Lions paws and strangers fingers........

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.