Gats shows guts with team picks
I LIKE this selection a lot – Warren Gatland has picked the right squad for the opposition, the conditions and the occasion.
You don’t just need 23 players who are in form, you need to get the blend right between talent and experience. There are some brave calls here but I believe they are the right ones. The biggest one is Peter O’Mahony’s selection as captain. Three months ago he could not get in the Ireland side.
But he deserves his place, as do the others. The fact I have not heard a murmur of dissent tells me there is total confidence and harmony within the squad.
15. LIAM WILLIAMS
I put his shaky start to the tour down to enthusiasm. Now realises if he plays as he does for Wales, without the added emotion he was bringing to the Lions jersey, he’s world class. Will be tested in the air and is going to have to counter-attack and organise the backthree. He’s up to it.
14. ANTHONY WATSON
Until Tuesday when Elliot Daly and Jack Nowell ran riot, it hadn’t been a great tour for wingers. The one exception would be Anthony – consistently good, mistake-free, mean on defence and with the gas a team needs when it’s only going to get three or four opportunities.
13. JONATHAN DAVIES
Famously picked ahead of Brian O’Driscoll for the series decider in 2013, now a proven Lion. His power and organisation is a big plus for Gatland.
12. BEN TE’O
Is it destiny he starts opposite Sonny Bill Williams, his old adversary from their rugby league days? Te’o (right) Has been dynamite all tour.
11. ELLIOT DALY
This guy can play pretty much anywhere. An incredible talent and if anyone can provide the magic to unlock the All Blacks defence I reckon it’s him.
10. OWEN FARRELL
Bigger the game the bigger the performance. I’d
expect nothing less than for him to be top class.
9. CONOR MURRAY
Precise, organised, calm. Murray (left) will be massive target for the All Blacks; top of their list. He needs to be prepared for attention like he’s never known.
1. MAKO VUNIPOLA
The all bells and whistles prop, but a bit of him will still be sore from the last tour when he got dusted up a bit in the set-piece. Will want to make amends.
2. JAMIE GEORGE
Plays a lot like worldclass All Blacks hooker Dane Coles. An option for offloads, fast breaks, supporting lines – quite apart from being reliable at the set piece. If the game opens up he will be a handful.
3. TADHG FURLONG
Has had the year of his life and found a way of being very awkward in the set-piece. Offers a bit more than most around the field as well. Seems very disciplined.
4. ALUN WYN JONES
He and Maro Itoje really come as an 80-minute package and I would expect Maro to get at least the last half hour. The Lions will need to draw on senior leadership and experience. I absolutely get why Gats has gone with AWJ.
5. GEORGE KRUIS
Technically astute, communicates well,
reads the game fabulously and doesn’t tend to make mistakes or give away penalties. He brings a massive engine to the scrum, is athletic in the lineout and clears out rucks. World class.
6. PETER O’MAHONY (CAPT)
From Ireland reserve in March to Lions captain three months later. A huge reason for this is the way he conducts himself under pressure on and off the pitch. The perfect fit to lead what is a pretty down-to-earth group.
7. SEAN O’BRIEN
This back row is full of players Sir Ian McGeechan termed “Test match animals”. O’Brien (left) played OK for Leinster and Ireland but has been transformed by this elite environment.
8. TAULUPE FALETAU
Super strong all tour, relished responsibility of filling the spot vacated by his injured cousin Billy Vunipola. With an enormous pack in front of him and go-forward ball to work with, he’s puffing his chest out.
REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Jack McGrath, Maro Itoje, Sam Warburton, Rhys Webb, Johnny Sexton, Leigh Halfpenny
Clearly picked with impact in mind. Whoever gets bench strategy right will win. The timing of the cavalry being deployed, and who comes on and isn’t blown away by the emotion but adds to the game. I look at the Lions bench and think, yeah, that will do.