I will always remember where I was when the Lions squad of
2013 was announced, you would though, when you were having your arse fingered
by a stranger. No I haven’t moved to the other side of the scrum I was having a
prostate examination. Being fingered, like rugby league and All-Bran is
something I don’t think I will ever take to but it was a moment in my life I won’t
be forgetting in a hurry even after the 9 showers I have had since half eleven.
Above: No, that looks fine up there sir although we are going to have to talk about your wiping skills
I would suggest it was a momentous day for the good and the
great of British and Irish rugby with the announcement of the lions to go to
Australia. I am not going into complete ins and outs – I will leave that to you
and the message page but let’s look at a few.
2 fly halves
I think this is a stupid decision – it means that both will
have to be in the match day 22 for every game!! Hook or Wilkinson should have
gone – for a fly half its about how a player is playing now – they won’t have
time to build up their game and as the weekend showed Hook and Lord sir Jonny
obe kbe fbe rbe tbe hsg ba hons still are performing at the top of their game.
Maybe this is me with my old fashioned rugby head on but there is no flair
there at fly half, neither player gives me a hard on and everybody likes those.
Omissions, top blokes and twats
Already mentioned fly halves but twitter showed the twat
side of welsh rugby fans this morning with the gloating over the leaving out of
Robshaw. I don’t understand – no one loves English defeat more than me – but Robshaw
does not deserve it. As a player, looking at the competition, most people would
accept that he would’ve struggled to be in the team but as a captain and person
he shows class and humility and anybody should feel sorry for him….not for
Ashton though he really does sound like a massive cock and cant tackle.
Personally I think a lot of Jockinese players should feel
aggrieved especially Visser. Some of their players would’ve thrived behind a
dominant pack and key decision makers. I also think that Rory Best, Ryan Jones,
Joe Launchbury, Dan Biggar, Zebo can feel a little upset.
Past Lions teams have thrown up painful feelings as I have
had to support a team consisting of Will
Carling, Austin Healy or Mat Dawson but I did manage it and with the last 2
especially, enjoyed it so I suppose I will get over the fact that I want to go
and punch the telly everytime that twat Dylan Hartley makes an appearance.
Leaders – grizzly or not
If anymore grizzly Irish old heads were to be included I would’ve
expected to see Willy John McBride, Mike Gibson and the man who looked a lot
like an alky, Dennis Hickie to be on the plane. But people like BOD and Poc are
needed, they have toured before and more importantly they have toured with the
Lions before. There are questions over Sam Warburton’s captaincy, he is a great
leader and ‘old Flat top’ is correct when he says that he is the most
successful captain over the last few years but competition will be hard for his
position – could he lose his place but keep his overall captaincy?
So I know there were a few shocks but can we argue too much
with this selection and as fans of British and Irish rugby we would hope that
the best 15 can do a job – what is good is that I don’t think the Aussies are
too concerned about this team which will ensure the team pulls together and let’s
hope that the tour and the series is an absolute humdinger……and the Lions win.
