North has the chance to star and earn himself a call-up
WARREN Gatland has named his side to take on Super Rugby champions Hurricanes in Wellington on Tuesday with the carrot of second Test selection being dangled in front of a number of his midweekers.
In the wake of Saturday’s 30-15 defeat to the All Blacks in the opening match of the series, there have been the inevitable calls for changes to Gatland’s Test 23.
We look at the players who could push themselves into contention in the Kiwi capital...
GEORGE NORTH Can the North wind blow in the windy city? In 2013, the North Walian was the talk of the Lions, the player who produced one of the great individual tries against the Wallabies in the opening Test before following that up with an ‘iconic’ fireman’s lift on Israel Folau.
But four years on, the Northampton juggernaut has been unable to add to his highlights reel.
In his two tour appearances to date – against the Crusaders and the Maori – North has managed just 68 metres from 12 carries and lost out to Elliot Daly for the Eden Park opener.
The back three of Daly, Liam Williams and Anthony Watson were lively in attack against the All Blacks, but a big performance in opposition to World Cup star Nehe Milner-Skudder could push North back into contention, possibly providing high impact off the bench.
The north Walian has a history of responding strongly to wake-up calls – the last Six Nations is evidence enough of that.
He won’t want Tuesday to be his last chance on this tour. JACK NOWELL The Exeter wing becomes the sixth player on this tour to be given a shot at full-back.
Nowell banished his Blues demons with a fine two-try performance in the comfortable win over the Chiefs and, like North, will feel he has a chance to press his Test claims in Wellington.
Will be encouraged by how Williams and Daly earned promotion following their displays in Hamilton and will offer the Lions an electric counter-attacking threat from deep.
Gatland’s lukewarm post-match appraisal of Williams’s performance against the All Blacks will give others hope, but you suspect Nowell needs something special to force his way into contention.
JONATHAN JOSEPH With Jonathan Davies standing out as the Lions’ top performer in Auckland, you can’t see Joseph getting near the No. 13 jersey, but, again, there may be a place in the match-day 23 for England’s silky midfield runner.
After a faltering start against the Provincial Barbarians, Joseph caught the eye with ball in hand in the loss to the Highlanders, scoring a fine try.
The Lions lacked a bit of a dazzle off the bench in Auckland. Could Joseph be the man to provide it in Wellington?
RORY BEST The Ulsterman skippers the midweek side for a successive game, but there is a growing clamour for him to be elevated into the Saturday ranks.
His former provincial team-mate Stephen Ferris has led the calls, declaring on Sky Sports after last weekend’s loss: “Rory is unbelievable at the breakdown and he is the best scrummaging hooker in the world.”
The Lions did struggle to disrupt the All Blacks at the contact area in Auckland and, as Ferris has said, Best is one of the best around at getting over the ball.
What the Ireland veteran has to prove is that he can hit his jumpers, because there remains a concern that when the pressure comes on, Best’s radar starts malfunctioning.
COURTNEY LAWES No sooner had the final whistle blown at Eden Park, Sky’s Stuart Barnes was calling for England’s enforcer to be drafted into the Test line-up.
Lawes has had a strong tour, stealing line-out ball, carrying strongly and bringing his own brand of defensive steel to proceedings.
The second row pairing of Alun Wyn Jones and George Kruis were both below par on Saturday, with the Ospreys skipper taking a knock early on.
The Lions front five came off second best in the physical exchanges against the All Blacks and Lawes could be the kind of aggressive beast needed to add some bite to the forward play.
CJ STANDER There’s no Sam Warburton in the 23 to face the Hurricanes which suggests the tour captain is in contention to start the second Test.
If so, does Ireland’s No. 8 come in to offer some much-needed gainline-denting impact off the bench?
The South African-born Munster favourite has been a carrying machine on this trip, 63 in four appearances.
At times, he has hit a brick wall, but with Taulupe Faletau spending most of his evening on defensive duty in Auckland, the Lions lacked go-forward.
Stander can offer that and a strong display against the Hurricanes will surely propel him into the mix.