Covid-19 crisis makes character crucial for tour
➤Talent not enough as Lions face intensive spell in bubble ➤Coaches must trim list of 57 candidates for South Africa trip
Before meeting for the first time as a group yesterday at the Lensbury hotel in Teddington, Warren Gatland asked his new British and Irish Lions coaching team to write down their own 36-man squads.
Between Gregor Townsend, Steve Tandy, Robin Mcbryde, Neil Jenkins and Gatland’s nominations, there were 57 names. There were about 20-25 players who were on all five lists, but after that there was seemingly little consensus as the first selection meeting ran from 2pm to 6pm. Discussion continued through dinner and drinks.
“All the lists were pretty divergent,” Townsend, the Scotland head coach who will assume the role of Lions attack coach, said. “There was a core group that most of us agreed on, maybe 50-60 per cent that we could all see as Lions this year. But the other 40-50 per cent there’s still a lot of discussion to be had and opportunities for players to get in that squad.”
Ever since the first touring party set sail for New Zealand from Gravesend aboard the in 1888, the selection of a Lions squad is invariably described as the toughest ever. That is definitely no hyperbole this time around. Even before you consider the contrasting attributes of Hamish Watson, Tom Curry, Josh van der Flier and Justin Tipuric among the back rowers – which forwards coach Mcbryde described as the most intense area of discussion – there is the matter of Covid-19.
All 57 players on the longlist will now be sounded out about their intentions.
Not only is there the risk of travelling to South Africa, but the possibility of a post-tour quarantine and the intensity of living eight weeks in a biosecure bubble, an experience which many of England’s players found “bloody miserable” during the Six Nations championship.
Gatland said: “I fully understand if players maybe don’t put their hand up to tour, so we want to sound them out before we do finally select the squad – the last thing I want to do is pick a squad and then have half a dozen players pull out. But I wouldn’t hold it against any player and I’d understand their personal situation of being away from home, family and the challenges that’s going to bring. We’ve got to be flexible and innovative.”
Being a good tourist has always been important in Lions selection, but in a bubble where they will be living in each other’s pockets for weeks on end that is even more vital. Talent alone will not be enough to guarantee a ticket, as Mcbryde said yesterday.
“That was a big point of discussion yesterday with regard to the character of the players, not only on the field but off the field because of the nature of the tour and being involved in the bubble, spending more time amongst each other.”
Mcbryde also confirmed that several players who were not currently playing international rugby featured on the longlist, which could be a boon for players such as Exeter No8 Sam Simmonds and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care.
Perhaps the trickiest selection decisions regard England’s players – and not just because of Premiership Rugby’s threat to block their release for the pre-tour training camp. Form suggests they should have the lowest representation on the basis of their fifth-place finish in the Six Nations, but Gatland will weigh up their past performances, too. He said: “There’s no doubt some of those players didn’t have the greatest Six Nations this year, but a lot of them have credit from past successes.”
Then there is the Saracens question. England head coach Eddie Jones paid a steep price for assuming the likes of Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell could hit the ground running in the Six Nations.
Can Gatland afford to do likewise, given they are largely playing part-time opposition? Mcbryde said their level of competition would not be a “major stumbling block”, although Townsend pointedly said that they would need to be in peak physical condition to take on the Springboks.
No more than three Scots have been selected in an original touring party since 1997, but after excellent victories away to England and France in the Six Nations, Gatland promised a greater representation.
“There will definitely be more Scots this time because they have fronted up in the Six Nations,” he said. “Winning away in Paris and at Twickenham is significant because when you are playing for the Lions you are not playing at home.”