hey gents. Two things about this from my point of view. First, For me Hartley has been better than Best this season and deserved his spot. Best has been great in all facets except the most important for a hooker, that being throwing the ball in at the line out.
However, the Lions don't need the attitude of hartley. they don't need that kind of personality. I realise some of the English will be disappointed and rightly so but he's a nasty piece of work and a bloody mouthpiece. No place for that kind of disruptive character the lions. Gonna miss his ability tho.
BBC article below.
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Rory Best has been called into the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia after Dylan Hartley received an 11-week ban from the RFU on Sunday.
Ulster hooker Best will join up with the Lions squad on Monday.
Hartley was suspended after being found guilty of verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the Premiership final.
A final decision on Hartley's participation in the tour will be dependent on the outcome of any potential appeal by the England hooker.
Best's initial omission from Warren Gatland's 37-man party for the tour to Australia had been something of a surprise.
Gatland admitted after the squad announcement at the end of April that leaving out Best had "probably been our hardest decision".
Welshman Richard Hibbard and England's Tom Youngs are the other two hookers in the squad, which will travel to Hong Kong on Monday evening ahead of Saturday's game against the Barbarians.
The addition of Best brings the Irish representation in the squad to 10.
"It was hard when I didn't make the initial squad because it is everyone's ambition to play for the Lions, but to be selected now is a massive honour," said Best.
"To be finally selected makes playing professional rugby worthwhile and makes up for the feeling I had a few weeks ago when I thought the chance had gone."
"With uncertainty over the availability of Dylan Hartley to tour, and with the first of 10 matches only days away we had no option but to call up the additional player," said Lions Tour manager Andy Irvine.
"Despite the circumstances we should congratulate Rory, who will join the squad tomorrow and fly with us to Hong Kong."
The Lions will play 10 matches, with the first Test taking place in Brisbane on 22 June.
Best in Hartley out after ban
posted on 30/5/13
When this oldun started playing the Winger threw into the lineout... it seems to be akin to the fly half kicking.
posted on 30/5/13
Actually this happened recently in ireland. During a league game for whatever reason there was defo a winger throwing the ball into the lineout during a game. And he threw it in in the style of a quarterback in the NFL. Glorious! hahaha
posted on 30/5/13
... it seems to be akin to the fly half kicking.
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Good point
It's even more entrenched than that though isn't it. You often get a 9 or a 12 or a 15 kicking, but you never get anyone but a 2 throwing in - not at the top level anyway.
posted on 30/5/13
Hookers throw into the line out for the simple reason that backs are useless.
Forwards would take all kicks too if our legs weren't too big (flankers), too long (locks), or too fat (front row).
posted on 30/5/13
I enjoyed that!
posted on 30/5/13
ye sporty good one hahaha.
Anyway. here is the other side of the coin. The backs can't throw in as they are required to either defend ot attack off the set play. So a winger really shouldn't be throwing the ball in. With the rest of the forwards involved in the line out, that leaves the Scrum half and the hooker.
There could i suppose be a case for the SH throwing as he should by nature be the best passer of the ball.
But he also plays a defensive role and attacking role at line out time and indeed it his job to distribute the ball from off the top line outs. in order for the attack to begin.
So basically as i see it. There is only one player available to throw the ball in. And yep its the hooker.
Simple logic gents hahaha
posted on 30/5/13
the hooker could lift and a prop could throw in.
posted on 30/5/13
We had a game once where our pack was so heavy our ten had to jump in the lineout whilst our 7 dropped to centre to cover!
Textbook
posted on 30/5/13
Now thats a proper gentlemans pack! The sort of one that would go down in a scrum and be unable to get up until half or full time!
Blimey, the rugby board is alive!!!
posted on 30/5/13
SARS that pack was hated by opposition scrums but loved by their club house owners my friend. I'm sure we put some kids through uni on our bar bills.
And it's great to see rugby discussion again!