Shanklin Out

[Eve]

Cipriani has postponed his surgery to make himself available.....

[Danthefan]

I wouldn't be entirely against Cipriani. I think the Lions are in a lot of trouble at 10.

[thecoolfreak]

Any word on when they are announcing the replacement?

[ceemec]

It appears they may not be announcing a replacement at all.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 301655.ece

"The Sunday Times understands that the Lions have decided not to replace the injured Tom Shanklin and to tour with a party of 36 instead of 37 - letting loose for the outside-centre position the triumvirate of Leigh Halfpenny, who has played only 24 professional games, Keith Earls, with two caps, and Luke Fitzgerald. None of them is widely known in the world game.

The idea in increasing the original size of the party from 36 to 37 was to give cover in the event of Munster, with their large Lions contingent, reaching the Heineken Cup final. Now, with the powerful Shanklin out of the tour, the Lions will leave the party as it is. This is a big gamble and will also mean that with Brian O’Driscoll the only top-line outside-centre in the party, the illustrious Irishman could be wrapped in cotton wool for the whole tour, appearing sparingly, possibly as rarely as twice before the first Test. "

[ronk]

It appears they may not be announcing a replacement at all.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 301655.ece

"The Sunday Times understands that the Lions have decided not to replace the injured Tom Shanklin and to tour with a party of 36 instead of 37 - letting loose for the outside-centre position the triumvirate of Leigh Halfpenny, who has played only 24 professional games, Keith Earls, with two caps, and Luke Fitzgerald. None of them is widely known in the world game.

The idea in increasing the original size of the party from 36 to 37 was to give cover in the event of Munster, with their large Lions contingent, reaching the Heineken Cup final. Now, with the powerful Shanklin out of the tour, the Lions will leave the party as it is. This is a big gamble and will also mean that with Brian O’Driscoll the only top-line outside-centre in the party, the illustrious Irishman could be wrapped in cotton wool for the whole tour, appearing sparingly, possibly as rarely as twice before the first Test. "

The problem with that is that it was written by Stephen Jones, hence, I refuse to believe it until I get some form of confirmation.

It's plausible but one of the problems is that the first test is just over a month away and there are 6 Lions matches before then. Fitzgerald and BOD have the Heineken Cup Final to worry about and will almost certainly be unavailable for the game against Royal XV on the 30th, possibly also Golden Lions the following Wednesday. That only leaves 4 matches before the tests start. If BOD is pencilled in for 2 of them then Fitzgerald is going to have limited time at 13 and limited time to go for a place on the wing.

I have no idea where this talk of Halfpenny as a 13 is coming from. The guy is 13 st and very clearly a specialist winger. Jamie Roberts or Tommy Bowe are much more likely options for an early match or two.

[Donny B.]

Seems a bit daft to me if true.

[ronk]

Seems a bit daft to me if true.

The story seems to be that an extra spot or two was opened up on the tour because there were a few Munster and Cardiff players who might miss a few games of the tour.

Hence, there was a 5th 2nd row (2 Munster), a 7th backrow (2 Munster, 2 Cardiff) and a 5th centre (2 Cardiff, 1 Munster). With tight calls it was an excuse to expand the tour.

In the event of a Cardiff v Munster final there wouldn't actually have been a full backrow available or a sub for the 2nd row or centre (except for utility backs covering) against Royal XV and players would have to double up against the Golden Lions the following Wednesday.

The situation isn't ideal now with neither Shanklin nor O'Driscoll available for the start of the tour but with no obvious choices of someone to call-up it becomes a good opportunity to start someone like Earls etc. and see whether he's dependable in a Lions environment.

A 7th backrow is probably a good idea anyway with attrition, using subs, tactical flexibility and quicker replacement of an injured player. Besides, there are backrows options that are worth exercising. D'Arcy, the form centre wouldn't be able to help out with the missing Leinster players while Croft's non immediate availability would no longer be an issue with the Munster and Cardiff contingent now available.



Aren't the Lions great. Where else would such squad permutations really crop up? But that's the less talked about aspects of the coaches jobs. Imagine if they'd picked a side that couldn't field a plausible team for its first match(es) despite knowing the risks of HC interference.

[ronk]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8054818.stm

Seems confirmation that they're not calling anyone else up with a decent explanation of rationale. Extra players for the first 2 matches to cover for HC players. Calling up D'Arcy wouldn't solve that problem and there are others who can get a chance.

[CRAZYDAVE]

From RTE

No Lions replacement for Shanklin
Monday, 18 May 2009 13:09

Injured Welsh centre Tom Shanklin will not be replaced in the British and Irish Lions squad for South Africa, reducing the party departing next week to 36, coach Ian McGeechan said on Monday.

The decision seems to shut the door on the hopes of Leinster's Gordon D'Arcy of making the trip to face the world champions.

Shanklin dislocated a shoulder two weeks ago playing for Cardiff and was ruled out of the six-week tour, which kicks off against a Highveld XV on May 30.

However, the failure of Lions-heavy Munster and Cardiff to reach next Saturday's Heineken Cup final in Edinburgh has eased the pressure on the touring squad.

'When we selected the extra player back in April we were really trying to cover all our bases regarding the Heineken Cup final, where we could have been without 16 players,' McGeechan told a news conference to mark the squad's first day together.

'As it's transpired, for the first two tour games we can cover the squad and really we want to give the opportunity and the responsibility to the players who are there to try to fill that role.

'Going back to 36 just gives us the chance to give players and combinations a bit more game time which is so important with so little time before the first test,' added McGeechan, who was the midweek coach four years ago when Clive Woodward took 45 players to New Zealand.

McGeechan has already drafted in Scotland captain Mike Blair for Tomas O'Leary after the Ireland scrumhalf broke his ankle but is being forced to wait on a decision over Alan Quinlan, who looks sure to be ruled out after being banned for 12 weeks for eye-gouging.

Quinlan, something of a surprise inclusion, has until 4pm today to lodge an appeal over his ban. If he does so, the hearing will be held by next Wednesday.

McGeechan said he had identified a likely replacement, probably England's Tom Croft, but had not yet informed him.

One other player was missing from Monday's get-together after Northampton, who play Bourgoin in Friday's European Challenge Cup final, refused to release prop Euan Murray.

The Lions management, who were informed of the decision only early on Monday, were furious with Northampton, having informed the clubs and unions six months ago that the entire squad would be needed on Monday for logistical issues, sponsor duties and the official tour photograph.

Murray, along with the players of Leinster and Leicester involved in the Heineken Cup final, would have returned to his club in the evening.

'It's disappointing for us but also for Euan,' said Lions chief executive John Feehan. 'We have asked the Rugby Football Union to speak to the club but we will just have to get on without him.'