Lions Rugby Team Announced For First Test - Bigger Is Better Against The Boks!
The Lions Rugby Squad for Saturdays First Test with South Africa has been announced. And Yes the Lions Rugby Team management have gone for size in the main areas of debate in the test selection where David Wallace’s greater physical dimension at the breakdown is preferred to the speed of thought and livewire link play of Martin Williams who has to do with a place on the bench. More than likely the inclusion of the athletic but lightweight Tom Croft in the number 6 slot required some extra muscle in the backrow and Wallace benefited from his explosive ability with ball in hand and his greater firepower at cleaning the first man at ruck time.
The other key area of debate at the selection meeting must surely have been the left wing slot where Ugo Moyne has fought off challenges from the likes of Shane Williams, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney, Having said that he is just bigger that the other players is giving his recent performances a great disservice because he has been very sharp and indeed in the white heat of battle against the fiery Southern Kings he played very well with bad, slow ball going forward, tackled ferverently and most importantly caught and kicked the ball without error, which was supposed to be on of his weakneses.
The rest of the Test Team picked itself on recent form and here it is
15. Lee Byrne (Wales)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11. Ugo Moyne (England)
10. Stephen Jones (Wales)
09. Mike Phillips (Wales)
01. Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
02. Lee Mears (England)
03. Phil Vickery (England)
04. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
05. Paul O’Connell (Ireland, capt.)
06. Tom Croft (England)
07. David Wallace (Ireland)
08. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
16. Matthew Rees (Wales)
17. Adam Jones (Wales)
18. Donnacha O’Callaghan (Ireland)
19. Martin Williams (Wales)
20. Harry Ellis (England)
21. Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)
22. Rob Kearney (Ireland)
