1st Test Pre-Roar Australia v Lions

BOD breaking the line against Australia in 2001. Can he do it again?

Saturday is the first test between Australia and The British & Irish Lions. I'm going to go through the Lions selection for this match and see what is what.

2. Tom Youngs-England-Hooker

Youngs is picked at hooker. For his dynamism at the breakdown, solid lineout throwing and scrummaging. The former centre could really show the rugby world what he has in the locker

1. Alex Corbisiero-England-Prop

3.Adam Jones-Wales-Prop

Jones is one of the strongest tightheads around and his consistency and experience had almost guaranteed test selection before the initial squad selection was announced.

Corbisiero is starting because he is a beast in the scrum. Personally, I don't think he has earned his jersey but Gatland (the ex-front row) thinks the test match will be won or lost in the scrummaging.

4. Alun Wyn Jones-Wales-Second Row

5. Paul O'Connell-Ireland-Second Row

Mr Consistent in Wyn Jones and Mr Experience in O'Connell. The Welsh lock has been one of the most underrated players in British rugby for years. He does the basics exceptionally well and makes playing second row look easy. O'Connell is one of the unofficial captains in this squad. British & Irish Lions experience and a gladiatorial presence about him, the 2009 Lions captain is powerful and inspirational in equal measures.

6. Sam Warburton-Wales-Captain-Blindside Flanker

7. Tom Croft-England-Openside Flanker

Warburton is the series captain and a turnover specialist. I'm still not sure if he is the best current back row number six, however the management have faith in his leadership and ability to disrupt the Australian's quick ball. Tom Croft has performed well on tour and his elusive running and speed around the pitch are qualities essential to the Lions game plan.

8. Jamie Heaslip-Ireland-Number 8

Heaslip on his day is a word class line breaking off-loader. I have had doubts over his form after his recent injuries, however he has the footballing ability on the rugby field to prove me wrong and dominate with ball in hand.

9 .Mike Phillips-Wales-Scrum-Half

10. Jonathan Sexton-Ireland-Stand Off

The scrum half position is where I genuinely believe the first test will be won. Phillips is the physical 'extra forward' scrum half, while Will Genia for Australia is a lightening quick passer and a spectacular broken field runner. It will be fascinating to witness the contrasting number 9's performances.
Sexton starts at much debated fly-half. Stronger all round game compared to Farrell, with more experience and defensively more effective too. His distribution is key and BOD will be combining with Sexton vocally to get the forwards running lines and creating holes on Saturday,

12. Jonathan Davies-Wales-Inside Centre

13. Brian O'Driscoll-Ireland-Outside Centre

Davies has shown world rugby that he has a brilliant all-round game. He can kick, pass and tackle with the best of them. But where his ultimate strength lies is his support running and off-loading. Alongside O'Driscoll, Davies could be remembered as a Lions great. BOD may not have the same pace any more, however he still has world class vision and skill to change a game in a split second.

11. Alex Cuthbert-Wales-Wing

14. George North-Wales-Wing

15. Leigh Halfpenny-Wales-Fullback

The Welsh back three trio of Cuthbert, North and Halfpenny ran riot at this year's Six Nations and this combination is proven at test level. Cuthbert has had an excellent try scoring tour and deservedly starts the first test match. Giant George North has only just overcome fitness fears and if he plays to his potential he could cause serious damage to the Australian's defensive line. A physical beast. Last but not least is Leigh Halfpenny. His metronomic style goal kicking is one thing, but he possesses world class tackling technique and razor sharp covering from deep. He'll be a match winner for the Lions if the first match is scrappy with penalties a plenty.

The Bench Warmers

Dan Cole

Richard Hibbard

Ben Youngs

Geoff Parling

Mako Vunipola

Owen Farrell

Sean Maitland

There is a pretty obvious selection policy from the Lions management. Big, strong, physical players. Combined with experience and proven ability at the very highest level. Hence why players like Toby Faletau, Stuart Hogg, Justin Tipuric and Richie Gray didn't make the squad. It is no coincidence that these players were given the most game time prior to this first test to prove themselves of a starting place. A few players were sold out in the last match (Hogg being played at 10 against International test standard players). The team selected had neither the structure or leadership to handle the step up against the high flying Brumbies.

As a Scotsman, one player on the bench is disappointing. But the management have their favoured players and those who they have trained and working with before. Which is no coincidence that there are no Scottish coaches on tour. The mind boggles...

I think the score will be tight and there will be single figure points in the 1st test...

Australia 24-18 British & Irish Lions

The Pie Sports News Premier League Alternative Awards

Suarez modelling his Pie Sports trophy

It's pretty much the end of the English Premier League season and the awards have been dished out for writer's/player's/young player of the season. Gareth Bale aka the Chimp-man aka Bale-zilla, has been the stand out player combining super charged speed with razor sharp dribbling and powerful accurate shooting.

Bale's Spurs medical

Overseas transfer of the Year

1. Michu- Rayo Vallecano to Swansea City
2. Jan Vertonghen- Ajax to Tottenham Hotspur
3. Christian Benteke- Genk to Aston Villa

Benteke came to Villa as  a fairly unknown Belgian striker. However a string of goalscoring cameos has rocketed his market value and reputation to the top of the Premier League food chain. As a young, strong, fast, agile and skillful striker Benteke would have been close to winning this award if Aston Villa were not flirting so close with relegation.
Vertonghen has given finally given Spurs a real classy centre back replacing (when fit) Ledley King. Composed and with two good feet, he adds an extra goalscoring element to Tottenham team who are on the verge of Champion League football for next season.
Michu is my winner for Overseas Transfer of the Year. The converted attacking midfielder was signed for just £2.5million and not many would have tipped him for doing anything of substance at the Liberty Stadium. But Michael Laudrup's knowledge of Spanish football was astute enough to sign Michu and play him as a forward. A lethal left foot and cultured all round game has turned 22 goal Michu in to one of the deadliest goalscorers in the Premier League right now. Many feared for Swansea this year with 'second season syndrome' after losing some key players, but with a solid season and a League Cup Trophy win, Michu has been the instigator for all things positive and my winner.



Worst Attitude Award

Jose Bosingwa once hailed as one of the finest right backs in world football has certainly fallen from grace. A woeful season from QPR is one thing. But for a number of players who are quite happy to receive outrageously high pay-packets, Bosingwa is the worst. After being relegated from the PL, Jose was seen having a bit of a laugh down the tunnel as players like Clint Hill were in tears on the pitch. Bosingwa is pretty much the epitome of what is wrong with the modern game. Disgraceful.

NEXT...

David Brent Managerial Award

This quiz is genuinely difficult to determine whether It was the fictional tragic boss David Brent or the factual tragic boss Brendan Rodgers...

Wernham Hogg or Anfield?

The above quiz is tough. Brendan Rogers is a modern day Brent, but I don't want to watch re-runs of his interviews on Sunday night.

Best Extra-Curricular Activity Award

Andrey Arshavin

Absolutely nothing creepy about this and completely normal.


The Phil Jones Award for The Greatest Footballing Face in History

ERMAGHERD!

Beautiful man

I love Phil Jones. He is a gifted defender and a very hard working individual, who also has the best game-face in football.

That is the first instalment of Pie Sports News awards, there will be some more of the same and probably a bit more of a analytical and serious look at the up coming awards.

Part 2 Coming Soon...

The Wonder Years: 1996

There is nothing like re-living the glory years and a bit of sporting nostalgia. 96 was the year that I remember properly getting into sport and this is a tribute to some awesome moments.

There was a young black golfer who turned professional after dominating the amateur scene for three years. There had never been an athlete come in and shake up the the complexion of a sport quite like Tiger Woods. With a supreme all round game and monstrous driving off the tee, with the physical attributes and ice cold mentality to match, the golfing world was his for the taking.

This was his first PGA tour event and Tiger hits a hole in one. From this moment in 1996, Woods' career went from promising to stratospheric. 

Regardless of what has happened recently with his Lothario like lifestyle and change in coaches and form. Nobody can argue that Tiger Woods transformed the game and image of modern day golf. 

I mean, this is a historic point in time where fat Americans hadn't thought of shouting; ' It's in the hole!'  God, that's annoying...

Professional rugby union was a year old in 1996 and still coming to terms with how professional sportsmen dedicated themselves to training and physical preparation. Rugby league had been using superior and professional training methods for many years in comparison. If you are a fan of both codes and 7s and have half an hour to kill then you are in for a treat!

This is at the Middlesex 7s tournament. I stumbled across this video accidentally and when the Wigan Warriors lineup came on screen I had to watch both parts of the match.

Back then there was a snobbish attitude by union towards the skill level of  league players, but after this performance at Twickenham in 96, the doubters were proved so very wrong. Probably why Wigan were never invited back to play 7s again...

Seeing the calibre of attacking flair from the Wigan team was amazing to witness in the 7s format. Not surprising that most of those guys went on to represent their union countries at international level and even the British & Irish Lions.

The Scottish Premier League was won by Rangers and the Cup by Kilmarnock. Players like Paulo Di Canio, Brian Laudrup, Pierre Van Hooijdonk and Paul Gascoigne graced grounds up and down Scotland in the 90's. Those days seem to have disappeared sadly, but hopefully one day we can have that kind of quality back. Please come back.

Gazza  uniquely entertaining and provoking... 

 

Here we have Gascoigne at Euro 96 at Wembley, scoring that goal against Scotland. Magnificent skill and wonderful celebration of the 'dentist's chair' (Gazza pre-tournament was 'papped' lying in a reclining chair and booze being pored down his gullet).

Again, England lose to Germany on penalties with Gareth Southgate striking the definitive penalty with the assurance of a mouse. They think It's all over... It is.

Football is not coming home Gareth.

What better way to answer the critics and laugh off the abuse from the media...

Other English football news:

• An uncapped David Beckham scores from the half way line against Wimbledon
• Wenger takes over at Arsenal
• Middlesbrough lose in both the league cup and cup final. They are relegated after being deducted 3 points for cancelling a match earlier in the season. Turns out that deduction cost them their Premiership status. Bad times.

Staying with fusstball, Borussia Dortmund won the Champions League with a 3-1 win against a very strong Juventus side. Lars Ricken came on and with his first touch scored this goal:

Screamer. Plus a Scotsman played and won a major footballing trophy. Paul Lambert.

Gooooolazo

Every Sunday I visited the magnificent church of  Football Italia on Ch4. Fantastic format and a wonderfully insightful view of Serie A, when It was the best league with the best players around. Nothing can compare to James Richardson relaxing at a cafe in Rome analysing and translating the back of the Italian newspapers.

My favourite striker of all time still is George Weah. I wouldn't still have a replica Milan top with his name on the back from 1996 if he was average. Weah also scored this goal too.