LIONS SQUAD
that’s where the series could be won and lost.
New Zealand’s lack of depth in the boilerhouse was highlighted when their world record winning streak came to an end against Ireland in Chicago last November.
They were into the clash in the United States without first-choice locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick and then paid a hefty price as the Irish got the better of them up front.
Double World Cup winner Jerome Kaino, normally a flanker, had to perform emergency duty alongside Patrick Tuipulotu at lock and they were found out.
The Lions would be able to weather injuries to the Test locks Gatland picks, but I’m not sure New Zealand would. SAM Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Peter O’Mahony, O’Brien and Taulupe Faletau can be hugely competitive against Steve Hansen’ men.
They will have to nullify the brilliance of Kiwi captain Kieran Read and Ardie Savea could be a danger if he was to start, but I reckon the Lions Sam Warburton (Wales, capt), Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Jonathan Joseph (England), Conor Murray (Ireland), George North (Wales), Jack Nowell (England), Jared Payne (Ireland), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Tommy Seymour (Scotland), Ben T’eo (England), Anthony Watson (England), Rhys Webb (Wales), Liam Williams (Wales), Ben Youngs (England), Rory Best (Ireland), Dan can handle the likes of Kaino, Sam Cane and Matt Todd.
Out-muscle the All Blacks in the front-five and do a number on them at the breakdown and the Lions will be in business. And, to me, it’s feasible that will happen. THE Lions hold the upper hand by some distance with Leigh Halfpenny, Farrell and Biggar being top-quality marksman, and Sexton being decent. Cole (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), George Kruis (England), Courtney Lawes (England), Joe Marler (England), Jack McGrath (Ireland), Ross Moriarty (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), Ken Owens (Wales), Kyle Sinckler (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Billy Vunipola (England).
Beauden Barrett, for all his qualities as an attacker, isn’t in the same league when it comes to aiming at the target. BOTH teams will be hugely experienced, but I believe the Lions edge it.
Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith may have left the international arena following the 2015 World Cup and their absence may be keenly felt against the Lions.
New Zealand will be under more pressure than they have been, barring the two Tests with Ireland last autumn, at any time since they stood down.
And it will be interesting to see how the likes of Cane, Barrett, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams and Anton Lienart-Brown react when the pressure is really on. THE Lions have got to be spot-on with their chase and tackling because Barrett, Ben Smith, Israel Dagg and Julian Savea will be capable of taking advantage of any slips.
Possession must be retained while the Lions must kick accurately out of hand to prevent counterattacks being launched.
New Zealand have the capability to punish errors so they have to be kept to a minimum.
But, when the Lions have the ball, they will surely look to send Henshaw into the so-called ‘Barrett Channel’ for his tackling can be suspect. GATLAND will want a dominant scrum but the battle between the probable starting front-rows could be pretty even. Again, use of the bench could be important. WHITELOCK, Retallick, Kaino and Read will win home throws while the Lions have options in Kruis, Itoje, Jones, Courtney Lawes, Tipuric, Warburton, O’Mahony and Faletau. THE aerial battle could come down to the accuracy of the throwing and, whoever wears the No.2 jersey for the Lions, is set to face the best hooker in the world in Dane Coles.
Both sides should win their own ball and, for the Lions, that’s vital in their plan to strangle the All Blacks. GET your money on the Lions at 3/1 because this Test series isn’t a formality for the All Blacks.
Provided Gatland doesn’t lose too many big names to injury between now and the opening Test on June 24, I believe he can pull off the biggest coup of his coaching career.
Over to you, Warren!