Starting XV get the first chance of Test audition as Gatland looks at his options
THERE’S now little over a week to go until the first Test against New Zealand and the Lions team to face the world champions is starting to take shape.
The side selected to take on the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua tomorrow looks very close to what we are likely to see next week in the series opener at Auckland’s Eden Park.
We go through the team man-byman and consider how close it is to the probable Test XV. 15. LEIGH HALFPENNY Coming out on this tour, there looked to be plenty of competition for the fullback berth. But, one by one, Halfpenny’s rivals have fallen by the wayside.
Stuart Hogg – player of the Six Nations for the last two years – has had to head home after his trip was cut short in the most unfortunate fashion via a collision with a team-mate.
The versatile Jared Payne’s audition for the role didn’t go that well against the Highlanders on Tuesday as he made a couple of crucial mistakes.
Anthony Watson posed a counterattacking threat there against the Crusaders, but he looks to be needed on the wing, while Elliot Daly seems destined for the utility back-up role.
All of which leaves Halfpenny as the man in possession of the No.15 jersey.
He’s been typically solid on this trip, with his positional play, his covering and his defensive work, while his goalkicking accuracy is invaluable. 14. ANTHONY WATSON Wing has been something of a problem area on this tour so far, with lots of people able to play there, but few of them really putting their hands up.
Of the contenders, Watson is the one who has produced most, putting him in the box seat. He took his try really well in the opener against the Provincial Barbarians, twisting and turning his way to the line. Then, pressed into service off the bench in his club position of full-back versus the Crusaders, the Bath man really caught the eye with his running from deep.
There might have been a couple of wrong decisions, but he is the one back-three man who has really gone for it on this trip. He has pace, he has footwork, he is elusive and he can definitely do damage, with Gatland keen to get the ball in his hands more. 13. JONATHAN DAVIES This is a huge game for the Scarlets and Wales centre. He has had just 28 minutes of rugby so far in New Zealand, having been forced off against the Crusaders after taking a bang to the head. There was some doubt over whether he would be available for this weekend, but he has passed the protocols and now has to grab his chance.
Jonathan Joseph was a bit of a mixed bag against the Highlanders and Ben Te’o also did well in the outside channel after being moved out one versus the Crusaders.
But Davies has a big admirer in Gatland and ended the season in outstanding form for the Scarlets. In the limited time he was on the field in Christchurch, he made two line breaks, while he also brings defensive organisation. So he ticks the boxes and the position is there for him to grab. 12. BEN TE’O The stand-out centre on the trip so far. He’s made a big impact on his return to the land of his birth and has been the one back to consistently get behind the opposition.
As Gatland has stressed on a couple of occasions, the 30-year-old is more than merely a straight-line banger and wasn’t selected just to crash up. He certainly has the ability to make things happen, with his footwork and his offloading ability, while he is quicker than you realise and strong in defence. Clearly, there’s still a bit of an issue over his final pass, but he’s the man most likely at 12, with the pre-tour favourite for the role, Robbie Henshaw, having failed to fire. 11. GEORGE NORTH The Northampton winger had a solid game against the Crusaders, showing up particularly well in defence.
The Lions coaches will want to see more from him with ball in hand and for him to make an impression in the air. The aerial contesting from the wide men – or rather the lack of it – has been a real issue and there’s an onus now on North and his back three colleagues to get off the ground and compete.
Of course, it didn’t go so well for Liam Williams when he tried to do just that against the Blues and ended up being yellow-carded for repeat offences of taking a man out. That may have spooked the Lions a bit when it comes to challenging in the air and it won’t have helped Williams’ hopes of a Test wing spot, as the one thing the tourists can’t afford is to be down to 14 men. 10. JOHNNY SEXTON With Owen Farrell’s injury, It’s certainly a big opportunity for the Irish pivot to send out a message and clearly he has an established partnership with the nailed-on No.9 Conor Murray.
After a dodgy start to the tour, Sexton grew in stature and confidence after coming on at outside-half against the Crusaders, showing more of what we know he is capable of, with Gatland declaring he had got his mojo back. 9. CONOR MURRAY One of the first names on the Test team-sheet. While Rhys Webb offers a real threat with his sniping break arounds the fringes and will be a quality option on the bench, Murray is arguably the best scrum-half in the world at the moment and pivotal to the Lions’ game plan.
His pin-point box-kicking tormented the Crusaders, while he has really matured into the all-round complete scrum-half, with his strength, his service, his running game and his decision making. He is a man at the peak of his powers right now. 1. MAKO VUNIPOLA The Pontypool-raised prop produced one of the individual performances of the tour against the Crusaders and that looks to have put him ahead of Jack McGrath and Joe Marler in the loosehead pecking order.
He made the most tackles (11) and put in nine carries in Christchurch, repeatedly making himself available at
first receiver and showing a real desire to get the ball in his hands, while also doing a sound job in the scrum.
2. JAMIE GEORGE
Ken Owens has gone well on tour, on the back of his excellence in the Six Nations, but you sense George has edged ahead in the hooking stakes, with his lineout understanding with Saracens team-mate George Kruis proving invaluable.
He also offers a lot in the loose with his bullocking dynamism, so, as things stand you would see him starting the first Test, with Owens on hand to provide carrying clout and serial tackling off the bench.
3. TADHG FURLONG
The scrum emerged as a real problem area against the Highlanders on Tuesday, with the hosts’ winning penalty coming after Dan Cole was shunted up, back and across.
As such, the onus is very much on Furlong to come in and shore things up on the tight-head. He’s the strongest scrummager in the tour party, while he also makes a big contribution around the park. Kyle Sinckler is pushing hard for a bench spot.
4. MARO ITOJE
With Alun Wyn Jones having played the full game against the Crusaders and then coming on early versus the Highlanders, the Ospreys talisman gets a deserved rest.
That sees Itoje packing down with George Kruis in an all-Saracens second row pairing and it’s a big opportunity for him to build on the impact he made off the bench in Christchurch. We all know what a huge talent he is and he will play a significant role in the forthcoming Test series. But at this stage you would still expect the warrior-like Jones to start the opening encounter with the All Blacks at Eden Park.
5. GEORGE KRUIS
There had been some doubts over whether the Surrey-born Saracen would be able to force his way into the tour party after missing the entire Six Nations following knee surgery.
But he hit the ground running as if he had never been away when he returned to club action in April and his form simply demanded selection.
He has carried that into this Lions adventure and is fresh and firing on all cylinders after his mid-season break. and the proficient line-out operator looks certain to start against the All Blacks.
6. PETER O’MAHONY (CAPT)
Warren Gatland had challenged O’Mahony to bring some Munster mongrel to the party against the Crusaders and he did just that to force himself right into the Test frame.
It looks like a battle between him and fellow Ireland back rower CJ Stander for the Test No.6 jersey, with Ross Moriarty having slipped out of contention because of an untimely back problem.
Much might hinge on whether Sam Warburton starts the first Test. If he doesn’t, then the Lions would definitely need O’Mahoney on hand to provide a presence over the ball and he might well get the nod even if the tour captain is on the other flank.
7. SEAN O’BRIEN
Considering how little rugby O’Brien has had of late, it was a sensational all-action performance from him against the Crusaders.
It looks to have put him ahead of Justin Tipuric in the openside queue and there’s a big decision to make now over whether the Leinster man starts at seven against the All Blacks or whether Sam Warburton is handed the jersey. The answer to that should be clearer after this game against the Maori, with the Tullow Tank getting another shot at starting and Warburton set to come off the bench at some point. Let’s see how they both look. It’s a key call.
8. TAULUPE FALETAU
It would have been fascinating to see Faletau shooting it out with his cousin Billy Vunipola for the Test No.8 spot, but what we do know is Billy would have had to produce something very special because Faletau has been immense out here.
His form has prompted a rethink from ex-All Black Zinzan Brooke who had said he had “reservations” about the Bath man, claiming he lacked the “mongrel edge” and might get found out on tour. Now Brooke has changed his view, admitting Faletau has “put his hand up” and saying he would start with him against the All Blacks.
That’s pretty much certain to happen, with the former Dragon ahead of CJ Stander in the No 8 frame. Replacements: Ken Owens, Jack McGrath, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Sam Warburton, Greig Laidlaw, Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly.