An invasion is in progress on the football blog this week, of which I make absolutely no apologies! The togetherness, camaraderie coupled with sheer pride and excitement of another Lions tour is nearly upon us. The playing is over, hands have been raised, rehabilitations squeezed and arguments raged over which 36 (or possibly 37) men have shown enough desire and ability to deserve to be called a British and Irish Lion in 2013.
It’s easy to see a squad laden with Six Nations winning Welsh dragons but thankfully most Welsh picks will take their seats on the plane confident in the knowledge that they deserve their place on merit rather than being the recipients of a biased inclusion by their former general Warren Gatland. Gatland has had massive success with the Welsh however there’s no doubt in my mind that the 36 he chooses to take on the Wallabies will be the best selection available to him.
So here we go:
Fullbacks:
Leigh Halfpenny – Dead cert for a starting Test place, no question. Was imperious all Six Nations fully deserving of his player of the tournament accolade. Quick, ferocious in defence (not one missed tackle all Six Nations), rock solid under the high ball and by far the most impressive kicking game of any Northern Hemisphere full back. This is your 15 all day long.
Stuart Hogg – A Scotsman, surely not?! Close call between Hogg and Kearney but Hogg seems to be on the crest of a wave after literally bursting onto the international scene. In a year of minimal line breaks, Hogg often provided the cutting edge from deep. He’s solid under the high ball and another very good defender. Hogg Just edges Kearney who unfortunately just hasn’t done enough this year.
Wings:
George North – What a monster! Another one who will likely start the first test, this guy’s pace and power is just frightening and as a result an obvious pick. An abrasive wing rather than an evasive one but more often than not he gets the job done.
Alex Cuthbert – Another big and powerful wing hailing from the Valleys. Top try scorer in the Six Nations with ruthless finishing ability. May start the first test but would see Cuthbert’s place more under threat than North’s.
Simon Zebo – The now infamous flick against Wales even made headlines in Oz so they will be unsurprised to see Zebo on the touring party. If it weren’t for his broken foot in the Six Nations he would likely be very close to a Test start and still may come into the frame. Tremendously exciting to watch and brings and added dimension to the back three’s kicking game as a left footer.
Tommy Bowe – Two long injury lay offs have amazingly put Bowe’s chances of touring in jeopardy however I don’t believe Gatland has any intention of leaving him behind. A natural born finisher and now close to becoming a wise old head as a past Lion. Maybe not a test start but possibilities off the bench.
Tim Visser – Sneaks onto the plane ahead of Chris Ashton for the simple reason that he is defensively dependable. Perhaps doing Visser an injustice who numerous times caught the eye during the Six Nations and what looks like an exciting Scottish backline developing for the first time since I’ve been able to spell rugby.
Centres
Brian O’Driscoll (C)– He’s still the best. Drico’s body is held together with paper and chewing gum these days but it’s a microscopic flaw to his arsenal of astonishing capabailities. No player qualified to be a Lion could have thrown that pass to Zebo against Wales. It’s clearly a romantic choice as Captain but is there anyone who would doubt or begrudge his captaincy for a microsecond? Though not. Another iron cast starter on the Test team.
Jamie Roberts – Coming back to approaching his best form having had an extended run of games in between lying on the treatment table. Big, powerful 12 with past Lions test experience. One of the closest calls for the 12 jersey but just nicks the start of Tuilagi in my book partly due to his understanding and friendship with our Captain.
Manu Tuilagi – Tore New Zealand apart in the Autumn, hard to imagine a centre in the world that would feel comfortable playing against him. His discipline (unsurprisingly he is a Tuilagi!) can be suspect but I think he could provide an explosive ability of the bench to turn a game that is in the balance after 60 minutes.
Jonathan Davies – His day of reckoning came and went in the first Six Nations game after Drico had him in his pocket for the entire game. Has forced him further down the pecking order as a result however has still shown enough in his 3 years as an international to deserve a place in the squad.
Fly Halves
Jonathan Sexton – I’m Irish, of course I’m picking Sexton to get the nod over Owen Farrell as starting 10. I must admit Farrell looks to be a cracking player but one drawback of his game which I think will hinder Gatland’s tactics is his pace or lack thereof. Sexton will swiftly put a back line move on the gain line and beyond, giving our backs more go forward ball and momentum. Additionally Johnny is defensively rock solid, possesses far more experience and will be another source of leadership on the pitch when the boys go to the trenches.
Owen Farrell – Big future certainly ahead of him and he will be a worthy understudy to Sexton but this tour has come maybe 10 caps too soon for him. Will get minutes off the bench in at least one of the Test games and is likely to be given an opportunity to impress early in a tour game.
Ian Madigan – Here’s my ‘leftfield’ shout to go on tour. Madigan has been in sensational form the last 3 months. Sexton’s impending move to Racing Metro seems to have galvanised Madigan and he has reached his hand up the heavens to convince whoever takes over from Schimdt that he is Sexton’s natural replacement at Leinster. He is as exciting a player I’ve seen come from these shores in quite a while and his ability to play 12 adds a dimension of utility that is vital for squad members of the Lions backline.
Scrum Halves
Mike Phillips – I despise him, looks like a prick, acts like a prick and more than likely is a prick! Completely irrelevant however, Phillips has been the best scrum half of the Six Nations for a number of years now. He adds a physicality around the rucks that will not be able to be mimicked by the Aussies and for me he’ll start alongside Sexton in the first test.
Ben Youngs – Decent Six Nations with England, Youngs is the type of scrum half the defence constantly has to watch. He is deceptively quick particularly over the first 10 yards and constantly looking to break the gain line should the smallest chink of light appear around the fringes. Can sometimes over do it with his propensity to carry but Youngs makes things happen.
Conor Murray – Wasn’t exactly sold on what I felt was a premature introduction to the Irish set up however he has grown into the role to the extent where he has nailed down the Irish No.9 jersey. His MoM performance against France in Paris really impressed me and I’m sure it would have impressed Gatland too. Very close as to who makes the bench for the test team but if I was forced off the fence I’d probably plum for Youngs, just.
Props
Cian Healy – The best prop on the planet right now, absolute certainty to start the first test. His discipline can be suspect however aside from that you are getting a world class scrummager that will love taking on an inferior Aussie pack and probably one of the best ball carriers in the game. Could have a huge summer.
Adam Jones – Consistently the best tighthead eligible for the Lions for most of the last decade. Another player almost assured of his starting jersey, Jones is massive in the scrum and a likely source of point scoring penalties for us against Australia
Gethin Jenkins – Would be far closer to pushing Healy for the test start if not for playing second finddle to Andrew Sheridan at Toulon for the majority of the season. Lions veteran with over 100 caps for Wales, will be dependable as ever when called upon both in the scrum and the loose and would be surprised not to see him take his place on the bench against the Wallabies.
Dan Cole – Cole is always a dependable scrummager and seems to have become comfortable as an international prop. No doubt that he will be in the travelling party and deservedly so but I would be more expectant to be playing on a Wednesday night rather than the weekends.
Mako Vunipola – Even though his scrimmaging probably needs a little work, considering we are not going up against one of the most feared scrummaging nations in international rugby I think this kid deserves a shot. He’s been impressive and looked comfortable playing for England and is a massive and potentially devastating talent in the loose.
Hookers
Rory Best – My pick to start in the tests. Has captained his country displaying more than capable leadership skills and shown remarkable consistency the past couple of years. While perhaps not as key a weapon as our scrum, the need for a solid lineout is still of high importance in securing ball for our own backline and trying to starve Australia’s world class outside men and in Best I think we have the best lineout thrower and also a man not afraid to front up when the situation demands it.
Richard Hibbard – Had a breakthrough year in which some factions of the terraces mentioned his rugby playing abilities rather than his possession of the most heinous and god awful haircut since video actually did kill the radio star. Truly ridiculous barnet but should be a member of the travelling party.
Tom Youngs – Dynamic and explosive for a hooker, he has had a sharp rise to prominence this season and I would be surprised to see him not travel alongside his brother Ben.
Second Row
Paul O’Connell – There aren’t many men who could miss essentially the entire season in a Lion’s tour year and in 80 minutes go from out of the picture to nail on test starter but against Harlequins in the Heineken O’Connell did just that. He was a monster in that game and his sheer stature, pure aggression and natural born leadership will put him in the frame to lead the tour party.
Alun Wyn Jones – Not a particularly standout year however will be guaranteed a touring place due to past glories. Not to say that he is over the hill by any means in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if he again formed a familiar Lions partnership with O’Connell in the second row.
Richie Gray – The only Scottish forward to merit a call up this time round in my eyes. Gray is a super athlete, quick and strong whilst also being a potent jumper in the lineout. Perhaps not as prominent this season in a struggling Sale side as in the previous two years but has shown more than enough ability to go to Oz.
Joe Launchbury – I think this guy has got a massive future ahead of him. I must confess I hadn’t heard much of Launchbury before the Six Nations but he certainly caught the eye on more than one occasion. An extremely athletic and skilful second row I can see him being a central figure during the early tour matches with the potential to push for the test jersey becoming a real possibility should we suffer any second row injuries.
Donncha Ryan – Old school fire and brimstone Munster man, Ryan is one tough bastard and every Lions squad needs a few of them. The last 18 months he’s become a peripheral figure with Ireland to becoming far more influential to the side, albeit as a result of some key injuries. Ryan is comfortable at playing in the back row too which rubber stamps his inclusion further in the travelling party.
Back Row
Sam Warburton – Easily the most hotly contested area of the pitch and blessed with world class talent to fill six back rows. It looks very much as if 24 year old Warburton is to lead the Lions and based on his performance in the decider against England you can see why. However I do have serious reservations about initially his alarming loss of form after the World Cup, resulting in being temporarily dropped by the Welsh team. Still an excellent 7 however but due to doubts over his inclusion in the Test squad I’d rather him not get the captaincy.
Justin Tipuric – Made a huge impact when off the bench during the Six Nations with Wales that he managed to dislodge what looks likely to be our captain. Tipuric is a very natural No.7 and is a turnover merchant while also a strong ball carrier. Going to be very close between him and Warburton for the 7 jersey but if somehow Warburton doesn’t get the captaincy then I fancy his chances.
Sean O’Brien – Not much to be said really. All we know is that they are feeding him the right stuff down in Cavan and will surely lineup at No.6 in the test side.
Chris Robshaw – Funny how one game can wreck your chances of captaining the Lions squad. Robshaw was a favourite as recently as March and I think he can feel a little aggrieved at being dismissed so quickly after the Chariot’s wheels came off to get the big job. I think he is a super player and must be considered for a role in the test team however I think the embarrassment of riches, particularly emanating from the Welsh valleys will mean he’ll have to settle for taking on the Super 15 teams.
Toby Faletau – My pick, and most peoples to start at No.8, Faletau is a cracking ball carrier and also possesses amazing skill in the offload game. Faletau will often pop up with a try now and again two and has been more consistent this season than his No.8 rivals
Dan Lydiate – Another who has been injury plagued this season but who’s ability when fit absolutel shone through. Player of the Tournament in last year’s Six Nations, could have been again if it weren’t for the treatment table.
Dan Lydiate – Another who has been injury plagued this season but who’s ability when fit absolutel shone through. Player of the Tournament in last year’s Six Nations, could have been again if it weren’t for the treatment table.
Ben Morgan – Some of his ball carrying during the Six Nations was unbelievable, he’s a proper juggernaut. Haven’t seen much of him to assess the other facets of his game but if you can take up and carry ball like that well then get on that plane son.
Jamie Heaslip – Had a great game against Biarittz at the weekend but while he will travel I’m not exactly sure he’s done enough and is the most deserving. Burst onto the scene as the new best No.8 in the world but has since flattered to deceive a little bit with his performances for Ireland. I think many will see him as closer to the test jersey than perhaps he actually is. Will need big performances in the early weeks of the tour to turn Gatland’s head for the big games.
On Standby: Kearney, Twelvetrees, Wilkinson, Laidlaw, Ross, Hamilton, Ferris,
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