The UAFC

I just saw something retweeted by Kev Geary, the reaction to the lions squad from Fox Sports Aus, and I'm going from memory here but it was essentially: 'no wilko or best... Phew!! And lots of welsh.. And we always beat the welsh!!' Not sure I agree with them about wilko, but I can understand that h...

Apologies if its already been mentioned, but given the selection criteria, you've got to fancy that as a big, physical unit who runs straight, Trimble has to be the next in line for a call up if there are any injuries. Visser A year ago I would have had Visser in the squad, but I think he had a poo...

Who are they developing? All the Welsh players are well established. Percentage wise its as even a split as I could have anticipated. there are 3 or 4 welsh players who are very lucky to be on tour. Wales can field a team of 14 Lions in the 6N next season. In what way is that not a massive boost fo...

He's picked a squad to win. To him the best shot at that given the short time frame they have to work with the players is 1. Keep it Welsh, he knows the Welsh Part of the problem is right there for me - under Gatland, Wales have played Australia 9 times.... and have managed 1 win, 5 years ago in 20...

Well said Tevez!

McCall is at loosehead any time ive seen him apart from the RDS, any others? This is an interesting one, does anyone know the definitive answer? From memory, I remember watching the Ireland U20s (Henderson was playing second row) beat France, away (in Grenoble I think) and the Irish scrum was being...

Sorry Tommy o Donnell is definitely not International standard very much a physical backrow but nearly as slow as PoM with fewer brain cells . His style of play suits the Munster game all grunt no guile if he gets the ball he does the first thing that comes in to his head with little awareness of b...

A squad that is frustratingly close to being a good 'un IMO.. The two absolutely mental choices for me are Hartley over Best - just inexplicable, even given a couple of dodgy lineout outings by Best - and Croft over.... well anybody.. I mean seriously?? This guy is the biggest bluffer out there!! I ...

None of the current management team should be kept on! Well said Russ, kick them all out and let Joe pick them again if he is happy but no coach should have to work with a back room team picked by someone else. Exactly right.. It should certainly be Schmidt's call - so if for whatever reason he rec...

17 from 21 of the forwards (and Lydiate was a very obvious choice, undeserving or otherwise - very surprised by Best's omission, crazy bad choice IMO) And 14 from 16 of the backs - I think Kearney is a lucky boy, as for Murray, I don't get it - for my money Care and Laidlaw would comfortably start f...

If 3 Ulster players were going who would you pick ? I would go for Best and 2 out of Bowe, Trimble and Henderson with a real outside bet on Henry, but think on balance Best, Bowe, Henderson. Exactly that.. I personally would have Henry in the back row mix, and Trimble for me is a much better player...

With the changing of the guard, my interest in the national side has immediately rekindled! I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do under Schmidt. before we get there of course we have the US and Canada, and I only hope that we won't see the kind of utterly pointless, wasted opportunity selecti...

Yet again, I find myself in a position of giving off to all of you doom and gloom merchants and, yes, I am including you here, Bagster. Here we are, needing a win over the blue sheep men to get a home semi in the Rabo, having made the Heiny quarters for the third year running and you're all bitchin...

Excellent news indeed. It will be very interesting to see the makeup of his staff - I imagine Smal is toast, and as far as I know Schmidt does Leinster's defensive work himself. I would say that if we see Foley involved, it's a sure sign of IRFU meddling.. I'd be surprised though! Kiss might live to...

Here's my best guess: 21 forwards LHP: Healy, Vunipola, Jenkins Hooker: Best, Hibbard, Youngs THP: Jones, Cole, Murray 2R: Jones, Gray, Parling, Evans, POC BR: SOB, Wood, Faletau, Warburton, Tipuric, Heaslip, Beattie 16 backs SH: Phillips, Youngs, Laidlaw OH: Sexton, Farrell, Madigan Centres: Robert...