Sexton the starter... Jonny earns the vote as Test No.10 for Lions
IT’S just about the biggest debate surrounding this summer’s Lions tour of South Africa. Who wears the No 10 jersey in the Tests against the Springboks? There are four fly-half contenders in Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell, Finn Russell and Dan Biggar, with at least one of those potentially missing out on squad selection all together.
So what does head coach Warren Gatland do?
Who should he select for the trip and who starts at 10 versus the ‘Boks?
We have sought the views of dual code great Jonathan Davies, a man who knows a fair bit about outsidehalf play. Here’s what he had to say.
SQUAD SELECTION
“I think they will take three fly-halves. All four is too many.
“Biggar, Farrell and Sexton are all very steady players who will control the game for you.
“Because they are all quite similar, do you need someone who is going to do something different and Finn Russell is the difference.
“That’s the question you have got to ask then.
“Has Finn done enough in controlling games for Gatland? I’m not sure if he has.
“But Gregor Townsend would know him and would say I think he adds something different. It’s quite an interesting selection dilemma.
“If you are picking on form, you don’t pick Farrell. He is the one who hasn’t played well and he is the one who is missing out.
“But you know what he can bring and would you not pick him? He could go on tour and be a Test starter, either at 10 or 12.
“He’s that kind of player. He knows what he’s got in his locker. He’s a winner, he tackles.
“The four of them are all international class and the coaches are very lucky to be in that position.
“It’s a Gatland and Townsend conversation and the way they want to play is going to influence selection.
“Not one of the four have shown they bring both the flair and the control.
“So, do you want a game changer or do you want to go with the tried and trusted three where you know what you get off them?
“It’s a management decision on how they want to play and do they want to take someone who will bring something different?
“That’s what coaches get paid the big bucks for, to make those decisions.”
WHO STARTS AT 10 IN THE TESTS?
“It’s a tough question and it’s going to divide opinion.
“All Wales are going to go Biggar, all Scotland are going to go Russell, all Ireland are going to go Sexton and all England are going to go Farrell.
“It’s a very hard choice. It’s a question of who is the best on the day.
“On form, you would have to go between Sexton and Biggar.
“Which one? That’s a tough one. “Dan is playing exceptionally well. I think the stand-out performance for him was the France match. That was the best game he has played.
“He showed his attacking prowess, he played close to the line, he’s enjoying it.
“He’s really playing well and on form he should go.
“But, for the Tests, I still think Sexton, maybe just.
“He doesn’t play much, due to the injuries he picks up through putting his body on the line.
“But it’s no coincidence how Leinster and Ireland perform when he does play and when he’s on his game.
“I just think he offers a little bit more.”