User:Wcrosbie/sandbox1 Lions possible selections

Possible Lions selections (from rugby.com.au, December 2012; see from Jonathan Davies' selections on youtube

Coach Warren Gatland said he's expecting a challenging tour.

Back Three
&
 * 1) 15. Fullback (also wing) Rob Kearney, e.g. 2009 Lions Squad (Ire), JG & JD
 * 2) 14. Wing George North (Wal), JG, KW, JD
 * 3) 11. Wing, Centre Tommy Bowe (Ire), KW, AN & JD
 * 1) Wing Tim Visser (Sco), JG & KW;
 * 2) Fullback Leigh Halfpenny (Wal), KW, &
 * 3) Fullback Alex Goode (Eng), AN
 * 4) Fullback (also scrum-half & fly-half) Ben Foden (Eng & Northampton Saints)
 * 5) Wing-fullback Delon Armitage (Eng & Toulon)

Centres

 * 1) 13 (or 12 ) Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), JG & KW
 * 2) 13, Wing Manu Tuilagi (Eng), JG, KW, AN & JD. (Born in Samoa).
 * 3) 13 Jonathan Davies (Wal), JD
 * 4) 13 (or 12), Fullback, Wing Jamie Roberts (e.g.12 for tests on 2009 Lions tour of SA), (Wal), 110 kg, AN.

Fly-halves
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster, Ire), named by JG, KW, AN & JD.

However, the following were not named in the commentators lists:
 * 1) Jonny Wilkinson
 * 2) Owen Farrell; Freddie Burns (Eng)
 * 3) Greig Laidlaw; Henry Pyrgos (Sco)
 * 4) JW Hook; Dan Biggar;  Rhys Priestland  (Wal)

Scrum-halves

 * 1) Danny Care (Eng)
 * 2) Ben Youngs (Eng)

Hookers

 * Rory Best (Ire)
 * Dylan Hartley (Eng)

Props

 * 1 Cian Healy (Ire), JG, KW & JD
 * 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wal), AN
 * 1 Andrew Sheridan (Eng) JD
 * 3 D Cole (Eng), AN
 * 3 Adam R Jones (Wal), KW & JD

Locks

 * 1) Richie Gray (Sco), JG, KW & AN; JD
 * 2) AW Jones (Wal), JG & JD
 * 3) Courtney Lawes (Eng), AN & KW
 * 4) Geoff Parling (Eng), JG
 * 5) Joe Launchbury (Eng), JD
 * 6) Paul O'Connell  e.g. 2009 Lions Squad (Ire)

Loose forwards

 * 1) 7 Sam Warburton (Wal captain), KW & JD
 * 2) 7 Chris Robshaw (Eng, captain)
 * 3) 6, 7 or 8 S O'Brien (Eng), JG (Ire), KW & AN
 * 4) 6, 7 or 8 Tom Wood (Eng), JD
 * 5) Flanker Steffon Armitage (Eng), JG
 * 6) 6 Stephen Ferris (Ire), KW & AN
 * 7) 6 or Lock Tom Croft (Eng), JG & JG
 * 8) 6 Dan Lydiate (Wal), JD
 * 9) 8 Jamie Heaslip e.g. 2009 Lions Squad
 * 10) 8 D Denton (Sco), JG
 * 11) 8 Toby Faletau (Wal), AN (born in Tonga)
 * 12) 8 Ben Morgan (Eng), JD

Possible captains
Two flankers were in consideration for the role of Lions captain, by Gareth Edwards. The first is Wales captain and number 7 Sam Warburton. The second is England captain and number 7 Chris Robshaw. Edwards also shortlisted Ireland trio O'Connell (Lock), O'Driscoll and Heaslip (No.8).

Coaches
Warren Gatland with support from:
 * Rob Howley (Wales)
 * Graham Rowntree (Assistant Coach, former loosehead prop for England)
 * Andy Farrell (England, Assistant Coach)

Dates
See Lions Tour Dates, 2013 e.g.
 * v. Force, Wednesday 5 June, in Perth
 * v. Reds, Saturday 8 June at Suncorp Stadium
 * v. Wallabies, on Saturday 22 June, Brisbane

Other coverage

 * Cooper signs for another two years ARU, 7 December 2012.
 * Rowntree on Australia's front row 13 December 2012.
 * Genia will be ready 19 December 2012.
 * Pocock to be matched, says Howley, 18 December 2012.
 * "Palu v Heaslip," from ARU 21 December 2012.

Other coverage
2013
 * 8 January, by Wayne Smith in the Australian: coach Ewen McKenzie wants the Reds full strength against the Lions in Brisbane, on 8 June.
 * 7 January. Lions PR by Mike Brown: Rob Kearney and Leigh Halfpenny have been widely tipped to make squad but could Ben Foden also be included?
 * 4 January. ARU PR says Gregan believes Folau (Tahs newbie) and Lealiifano (Brumbies Fly-half/Centre) could for Australia against the Lions.