What if Hansen impending split
ON the face of it, Steve Hansen’s assertions that Warren Gatland is about to call in the cavalry and split his camp into two match-day squads, appears to be a ploy to try and drive a damaging wedge into the Lions ahead of the forthcoming Test series.
Speaking at a press conference a day before the All Blacks take on Samoa at Eden Park, Hansen claimed that the rest of the Lions tour would be a tale of two squads the 23 for the Test and another for the so-called midweek ‘dirt-trackers’.
There has been no indication from the Lions that this was ever going to be the case and it would be a strange path for Gatland to take considering he already has 40 players at his disposal in New Zealand and has consistently spoken about the unity within the squad.
Such a move would also stir up echoes of 2005, when one of the main issues from that tour was that a number of players felt there was a clear division in Clive Woodward’s camp.
So, ignoring the mind games, what if Hansen does have the inside track? We attempt to predict how the rest of the tour will pan out if that is the case. Who could be called up? Assuming Gatland is to operate with two separate 23s, he will need at least six or seven new faces to come on board.
At full-back, even with the premature departure of Stuart Hogg, the cupboard appears well stocked.
Leigh Halfpenny starts against the Maori and will be favourite to do the same in the Tests with Elliot Daly providing versatile cover from the bench. That leaves Liam Williams and Jared Payne as alternatives.
Austin Healey has trumpeted a call for England’s Mike Brown, while Simon Zebo is another who could provide a spark, as he did when he joined the tour four years ago, but the Lions probably don’t need anyone else.
The same applies on the wing with Jack Nowell and Tommy Seymour unlikely to feature in the Test shake-up and Williams also finding himself dropping out of contention.
At centre there doesn’t appear any urgent need to issue an SOS, but Ireland’s Garry Ringrose would be at the head of the queue.
With only three specialists at fly-half and scrum-half in the party, a split camp would need a couple of additions at nine and ten.
England’s George Ford was outstanding in the win over Argentina in San Juan last week and would be the obvious option, along with half-back partner Danny Care. Scots Finn Russell and Ali Price would also be on alert over in Australia.
A separate midweek 23 would require a whole new front-row unit to be drafted in.
Scarlets loose-head Rob Evans, who enjoyed an outstanding end-of-season in the PRO12, would have been a prime contender, but is recovering from a finger injury which means veteran Ireland prop Cian Healy will probably be next in line. Healy started for Ireland in their rout of USA in New York last weekend.
Surely Gatland couldn’t overlook England skipper Dylan Hartley at hooker, while at tight-head, Munster’s John Ryan has had a fine season; the strong-scrummaging WP Nel appeared to be a Lions shoo-in 12 months ago before injury struck and is currently with the Scots in Australia.
In the second row, Joe Launchbury, one of the players of the 2017 Six Nations, would have to be the next cab on the rank. Scotland’s Jonny Gray – another who was unfortunate to miss out on the original squad – would also be a more than useful addition.
With eight players battling for back-row spots and Itoje and Henderson offering options, does Gatland need another?
Scarlets star John Barclay, Hamish Watson, Chris Robshaw and Josh van der Flier would be the leading candidates if he does. Who could be shunted into the midweek side? Obviously, injuries will have an impact and a couple of players can expect to be elevated over the course of the next three weeks, but apart from a couple of tight calls, the midweek side is looking pretty clear at the moment.