Top drawer Daly worth Lions call Mapletoft
ELLIOT Daly’s versatility must see the Wasps midfielder rocket into Lions contention for this summer’s tour of New Zealand, says Harlequins head coach Mark Mapletoft.
Daly, 24, is vying with Jonathan Joseph for England’s No.13 jersey but featured on the wing during the autumn internationals and has also been identified by Red Rose supremo Eddie Jones as a viable alternative to Mike Brown at full-back.
An outstanding season for Wasps has made Daly one of the hottest properties in the game and former England fly-half Mapletoft is convinced a solid Six Nations will secure a prized Lions spot for the gifted exWhitgift schoolboy.
“What’s not to like about Elliot Daly?” Mapletoft asked TRP. “He’s been a proven 13 for Wasps and through the England age groups and he’s always been a top drawer player who is versatile in any position, so why not a Lions place?
“Elliot might be best suited for Wasps at 13, but for England or the Lions he might be equally suited to wing or full-back. He hasn’t had the international exposure of others but you get bolters and Elliot’s been around a long time.
“He might not be first choice in any position at international level but he’d actually be a fantastic asset to have on a Lions tour. You could easily see someone like Elliot being selected ahead of a starter for one of the four national sides.”
Casting his eye over contenders for the Lions half-back slots, Mapletoft places Ireland’s Conor Murray at the head of the scrum-half queue but expects Harlequins skipper Danny Care to challenge Ben Youngs for the back-up role.
Mapletoft said: “On performances over the last year, Conor Murray’s been performing consistently well and has been the standout player. But the Six Nations gives other guys a chance to push their claims and I expect Danny Care to come out fighting against Ben Youngs.
“Danny’s had a rough time at Quins and Leicester haven’t been shooting any lights out, either, but sometimes going back into the international environment can freshen players up and take the pressure off them a little bit.
“Playing with different people and hearing different coaching voices can reinvigorate a player and Danny could benefit from that.
“Ben’s played well for England over the last calendar year, but don’t write-off Danny for a Lions spot, nor Wales’ Rhys Webb. Rhys was playing very well before his injury so he’ll be looking for a big Six Nations to apply pressure.”
Mapletoft believes the Lions No.10 shirt is Jonny Sexton’s to lose with head coach Warren Gatland’s biggest decision being how to accommodate England’s Owen Farrell.
Mapletoft said: “The Irish halfbacks Sexton and Murray have been the most consistent but you’ve got that conundrum of where to play Farrell, who plays fantastic club rugby at 10 and fantastic international rugby at 12 with George Ford inside.
“Dan Biggar is playing well for the Ospreys and needs considering, while Finn Russell’s been tearing it up for Glasgow, so someone is going to be very disappointed.
“Farrell surely has to play because of his kicking, but do you leave Sexton out with Farrell at 10, or do you go with Ford and Farrell? It’s brilliant for the Lions that all these guys are playing well, but selection will be a huge headache for Warren.”