To preview the first Test, I set out to pick a combined XV from the New Zealand and Lions line-ups, fully expecting to have a team loaded with All Blacks, but the results were somewhat surprising.
You can accuse me of bias as a half-English half-Irish Rugby follower, but I do watch a fair bit of Super Rugby (probably more than the Aviva Premiership or Pro12) and I welcome any debate over each position.
Here is my Combined XV that I would pick for this Test match this week:
1. Mako Vunipola
Joe Moody is a solid loosehead prop, but he doesn’t carry much and offers much less threat around the park than Mako. He also misses a few tackles and concedes quite a few penalties, so Mako is a shoo-in for me here.
2. Jamie George
Dane Coles would be straight in here, but I’ve picked George just ahead of Codie Taylor in what is really a 50/50 call. George has impressed on the tour so far and looks very comfortable as a Test match starter.
3. Tadhg Furlong
Again, Owen Franks is a solid front row option, but now that the Northern Hemisphere has produced a few props that can catch and pass, there is more competition for places in this dream team. Furlong is offering more with ball in hand, and so completes the all-Lions front row.
4. Brodie Retallick
Retallick is perhaps the best lock in the world. Maro Itoje might give him a run for his money in time, but Alun Wyn Jones doesn’t come close on current form.
5. George Kruis
This is a very close call, but Kruis has been one of the first names on the Lions’ team sheet all tour, and Whitelock is being caught by other Crusaders locks such as Scott Barrett and Luke Romano.
6. Peter O’Mahony
Apart from last week’s almost unopposed blowout against Samoa, Jerome Kaino hasn’t played a game since April, whilst O’Mahony’s trajectory has been extraordinary. On their overall careers so far you’d pick Kaino, but for this match this week, I’d prefer O’Mahoney on my side.
7. Sam Cane
Neither Cane nor Sean O’Brien is a real standout openside for me, but Cane just has the edge. Ardie Savea would be straight into this team, and will likely play a part in this series.
8. Toby Faletau
It’s almost unheard of not to put Kieran Read into any sort of dream team, but again, for this match this weekend, I’d rather have the in-form, battle-hardened Faletau. Read has only played three Super Rugby games all season and hasn’t had a run-out since April.
9. Aaron Smith
Smith is selected on the basis of his outstanding distribution, and gives nothing away in terms of his kicking game either. It’s close though, and Conor Murray could push for selection in this team with a strong series.
10. Beauden Barrett
His goal-kicking is fairly erratic, and Owen Farrell would have the edge defensively, but the rest of Barrett’s game is unreal and he can break open a game at any moment. The Lions could have an edge if the series comes down to kicking penalties, but with Barrett at 10, the All Blacks will score tries.
11. Elliot Daly
Rieko Ioane over Julian Savea was an unexpected selection decision, and Ioane has been outstanding in Super Rugby this season. But he’s inexperienced and for this match in likely wet conditions, I’d prefer Daly’s assuring presence, with a safer pair of hands in attack and defence over the young, unpredictable livewire.
12. Sonny-Bill Williams
Sonny-Bill hasn’t hit his previous heights in terms of form this year – he’s been decent but unspectacular in Super Rugby – but you’d still pick him over Ben Te’o.
13. Ryan Crotty
Crotty is another returning from injury, which makes this position a close call. But Jonathan Davies hasn’t been at his best, despite a more encouraging performance against the Maori and so Crotty gets the nod.
14. Anthony Watson
For this match this week, I’m picking Watson over Israel Dagg. With 62 All Blacks caps over a glittering career, you might prefer Dagg, but he is arguably past his prime and a knee operation has kept him out of action for most of the Super Rugby season – he could be another player slightly undercooked going into the first Test.
15. Ben Smith
No competition here for me, the classy Ben Smith gets in ahead of Liam Williams every time.
Somehow I have ended up with more Lions (8) than All Blacks (7) in the side. That can’t be right, so please do shoot me down, call me one-eyed, and argue your case for where I’ve gone wrong.
Follow Hutch on Twitter: @Hutch_James
I’d swap Farrell for Barrett. There is every chance Faz will end this tour as the best player in the world and the complete 10. He’s attacking play might not be quite to Barretts level, but it’s not far off. Add to that his defence, leadership, kicking from tee and hand that marks him out as the better option.
Love the fact that the first comment is arguing for another Lion!
It was a close call at 10, but the World Player of the Year edged it for his attacking capabilities.
Opinions opinions. For me would Barrett be as good a player if he was English or Scottish and needing to have greater defensive skills? Possibly not.
Faz is the nearest to a complete 10 in world rugby at the moment and can do all aspects of the game which for me gives him the nod.
PMSL,…couldn’t lace his boots !, dream on , imo hes better than Carter already, Farrell is a fox/mehrtens/sexton/Jenkins/biggar type of player, ie, has no pace to make a break from nothing ,ie,.. hes no Carter,Bennett,John,Davies,Townsend,Watkins,Morgan,Ward,Folley,Cooper,Cruden…the 10 s in the 1st category should all be shot at dawn !
Farrell should not play in final 2 tests , not as good as he thinks , he lost the midweek team a victory by rushing on to take a penalty , O Mahoney should of screamed at him to get the 3 points at start of 2nd half , but he went for glory and turned over possession , his kicking is nowhere near as accurate as both Bigger and Halfpenny..Webb to start at SH , i would say that if truthful about picking on form then Finn Russell looks the best choice to play with Webb
Care to review that opinion now that a dose of reality has been administered?
Agree completely with the pack (even though Read would walk in if he is even at 80% this weekend).
Can I cheat in the backline and say I’d have a Barrett, Farrell, Sonny-Bill midfield? That would be great to see!
Yes I considered Farrell at 12 but thought that would be cheating…it would take the pressure off Barrett’s goalkicking though.
Interested to see how that goes in this series – if he misses a few and his confidence drops, could that affect the rest of his game in a tight contest?
This is where we will rue the selection of AWJ. The Crusaders and other super rugby teams have shown that you can shut Barrett down if your defensive line speed is quick enough. Give him space though and it’s game over.
Barrett will be breathing a massive sigh of relief that he won’t see Itoje and Lawes bearing down on him as soon he catches a wet, slippery ball.
I was going to say exactly the same thing. How good would that be?
Yes I think u are pretty much spot on so should be a real close game!
I think Whitelock, Ioane and Dagg should probably all be in there.
The back row and wingers are the contentious areas. I think I would take Dagg over Watson and Kaino over O’Mahoney but they are both marginal calls. I don’t know enough about Ioane but from what i’ve heard that seems a close call too
I am really struggling to disagree with your picks, no matter how hard I try! But more Lions than All Blacks can’t be right surely? Guess it is some of those usual automatic picks like Read or Kaino are coming back have had little recent game time and I agree would rather have the battle-hardened guys in the form of their lives. Even then I would be tempted to pick Read… maybe Dagg still edges Watson for me but I would definitely pick Ioane over Watson if I could swap wings (but thats cheating).
Actually if we had total carte blanche over changing positions I would pick Farrell at 10, Barrett at 15 and Smith at 13 as a way of including all three (with Sonny Bill at 12).
Oh but I would pick Murray over Aaron Smith! Yet more Lions…
It would be interesting to do another of these after the first test or tour to compare how they individually went head to head!
I might go for Murray as well. Not sure Aaron Smith is back to his pre-disabled toilet ‘error of judgement’ form.
If he is then its definitely Smith as before that he was far and away the best scrum half in the world
Another selection over which I deliberated for a while! Smith doesn’t actually threaten that much around the fringes and I looked up his Super Rugby stats for this season – 809 passes, 114 kicks, 4 line breaks.
He’s in this side for the quality of his pass mainly.
Good to see you pointing out AWJ’s form Hutch. Shouldn’t even be on the tour!
Indeed, Kemlo. Hopefully he’ll raise his game as a Test Match Animal. And if not, Itoje should be on sooner rather than later…
Everyone seems to be singling awj out but for me the only person letting the squad down is howley.
Just ridiculous. As an Irish Lions fan I’d like to believe Tadhg and POM are better than legends like Franks and Kaino but they’re just not. At least not yet. Kruis is a serious player, but ahead of Whitelock? And the two English wings ahead of Rieko and Dagg, stop like, they’re not even playing the same sport. Ever seen Watson attempt to defend? Faletau over Read should have you banned from ever writing about rugby again. Funnily enough the Lion who would have the best case to be in this combined XV is one you’ve left out, Conor Murray. Just relax lads, the Lions probably won’t win, but you never know. Bigging them up with nonsensical articles like this is a waste of time.
Connor box kick u mean ? has he anything more to his game , has he scored a try ever ? or did he box it ?
Jeremy Denton are you a rugby fan do you watch the game or are you an Owen Farrell Groupie. To Suggest that he is a better 10 than Barrett well I cant be bothered any more you don’t watch rugby you watch your favourite players
bang on ,.. some dreamers here
I’m sorry Sevegolf but I’ve watched, played and coached rugby for over 30 years. I’m pretty confident that my opinion is pretty good and based on my experience accurate. But that’s what it is, just an opinion.
As a Saracen fan I do also admit to a bias towards Owen, but that’s not to say he’s never had justified criticism. However, I stand my opinion that Owen has developed into an excellent player. And, even after yesterday, I’d personally still pick Faz at 10 ahead of Barrett because of the combination of what he does. If you dont like that fair dos, but just ignore it in future Sevegolf.