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2021 British & Irish Lions Tour
(Very) early thoughts on the 2017 Lions
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<blockquote data-quote="Ruud" data-source="post: 847050" data-attributes="member: 74829"><p><strong><u>Lions 2017</u></strong></p><p></p><p>So the final meaningful round of games has passed in terms of Lions selection and it's time to finally consider a squad of 37 to attempt to live with the might of the All Blacks. Here's my choice of men for Warren Gatland to consider worthy of the highest honour rugby can bestow. It will be done in two parts, forwards first and then the backs.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Loosehead Prop</strong></u></p><p><strong>Jack McGrath</strong> has been immense for Ireland and Leinster all season and travels as first choice. <strong>Mako Vunipola</strong> offers drive and dynamism in the loose and is a natural second option. The third decision is more difficult. If he'd been fit enough to play international rugby this spring, Gethin Jenkins would have a great option due to his experience, ability to play both sides, and leadership qualities. Rob Evans has done a fine job deputising in the Six Nations and has added some great work in the loose in to his game. Joe Marler is solid in the scrum but is less of an impact off the bench and this needs to be considered here. <strong>Cian Healy</strong> has re-invented himself as a fine impact prop who is combative, strong in the scrum and experienced in the heat of battle. He grabs the third spot on the plane for me.</p><p></p><p><strong><u>Hooker</u></strong></p><p>A position that can be looked at two ways - either a position of weakness due to no true stand-out candidate, or a position of strength due to the wide variety of options available. <strong>Rory Best</strong>, captain of Ireland in their famous sweeping aside of the All Blacks in Chicago in the Autumn, has to tour. He was brilliant against England in Dublin and seems to rise to the biggest of occasions. <strong>Ken Owens</strong> was perhaps the finest hooker in the Six Nations and has played himself onto the plane, though Richard Hibbard is extremely unlucky as he still looks like the best Welsh hooker available. However, his exile from the national fold means he hasn't been tested at this level for too long. He would certainly be my first option if injury befalls any of the chosen hookers. The third spot is a shootout between the two English hookers, and <strong>Jamie George</strong> edges Dylan Hartley due to his superior set piece and potential impact from the bench.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Tighthead Prop</strong></u></p><p><strong>Tadhg Furlong</strong> and <strong>Dan Cole</strong> have been inked in for this position for over 6 months and nothing has changed in the intervening period to change things. The third spot is more tricky. Had he been fit, WP Nel would mean taking three immensely strong tight heads to upset the New Zealand scrum was a real option. As it is, no other starting number 3 has shone enough to merit real inclusion. The amount of penalties conceded by Tomas Francis has counted against him, while Zander Fagerson looks a little short of the quality required. A left-field choice could be John Ryan of Munster who has improved immensely this season, but the potential impact offered by <strong>Kyle Sinckler</strong> from the bench, and the point of difference his ball-carrying skills offer puts him on the plane with a chance to make a real impression. Don't be surprised if he has the number 18 shirt come the test series.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>2nd Row</strong></u></p><p>An incredibly competitive position where some people are going to be very unfortunate to be staying at home. <strong>Maro Itoje</strong> and <strong>Joe Launchbury</strong> have played themselves into the touring party, and potentially the test team, through their ball carrying and defensive work all season long, and are absolute definite choices for me. <strong>Alun Wyn Jones</strong> may have had his leadership questioned on a couple of occasions but it is imperative to take players who know what this tours entail, how to prepare on them and what is required in terms of supporting the whole squad. He has been there and done it all in this respect and deserves his spot on the plane again. Devin Toner and Iain Henderson are right on the cusp of touring and in any other year they, along with Richie Gray and Courtney Lawes, would be shoe-ins. However, the form of the younger Gray brother, <strong>Johnny</strong> gets him on the plane just in front. Finally, winning in New Zealand requires dictating the set-piece and there is no better exponent of the line-out than <strong>George Kruis</strong>. If fit, he will offer a combination physicality and cuteness in the air which could have the All Blacks scratching their heads and having to think on their feet.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Back Row</strong></u></p><p>7 from the 15 or so potential options was always going to be difficult. <strong>Sam Warburton</strong> has had a 6 Nations up there with his best ever and could find himself starting the Test Series back in his favoured number 7 shirt. <strong>Billy Vunipola</strong> can compete with Kieran Read as a truly world-class number 8 and simply must travel. <strong>C J Stander</strong> may play at 6 for Ireland, but his ability to cover 8 means that both Jamie Heaslip and Ross Moriarty stay at home. Taulupe Faletau will be staying them due to not being the player he can be over the past 12 months. <strong>Justin Tipuric</strong> is exciting in the loose, a fine ball player and a clever line-out option who edges Hamish Watson on experience too. In a better club side, Watson will be an excellent prospect in 4 year's time. After recent weeks, to ignore <strong>Peter O'Mahony</strong> would seem madness at this moment in time. He offers very similar qualities to Tipuric whilst wearing 6 on his back, but has that added menace to his game which could certainly upset the All Blacks when they try to play the expansive style they are so used to. Further to this, taking a 6 who will do all the dirty work that goes unnoticed while tackling himself to a standstill will be vital. <strong>Chris Robshaw</strong> does this in spades and would bring great leadership to the midweek team if he misses out on test selection. And so to the final forward spot. Sean O'Brien covers the entire back row and on his day is a fine harrier who links play at the same time as smashing anything in sight. His form has been patchy this season though, and there have been days where he perhaps played himself out of the tour. In a similar vein, <strong>James Haskell</strong> has his good days and bad. His potential qualities as a tourist, coupled with his ability to impact games from the bench makes him a very close, but potentially very vital, selection.</p><p></p><p>Please feel free to offer comments and opinions before I post my backs in a couple of day's time....</p><p></p><p>In summary:</p><p></p><p>McGrath</p><p>M Vunipola</p><p>Healy</p><p>Best</p><p>Owens</p><p>George</p><p>Furlong</p><p>Cole</p><p>Sinckler</p><p>Itoje</p><p>Launchbury</p><p>A-W Jones</p><p>J Gray</p><p>Kruis</p><p>Warburton</p><p>B Vunipola</p><p>Stander</p><p>Tipuric</p><p>O'Mahony</p><p>Robshaw</p><p>Haskell</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ruud, post: 847050, member: 74829"] [b][u]Lions 2017[/u][/b] So the final meaningful round of games has passed in terms of Lions selection and it’s time to finally consider a squad of 37 to attempt to live with the might of the All Blacks. Here’s my choice of men for Warren Gatland to consider worthy of the highest honour rugby can bestow. It will be done in two parts, forwards first and then the backs. [u][b]Loosehead Prop[/b][/u] [b]Jack McGrath[/b] has been immense for Ireland and Leinster all season and travels as first choice. [b]Mako Vunipola[/b] offers drive and dynamism in the loose and is a natural second option. The third decision is more difficult. If he’d been fit enough to play international rugby this spring, Gethin Jenkins would have a great option due to his experience, ability to play both sides, and leadership qualities. Rob Evans has done a fine job deputising in the Six Nations and has added some great work in the loose in to his game. Joe Marler is solid in the scrum but is less of an impact off the bench and this needs to be considered here. [b]Cian Healy[/b] has re-invented himself as a fine impact prop who is combative, strong in the scrum and experienced in the heat of battle. He grabs the third spot on the plane for me. [b][u]Hooker[/u][/b] A position that can be looked at two ways - either a position of weakness due to no true stand-out candidate, or a position of strength due to the wide variety of options available. [b]Rory Best[/b], captain of Ireland in their famous sweeping aside of the All Blacks in Chicago in the Autumn, has to tour. He was brilliant against England in Dublin and seems to rise to the biggest of occasions. [b]Ken Owens[/b] was perhaps the finest hooker in the Six Nations and has played himself onto the plane, though Richard Hibbard is extremely unlucky as he still looks like the best Welsh hooker available. However, his exile from the national fold means he hasn’t been tested at this level for too long. He would certainly be my first option if injury befalls any of the chosen hookers. The third spot is a shootout between the two English hookers, and [b]Jamie George[/b] edges Dylan Hartley due to his superior set piece and potential impact from the bench. [u][b]Tighthead Prop[/b][/u] [b]Tadhg Furlong[/b] and [b]Dan Cole[/b] have been inked in for this position for over 6 months and nothing has changed in the intervening period to change things. The third spot is more tricky. Had he been fit, WP Nel would mean taking three immensely strong tight heads to upset the New Zealand scrum was a real option. As it is, no other starting number 3 has shone enough to merit real inclusion. The amount of penalties conceded by Tomas Francis has counted against him, while Zander Fagerson looks a little short of the quality required. A left-field choice could be John Ryan of Munster who has improved immensely this season, but the potential impact offered by [b]Kyle Sinckler[/b] from the bench, and the point of difference his ball-carrying skills offer puts him on the plane with a chance to make a real impression. Don’t be surprised if he has the number 18 shirt come the test series. [u][b]2nd Row[/b][/u] An incredibly competitive position where some people are going to be very unfortunate to be staying at home. [b]Maro Itoje[/b] and [b]Joe Launchbury[/b] have played themselves into the touring party, and potentially the test team, through their ball carrying and defensive work all season long, and are absolute definite choices for me. [b]Alun Wyn Jones[/b] may have had his leadership questioned on a couple of occasions but it is imperative to take players who know what this tours entail, how to prepare on them and what is required in terms of supporting the whole squad. He has been there and done it all in this respect and deserves his spot on the plane again. Devin Toner and Iain Henderson are right on the cusp of touring and in any other year they, along with Richie Gray and Courtney Lawes, would be shoe-ins. However, the form of the younger Gray brother, [b]Johnny[/b] gets him on the plane just in front. Finally, winning in New Zealand requires dictating the set-piece and there is no better exponent of the line-out than [b]George Kruis[/b]. If fit, he will offer a combination physicality and cuteness in the air which could have the All Blacks scratching their heads and having to think on their feet. [u][b]Back Row[/b][/u] 7 from the 15 or so potential options was always going to be difficult. [b]Sam Warburton[/b] has had a 6 Nations up there with his best ever and could find himself starting the Test Series back in his favoured number 7 shirt. [b]Billy Vunipola[/b] can compete with Kieran Read as a truly world-class number 8 and simply must travel. [b]C J Stander[/b] may play at 6 for Ireland, but his ability to cover 8 means that both Jamie Heaslip and Ross Moriarty stay at home. Taulupe Faletau will be staying them due to not being the player he can be over the past 12 months. [b]Justin Tipuric[/b] is exciting in the loose, a fine ball player and a clever line-out option who edges Hamish Watson on experience too. In a better club side, Watson will be an excellent prospect in 4 year’s time. After recent weeks, to ignore [b]Peter O’Mahony[/b] would seem madness at this moment in time. He offers very similar qualities to Tipuric whilst wearing 6 on his back, but has that added menace to his game which could certainly upset the All Blacks when they try to play the expansive style they are so used to. Further to this, taking a 6 who will do all the dirty work that goes unnoticed while tackling himself to a standstill will be vital. [b]Chris Robshaw[/b] does this in spades and would bring great leadership to the midweek team if he misses out on test selection. And so to the final forward spot. Sean O’Brien covers the entire back row and on his day is a fine harrier who links play at the same time as smashing anything in sight. His form has been patchy this season though, and there have been days where he perhaps played himself out of the tour. In a similar vein, [b]James Haskell[/b] has his good days and bad. His potential qualities as a tourist, coupled with his ability to impact games from the bench makes him a very close, but potentially very vital, selection. Please feel free to offer comments and opinions before I post my backs in a couple of day's time.... In summary: McGrath M Vunipola Healy Best Owens George Furlong Cole Sinckler Itoje Launchbury A-W Jones J Gray Kruis Warburton B Vunipola Stander Tipuric O'Mahony Robshaw Haskell [/QUOTE]
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