Tuesday 21 April 2009

O'Connell's Lions Squad Announced

Lions Tour manager Gerald Davies has just announced the squad selected for the Lions tour to South Africa, to be captained by 29-year-old Irishman, Paul O’Connell.

The 37 man squad is as follows:

Lee Byrne (Wales)

Rob Kearney (Ireland)

Shane Williams (Wales)

Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

Ugo Monye (England)

Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland)

Tommy Bowe (Ireland)

Tom Shanklin (Wales)

Jamie Roberts (Wales)

Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)

Keith Earls (Ireland)

Riki Flutey (England)

Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)

Stephen Jones (Wales)

Mike Phillips (Wales)

Harry Ellis (England)

Tomas O’Leary (Ireland)

Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)

Andy Powell (Wales)

David Wallace (Ireland)

Stephen Ferris (Ireland)

Alan Quinlan (Ireland)

Joe Worsley (England)

Martyn Williams (Wales)

Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales)

Paul O’Connell (Ireland, captain)

Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland)

Simon Shaw (England)

Nathan Hines (Scotland)

Gethin Jenkins (Wales)

Adam Jones (Wales)

Andrew Sheridan (England)

Phil Vickery (England)

Euan Murray (Scotland)

Jerry Flannery (Ireland)

Lee Mears (England)

Matthew Rees (Wales)

The squad includes one or two surprise inclusions, as well as some unexpected omissions. Keith Earls, the Munster centre/full back, was preferred to Delon Armitage, who many assumed would tour after a string of good performances for England. Ugo Monye’s selection will please many England and Harlequins fans, although some will wonder whether Mark Cueto was the man in better form.

In the forwards, Alan Quinlan of Munster and Ireland joins the strong Irish back-row contingent, with Wales skipper Ryan Jones and Leicester flanker Tom Croft notable absentees. The latter was highly-tipped to excel on the hard ground of South Africa, but will have to watch from home.

The group will leave for their ten-match tour of South Africa on 24th May, just after the Heineken Cup Final, with their first game against the invitational Highveld XV just six days later.

What are your thoughts on the 2009 Lions squad? Have the selectors made some inspired left-field decisions, or some foolish gambles?

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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous21 April 2009 at 15:15

    I like Earls, Shaw, Halfpenny, Monye and Quinlan. All offer something that isn't offered by their "mainstream" challengers. Don't like Worsely (doesn't do enough outside of tackle and give away an above average # of penalties) and Powell is a gamble but at least has game breaking qualities, perhaps the two even out - one stalwart and one loose cannon. Could have done with a third 10 but toughest choice going given lack of people sticking their hands up - consistency may help but if one gets crocked....

    Really feel for Ryan Jones, Cueto, Peel and Armitage, but that's what selection is all about. I dare say the Heineken Cup/Premiership final stages will claim a few casualties so the unluckiest may well go and be all the more grateful for the chance.

    All in all a tasty selection leaving me positively moist with anticipation.....don't know if it'll be enough to beat the boks but they'll give it a good rip...!

    Dai

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  2. Alister Linton23 April 2009 at 13:42

    I thinks the Lion selectors have made a few mistakes, Tom Evans should be going instead of Ugo Monye. Croft and Armitage should also be going becuase of their speed and their ability to cause the South Africans constant problems in open play. I also feel that Harry Ellis should not have been selected, I feel Blair and Peel are both better scrum halfs. But i do feel that the Lion selectors have made some correct decisions. O'Connell is the correct person for Captain, also Halfpenny is a great call. Until next time

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