a couple of players. I recall a story of a former England player - I think it was Gareth Chilcott - sat in a Bar when a (non English) player came inand recognised him. The player told Coochie that he was pissed off and going to catch the next flight home - Chilcott talked him out of it.

Re the team:

I don't think Healey is as far ahead as some reckon - don't be shocked to see Marler in the 1 shirt.

I think it likely that Gray will be at lock when all is settled.

Robshaw is building a very solid case for Captain. And I still reckon, given fitness and his usual form, that Tom Croft is the best 6 available.

There's a plethora off options at full back.