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JifferJohn

Listed below are comments made by JifferJohn between Sunday, 14th June 2009 and Monday, 19th October 2009.

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My Brazilian Grand Prix preview 12:45pm on 19 Oct 2009 Hi Murray

I'm sure you were as delighted as the rest of us to see Jenson win the F1 World Championship, when in recent years it perhaps appeared the chance may have passed him by.
But my question is where would you rank Jenson amongst both Britain's previous World Champions and indeed the likes of Fangio, Senna, Prost and Schumacher?
Lions left to lick wounds after epic failure 4:33pm on 28 Jun 2009 england2003

What a load of rubbish. You make no sense at all.
How the Lions rated: second Test 2:43pm on 28 Jun 2009 Your ratings are pretty spot on Simon but your score of 8 for BOD and 5 for ROG are generous. I'd have given BOD a 7 at best as he passed to the turf on 3 occasions and was not at the same level as last week or the rest of the tour. Didn't see anything from him that deserved a score of 8. And how ROG deserves a 5 I'll never know. Was that just a sympathetic and sensitive score. He didn't do anything in his time on the pitch to even register a score.

I also think there is a case to score Simon Shaw a 10 - unbelievable performance (and to think I disagreed with his selection!).
Lions left to lick wounds after epic failure 2:25pm on 28 Jun 2009 Isn't it funny how all those bloggers who were carping on about how Ronan O'gara simply had to be picked over Stephen Jones for the 1st Test have suddenly all gone very quiet. He came on and cost the Lions the test match. Never mind the injuries we suffered, yes they disrupted us and yes we could have won with a bit to spare if they did not occur but the Lions should still have had enough about them to close out the game with an 11 point lead with 17 mins remaining.

Cue O'Gara to come on, he misses a tackle on the 22 within moments and then 1 min later misses the tackle on Fourie for the try - didn't even slow the guy's momentum down. Then what is he doing putting an up and under in his own half with 30 secs remaining in the game and then taking the guy out in the air, ludicrous. After the rest of the boys had worked so hard to get the Lions into a winning position ROG goes and costs them 10 points in a matter of minutes.

I also hated the way that at the kickable penalty opportunities he was grabbing the ball as if to say he was going to take the kicks. This after Jones had kicked immaculately all game and was still on the pitch. After O'gara missed a kick straight in front of the sticks in mid week I know who I wanted to take those kicks.

So to all those fans of ROG, please don't insult my intelligence by trying to suggest he should start the 3rd test. Unless injuries dictate otherwise Hook will be on the bench and deservedly so.

Right now the rant is over, can I just say what a marvellous effort from the boys and they came so close, lady luck was just not on their side. Loved the way Jones stuffed the Beast in the scrum and so disappointed he will miss the 3rd test. We'll have to start with John Hayes next week as no point going back to Vickery. Great effort from Simon Shaw. I wasn't sure about his inclusion but was convinced with minutes. Great game from Kearney too. Head up boys and let's go for a victory next week.
"Beasted" Lions may rue missed opportunity 2:55pm on 21 Jun 2009 The second half was very encouraging. Once Jones and Rees came on the scrum and lineout started going much better. I think these two must start the 2nd test as should Martyn and Shane Williams.

Martyn had an impact when he came on for Wallace. To win the Lions need to play a fast game, get the ball away from the breakdown to the likes of Roberts and BOD who caused chaos all day. The nugget is clearly the right man for this type of game and simply has to start ahead of Wallace.

I also go for Shane over Monye as I simply do not rate Monye as world class. He should have finished at least one of his opportunities and yet again he looked disorganised in defence especially when rushing up out of the line of defence and not getting his man. If we don't go for the world class Shane then let's put Kearney in instead (provided Byrne is fit) as he will do a better job than Monye too. In fact I'd have Fitzgerald in over Monye too.

I'd also bring Sheridan and Powell onto the bench to provide an impact. The Boks were on their knees in the last 20 and these guys could really give the Lions some go forward.

So... Byrne, Bowe, BOD, Roberts, S Williams, Jones, Phillips, Heaslip, M Williams, Croft, AW Jones, O'Connell, A Jones, Rees, Jenkins

Subs: Sheridan, Mears, Shaw, Powell, Ellis, Hook, Kearney
Confident Lions aim to out-flank Boks 10:22pm on 18 Jun 2009 No real surprises in the test selection. My main grumble is that Martyn Williams would have been the first name down in my back row. I've got a lot of time for David Wallace (and picked him at 6 in my team) but think the Lions will need Williams vision, scavenging and link play far more than they will Wallace's superior physicality and ball carrying at 7. I tip Williams to make an impact in the 2nd half to earn selection for Tests 2 and 3.

I still don't rate Monye that highly and think it could be found out in the tests. Shane Williams was obviously the outstanding candidate for the left wing but just hasn't performed well enough to warrant selection.

I'd have also gone for Sheridan and Powell on the bench to make an impact in the final 20.
Lions guessing game nearly over 10:52pm on 15 Jun 2009 Don't worry IlCucchiaio. No danger of a great rugby brain like Ian McGeechan starting with ROG. He's been a great servant to Irish rugby and you have to admire his stickability (although since David Humphreys retired he hasn't exactly had great competition for the 10 jersey in Ireland). He's a great tactical kicker which is why he has been on two previous Lions tours (and you have to admire that too) but he didn't come close to a test start on either of those tours either. Jones is the most accomplished 10 on tour and I think Hook will take the bench role as he covers both centre positions and full back.
Lions guessing game nearly over 10:25pm on 15 Jun 2009 I still think there are a few places up for grabs. Have to disagree with you ulsterinedinburgh, I don't think Monye is a cert at all. Still all to play for tomorrow with Fitzgerald and Williams (if well enough). Other than Bowe none of the wingers have excelled. Monye and Fitzgerald have been no better than ok, they are not setting the world alight. Williams hasn't been as poor as people make out on these blogs, he just hasn't produced anything out of the ordinary which is what people have come to expect of him. If either Fitzgerald or Williams have a stormer tomorrow then they will become front runners for the 11 jersey.

Also still a 3 way battle for Tight Head between Vicks, Jones and Murray.

Still a question mark over 6 between Croft, Worsley and Wallace.

Can't wait for the team announcement. Still think they could be one selection that shocks us all......
Buoyant Bowe lifts Lions 3:08pm on 15 Jun 2009 I think the selection for tomorrow could indicate that Martyn Williams will get the nod for the no 7 jersey. With Wallace and Croft on the bench tomorrow I think we could see Wallace come on at 6 and Croft in the 2nd row. This might be with a view to starting Wallace at 6 in the 1st test and Croft on the bench to cover 2nd row and back row. This would allow Geech to take a bit of a gamble and have Powell on the bench as an impact ball carrier as well.

Either way I think Williams has to play 7. His overall reading of a game and linking of play between forwards and backs is going to be just as important as the work at the breakdown. The Lions should be looking to move the ball away from the breakdown as quickly as possible and Williams is one of the best in the game at doing this. And don't forget he isn't exactly a slouch at the breakdown himself and is constantly earning turnovers for Wales (even if it isn't always legal!). The arguement to go with Wallace just for extra physicality doesn't hold water with me. I like Wallace and would go for him at 6 but if it's a straight fight between him and Williams for 7 then the nugget wins every time for me.
Buoyant Bowe lifts Lions 4:42pm on 14 Jun 2009 I've already stated on here that I think Rob Kearney could be selected as the left winger as Shane is not on form and I don't think Fitzgerald or Monye have shown enough quality to be a Lions Test Player.

However a thought occurred to me this morning watching Living with Lions from the 97 tour, that could see Geech gamble on the mecurial talents of Shane Williams. On the 97 tour Geech was extremely close to selecting Allan Bateman ahead of Jerry Guscott as Guscott was struggling for form. At all the selection meetings they were close to leaving him out or moving him to the wing. He went with Guscott in the end, for his experience and ability to make things happen. As it turns out Guscott did precious little in the test series, was completely overshadowed by Scott Gibbs in the centre, yet the one contribution he did make was to be in the right place at the right time to drop the goal that won the Lions the test series.

So I still think there is a chance that Geech goes with Shane as he has the ability to be a matchwinner and carve something out of absolutely nothing. Nobody will care if he is not at his best if he produces a match winning moment ala Guscott 12 years ago. I still think it is unlikely but Geech was never afraid of a gamble or two...

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