Pride’s at stake... So as the dust settles on the Six Nations, who will make the Lions?
NO sooner had the dust settled on the events of Six Nations Super Saturday, than the date of April 19 – ‘Warren’s Wednesday’popped up on the official British and Irish Lions Twitter feed.
That will be D-day for all of the Home Nations hopefuls looking to book their ticket on the plane to New Zealand this summer. Of course, there is still four weekends of domestic action, including key Guinness Pro12 and Aviva Premiership matches, not to mention quarter-finals of Europe, for latecomers to try and gatecrash this summer’s party, but you suspect a number of Warren Gatland’s squad have already been inked in.
Four years ago, the New Zealander opted for a squad of 37 to tour Australia.
After an absorbing seven weeks of Championship action, rugby writer ROB LLOYD attempts to read the mind of the Lions chief and has a punt at selecting a squad of 16 backs and 21 forwards to take on New Zealand’s finest. GATLAND’S POTENTIAL 37-MAN BRITISH LIONS SQUAD Back three Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Liam Williams (Wales), George North (Wales), Anthony Watson (England), Jack Nowell (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales). The big call could surround Leigh Halfpenny. The Wales full-back has been nullified as an attacking force of late, but can Gatland afford to leave a world-class goal-kicker of his ilk at home? He has long been a favourite of the New Zealander’s, and in a bulky 37-man party, surely there can be room found for the Toulon man and that could mean Ireland’s Simon Zebo and Scotland’s Tommy Seymour missing out. North’s return to form makes him a leading candidate for a Test wing berth, while Williams’s ability to slot in at full-back or wing counts strongly in his favour. Centres Jonathan Joseph (England), Owen Farrell (England), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Elliot Daly (England). Owen Farrell was ultra-consistent for England during the Championship, lauded by none other than Lions legend Sir Ian McGeechan as the best player on show. However, the debate over the No.13 jersey is far less clear. Jonathan Davies has had his moments, Jonathan Joseph dazzled against an AWOL Scottish defence, while Garry Ringrose underlined his talent in the finale against England. It could come down to a straight shoot-out between the potential of the Leinster youngster and one of the two Welsh centres, who haven’t been able to fire during the tournament. Davies’s experience could edge it. Elliot Daly, the breakthrough player of the Championship, is as a natural centre, but also offers valuable cover at wing and full-back. Fly-halves Johnny Sexton (Ireland), George Ford (England). Gatland sprung a surprise four years ago by choosing just two recognised No. 10s in his party with Hogg providing the cover. If he goes down the same route, it’s all about who goes as Sexton’s understudy - Dan Biggar, Finn Russell or George Ford, whose running threat and link-up with Farrell could work in his favour. Scrum-halves Conor Murray (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Youngs (England). Murray and Webb appear certainties to tour, with the two battling it out for the Test jersey. Ben Youngs didn’t show the same dazzling form in the Six Nations as he did in the autumn, but he should have enough points in the bank to keep him ahead of Red Rose rival Danny Care. Props Mako Vunipola (England), Jack McGrath (Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Joe Marler (England), Dan Cole (England), Kyle Sinckler (England). France have boasted the best scrum of the Championship, but Irish tight-head Tadhg Furlong has been the outstanding prop. Scotland’s WP Nel has been a long-term absentee because of a neck injury but is regarded as one of the strongest scrummagers on these shores. The clock is ticking for the South Africanborn cornerstone to prove his fitness so, with someone of Adam Jones’s know-how singing his praise, 23-yearold Harlequins tight-head Kyle Sinckler sneaks in. Mako Vunipola was in rampaging form for club and country before injury restricted his Six Nations involvement, while Joe Marler just edges out Rob Evans, who had a lively tournament in the loose, but came under pressure at scrum time. Hookers Ken Owens (Wales), Rory Best (Ireland), Jamie George (England) Nominated as one of the players of the tournament, Ken Owens fully merits a first Lions call, while Rory Best gets the nod over England skipper Dylan Hartley, who could see his England deputy Jamie George usurp him if Gatland doesn’t consider the Northampton man captaincy material. Second rows Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Joe Launchbury (England), Courtney Lawes (England), Maro Itoje (England), Jonny Gray (Scotland). Arguably the biggest area of strength in the squad with Gatland having a cupboard bursting with options. Launchbury and Lawes were outstanding figures in the England boilerhouse during the Six Nations and Wales captain Jones is regarded as one of the best locks in the game. Itoje provides the option of switching from six to second row that Lions coaches always cherish, while another offering that role is Ulsterman Iain Henderson, who is sure to be in Gatland’s thinking. George Kruis’ injury troubles could count against him; Jonny Gray edges out big brother Richie. Back-row CJ Stander (Ireland), Sam Warburton (Wales), Billy Vunipola (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Peter O’Mahoney (Ireland). The all-action Hamish Watson can feel a little aggrieved, but Peter O’Mahoney’s man-of-the-match display in Dublin sees the abrasive Munsterman make charge up the pecking order. Faletau was a shoo-in before his injury issues and despite his lack of international action this season, Gatland won’t have forgotten his outstanding performances in opposition to Kieran Read last summer. England powerhouse Billy Vunipola breaks up the Welsh-Irish domination of the back-row pool.