Shanklin Out

[ronk]

God, Hook?

On his day he's a fine out-half but he's never convinced me as a centre. Geech's reasons for taking two out-halves were sound and I hope he brings another centre.

Would like to see Darce go, obviously in fact can't really see that many other obvious candidates.

Evans.

Aside from all the NZ caps he has, thats a super idea

Evans

[Comer Toes]

With Shanklin out I could definitely see someone like Hook being called up. He can play 10 and with ROG not firing at the weekend McGeechan could be a bit nervous. Reckon Hook is in pole position. Also, elephant in the room, something went on regarding selection for the last test in NZ and Darce ruled himself out. I wonder will McGeechan take that into account as perhaps Darce not being the right character to have on tour. Just thinking aloud, hopefully that was a nothing story and McGeechan selects him. Still reckon Hooke may be the prime candidate.

I was waiting for someone else to say it! This could play a big part in the call as turning down to chance to start a preivous Lion’s test match could put him into the bracket of ‘bad tourist’ which McGeechan is trying to stay away from. Ability-wise he is in pole position.

[FrankBurke]

Its more likely to be James Hook to replace Shanklin as he can cover out-half as well.

[ronk]

Its more likely to be James Hook to replace Shanklin as he can cover out-half as well.

But Hook isn't a 13.

Shanklin had a chance of a test berth at 12 but really he was there as the backup to BOD. Somebody now has to play the rest of the games when BOD isn't available.

Roberts and Flutey are both playing well, there's no particular need for additional cover there but someone could play his way onto the tour.

There is some cover for 13 already on the tour. Roberts can play there and there's also Earls, Bowe and Fitzgerald. Earls could be the big winner here as he's the only guy who's not really in contention anywhere else and he's now available for the first game of the tour. But his reputation took a knock at the weekend and none of the others are playing there regularly enough. If McGeechan is happy with his existing options he might choose to pick someone like Armitage, D'Arcy or Hook as non specialists to cover other areas/replace moved players or he might bring in a specialist 13. But if he's thinking about a like for like replacement then he'll be interested in the fitness of Mike Tindall.

[munster11]

Darcy has to come in if he's gonna pick another 12 - would be great given that we're losing O'Leary and (prob) Quinlan. He could pick another out half though so wouldn't be massively surprised if Hook was picked.

[ronk]

Darcy has to come in if he's gonna pick another 12 - would be great given that we're losing O'Leary and (prob) Quinlan. He could pick another out half though so wouldn't be massively surprised if Hook was picked.

I would. Flood would have been the outhalf picked if they were bringing another one.

There's nothing new in the questions over the Lions outhalves. Flutey can play 10 so an extra 12 might be a good idea.

[ceemec]

Article on the Lions official site bigging up Gavin Henson published this morning. Quote from Shaun Edwards:"If Gavin can get himself fit and there are any injuries, he will be considered as a replacement."

Not named in the Welsh squad earlier today. Left out as the Welsh management team intend on him being elsewhere perhaps?

[ronk]

Article on the Lions official site bigging up Gavin Henson published this morning. Quote from Shaun Edwards:"If Gavin can get himself fit and there are any injuries, he will be considered as a replacement."

Not named in the Welsh squad earlier today. Left out as the Welsh management team intend on him being elsewhere perhaps?

He is still injured...


Edwards said that they'd be waiting for injuries and Henson to get fit. I think on that basis he can be ruled out as a replacement for Shanklin.

[Darce]

Hook also in the Wales Squad...to my mind, its 5050 between himself and Darce

[simonno6]

Jamie roberts hurt his shoulder on sunday, could be a recurrance of an earlier injury, could be a stinger... If he ends up missing out surely thats darce on the plane.

[ronk]

Jamie roberts hurt his shoulder on sunday, could be a recurrance of an earlier injury, could be a stinger... If he ends up missing out surely thats darce on the plane.

He didn't look too bad when he came back out. Just some ice. I'd say he could play this weekend. If he had a tour risking injury it would have been all over the news.

[simonno6]

Jamie roberts hurt his shoulder on sunday, could be a recurrance of an earlier injury, could be a stinger... If he ends up missing out surely thats darce on the plane.

He didn't look too bad when he came back out. Just some ice. I'd say he could play this weekend. If he had a tour risking injury it would have been all over the news.

it was on sky text, which i presume comes from skysports.com.

[ronk]

Jamie roberts hurt his shoulder on sunday, could be a recurrance of an earlier injury, could be a stinger... If he ends up missing out surely thats darce on the plane.

He didn't look too bad when he came back out. Just some ice. I'd say he could play this weekend. If he had a tour risking injury it would have been all over the news.

it was on sky text, which i presume comes from skysports.com.

Yeah, bit I think it's been clarified now. If there was a real worry it would have been a bigger story

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynatio ... -23589651/

[simonno6]

fair enough. darce will just have to nab the available spot!

[ronk]

fair enough. darce will just have to nab the available spot!

Signs do point to him. Technically the wrong position but Tindall (still injured?), Tait and Evans are the only real options at 13 not on the tour. Looks more likely to move someone like Roberts to 13 for a few games and have D'Arcy inside him (or vice versa).

[ceemec]

fair enough. darce will just have to nab the available spot!

Signs do point to him. Technically the wrong position but Tindall (still injured?), Tait and Evans are the only real options at 13 not on the tour. Looks more likely to move someone like Roberts to 13 for a few games and have D'Arcy inside him (or vice versa).

Evans twisted a knee at weekend and was stretchered off.

[claire_m]

I spoke to Jamie Roberts after the game and he was more concerned about his eye (someone poked him in it) than his shoulder. I think he was going to have a scan, but I got the impression that he only came off as a precautionary measure. Also, if he was really badly injured, he wouldn't have hung around after the game for as long as he did signing autographs, having piccies taken etc. He'd have gone sharpish.

[Darce]

Max Evans ruled out of the running.

Out for 6months with Knee Ligs

[Xanthippe]

McGeechan should have realised by now that Darce is the only option - it's like as if BOD wants him to be on the tour 'cause every other possibility mentioned suddenly comes down with a mysterious injury.


Sorry did I say BOD wants him - I meant GOD of course!

[God]

Why yes, yes I do!