9 Irish Lions .

is rory the 4th best hooker in ire end wales and scot?id say hes either 1st or 2nd..very hard done by.

Best should minimum be in the squad, terribel decision by gatters!
Hartley ... a joke

Seems throwing in lineout ball ( to a poor lneout operation this year ) is the significant factor . The fact that you are the most mobile hooker in the Six Nations , fastest about the field , first to the breakdown ball , plus technical hooking ability , is forgotten .  Rory took some of those other 3 to the cleaners sometime this season from memory .

Anyone explain satifactorily , why does the hooker have to throw in the ball ?  Dont ever remember seeing a forward throwing in the ball when I was young , most of the forwards couldn't do it , it was the wingers job , on his own wing .  Made more sense that to me .

I remember Shane Byrne from a few tears ago -guy was a total joak throwing in.

most mobile hooker in the Six Nations , fastest about the field , first to the breakdown ball

You think, Kelly?

I would say he would be comfortably last in a race between Strauss, Sean Cronin and say Tom Youngs to name but 3.

He should have been included on the Tour no doubt but not for the reasons you cite.  Strong scrummager, effective and intelligent at the breakdown, technically good hooker, experienced and good leader would be his main strengths as a player.

People see different things Ozy . Anticipation and rugger nous sometimes means that some players invariably are the first to anticipate danger or be there to exploit advantageous attacking positions .  Maybe that covers the mobility and breakdown ball situations  .  The fastest about the field would also  be impression rather than in a timed race ( which has never happened , and will never happen I suspect ).

His other assets which you list I would agree with , just cant figure out Gatland and co leaving him out . None of the others belong in my "brilliant" category ( neither does Rory , but he has a pretty good record ) .

Willie John was on our TV tonight at news time talking about the Lions and the need for bonding in building up team spirit .  Slightly worried in that respect re touring party , the Welsh will stick together particularly as there are a huge number of them , players and backroom staff , the English will be themselves , it will be up to the Irish and Scots to be the glue in the equation , but with professional considerations etc will they all be willing to give up a bit of themselves for the general good . Particularly if its probably going to be your last tour .

The other aspect now of a Lions tour which was not a consideration 20 years and more ago is the possibility of using the opportunity for show casing individual talent and upping the ante in commercial / transfer / contracts times . Some  players in the not too recent past indulged in that a bit , no names , no pack drill , we know plonkers when we see them .

Never easy to gell together a touring party unless you are a strong personality , respected ,  unbiased , and popularity helps .  Will watch with interest that aspect of the tour before I commit any money to outcomes . A happy party plays better generally ( provided there are no "escapades " ).

omitting best is a joke likewise taking o driscoll to old and injury prone but the biggest joke of all is warburton as captain, he was dropped not injured as the wru would have us believe'

if warburton was just injured why was he not reinstated as captain

like wise the late inclusion of bungalow as the kicking coach does gatland think people are that stupid not to realise it was done this way just because he did not take shaun edwards .