On Wednesday last week Warren Gatland announced his 41 man squad to tour New Zealand this summer, consisting of 16 Englishmen, 12 Welshmen, 11 from Ireland and 2 Scots if anyone’s counting… and why should they be?
At least that was Warren Gatland’s reasoning when prompted on the uneven nationality split: “We didn’t go through the numbers. We put together a group of players in each position we felt were in contention and then we went through and individually selected those players.” (source: BBC)
He’s got a point and it comes at a time when social media seem to think there’s an unspoken assumption that the Lions’ squad must be chosen according to the Six Nations ranking of that year. It would make sense if any one nation walked away with the tournament, but the teams do not play proportionally to each other to allow for that level of comparison. After all, each one of the home nations can boast beating another.
It is a problematic argument and one I hope to rectify by arguing why at least 10 Welshmen deserve their Qantas complimentary peanuts and pillows for the flight to New Zealand this summer.
Below I’ve taken each of the 12 Welshmen and their position in turn.
Wing – Liam Williams and George North
Let’s start with the least contentious. North is likely to start in the Test XV having performed brilliantly in the last tour, fireman lift and all, and continued to show flashes of his brilliance with powerful runs and delicate offloads. Williams continues to impress for Scarlets and Wales this season (albeit injury-prone) but faces stiff opposition for a starting wing spot from Daly, Seymour and Nowell. Nevertheless, Gatland was right to omit Keith Earls, Simon Zebo and Jonny May in favour of Williams’ versatility, work rate and defensive efforts.
Verdict:
George North: Justified? Yes. Start? Yes.
Liam Williams: Justified? Yes. Start? Needs to perform to secure his start.
Full back – Leigh Halfpenny
Halfpenny was always tipped for a trip to New Zealand. He justifiably edges Mike Brown with his superior aerial skills and defence but more importantly has worked with Gatland throughout the entirety of his international career. It is crucial before an All Black attack that the fullback ‘Defence General’ understand his coach’s instructions inside and out. Critics of his form always make exception for his kicking consistency which, even by itself, is a fantastic attribute to have. As for Hogg, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come on as an impact sub as a more attacking option to Halfpenny’s composure. Youngster Jared Payne’s refreshing Six Nations’ form makes him a great and versatile understudy to Halfpenny and Hogg.
Verdict:
Justified? Yes. Start? Tied with Hogg.
Centres – Jonathan Davies
Playing off Scott Williams’ shoulder with the talent of North and Liam Williams outside him, Davies is by no means overshadowed. A decent Six Nations campaign saw him retain his spot for a second tour, no doubt for his defensive duties. He’ll struggle to start ahead of Jonathan Joseph, who impressed Gatland in his performance against Wales. It is perhaps a pity that the 22 year-old Leinsterman, Garry Ringrose, wasn’t given his call-up to provide the team with some fresh ideas and powerful legs. He, along with injured Huw Jones, have a bright future in international rugby.
Verdict:
Justified? Yes. Start? No.
Fly-halves – Dan Biggar
I upset someone in the barber’s when I suggested Dan Biggar was the third string Lion fly-half behind Sexton and Farrell. He’s a great player and talisman of Welsh rugby. He’s good under the high ball, a brilliant kicker and a formidable ball carrier. He’s Jonny Sexton but four years younger. I would have liked Gatland to go for a different style of fly-half – a ball mover and shaker. I’d favour Finn Russell over Ford, due to the two tries he set up against Wales and an overall electric campaign for Scotland. Both, however, are confidence players and Dan only just justifies his seat. In fact, Dan was the first to admit his call-up was ‘a little bit lucky’ in an interview.
Verdict:
Justified? Lucky. Start? no.
Scrum-halves – Rhys Webb
One of few Welsh players who looked dangerous every time they got the ball in the Six Nations. Lightning quick and nippy around the ruck, Webb beats Youngs to second string scrum half, looking that extra bit sharper. Having said that, his youth (or innate scrum-halfness) makes him undisciplined and unpredictable in crucial moments. Connor Murray pips him to the post to start.
Verdict:
Justified? Yes. Start? No, but an attacking option.
Number 8 – Taulupe Faletau and Ross Moriarty
If Faletau is playing as well as he might, he can single-handedly put the forward contest to bed with incredible strength and powerful carries. But that is a big ‘If’. The injury he picked up with Bath just before the Six Nations saw a slow recovery in form, with Ross Moriarty starting ahead of him for Wales. Being called up was some birthday surprise for the 23 year-old Moriarty, and one that is much deserved for his phenomenal intensity in the Six Nations. Fitness might be an issue, but he deserves a place on the plane to keep the All Black pack on their toes and Beauden Barrett in perpetual fear of a battering (as Farrell found out). The question remains whether Faletau should have excluded the likes of England’s Nathan Hughes, the Lions’ veteran Jamie Heaslip or Scotland’s Ryan Wilson. I think this is one we’ll have to put down to Warren’s professional working relationship.
Verdict:
Taulupe Faletau: Justified? No. Start? No – Vunipola leads.
Ross Moriarty: Justified? Yes, on form. Start? No, but watch this space.
Back-row – Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric
Fantastic to see Warburton join Martin Johnson in retaining the captaincy for the second tour running. He clearly has a great working relationship with the coach which could be the difference between victory and defeat. Along with Tipuric, both flankers deserve their place for their huge defensive duties, recording a whopping 162 tackles between them in the Six Nations. Warburton is one of the world’s best jackals at the breakdown, while Tipuric’s lineout and pace make him a flexible player. Tipuric will have a hard time competing with Stander and O’Mahoney for a start, whilst Robshaw leads Barclay and Hamish Watson as injury call-ups, after recovering his form following surgery.
Verdict:
Sam Warburton (c): Justified? Yes. Start? Yes.
Justin Tipuric: Justified? Yes. Start? No, but stand-in for Stander.
Second-row – Alun Wyn Jones
The Welsh captain who puts his heart into every game and a veteran who’ll bring much needed experience and passion to a young pack. There’s no argument he shouldn’t be there, even with the exclusion of Launchbury who, this writer believes, should have a place on the plane. George Kruis and Iain Henderson have done well to get in ahead of Launchbury, whilst Itoje, one would hope, will continue to make big splashes in New Zealand with his long, disruptive reach.
Verdict:
Alun Wyn Jones: Justified? Yes. Start? Yes, on rotation with Lawes.
Hooker – Ken Owens
The ‘Carmarthen Sheriff’ had a fantastic Six Nations as well as a superb season captaining the Scarlets. He is the definitive example of consistency paying dividends. There’s no controversy with Hartley’s omission either, with compatriot Jamie George edging his captain out. Whilst Ken will start behind Rory Best, he’ll most likely be subbed on to provide more intensity, carries and defence for the Lions’ pack.
Verdict:
Ken Owens: Justified? Yes, on form and dedication. Start? No, second-half fresh legs.
The Welshmen waiting in the wings
There were strong rumours to suggest line-conker Jamie Roberts might make the squad. Thankfully they never materialised and, had they, it would have made my job far more difficult to justify his inclusion. It was always a long shot, but Gethin Jenkins’ calm head atop a massive scrummaging neck could have brought some much needed experience to the scrum, to be used when the All Blacks are vying to push over in the 76th minute. Rob Evans can consider himself unlucky to be beaten by Joe Marler. The youngster enjoyed a patchy Six Nations but overall shows great ability.
The Welsh have been handed a massive opportunity to show the other home nations why they deserve their Lions’ spots. Gatland has made some curve-ball decisions regarding Launchbury, Ringrose and Hartley, whilst correctly bringing in Jonathan Joseph last minute. He’s also handed youngsters Moriarty, Payne and Itoje the chance to impress at the highest level of world rugby. What we know for certain is that this is one of the strongest squads to go on tour – surely we fancy our chances?
Overall verdict: In Gatland we trust…
By Dave Beach
Some are obviously justifiable, I would even include Falateau in that group. Moriaty has shown for Gloucester that he can be a good smasher, and the wingers are justified but need to work hard to jump ahead of the rest.
Then there are the contentious ones:
-LH; not justified. Coming on tour based on reputation only. Brown, though not everyones cup of tea, is solid under the high-ball and defensively so LH does not beat him in these areas. Halfpenny also offers even less in attack than Brown so I can see no justification here.
– JD; not justified. Of the centres going his skillset is the most limited. Though he and Teo are both big ball carriers, Teo’s offloading game is leagues ahead of JD. I think, backed up by the weekend, Ringrose would have been far better on the tour. He offers so much more in terms of attacking threat. JD again chosen solely on past achievements.
Complete aside but I found the references to the “youngster” Jared Payne, 31, amusing. He is a bit of a bolter though so it’s probably an easy mistake to make!
I disagree with some of the justification but in the end I don’t think that matters too much – these are the players who have been selected and if you try hard enough I’m sure you can come up with an argument for the inclusion of pretty much any player who took part in the 6Ns – let’s just see what happens in NZ!
Agree about the Payne! Think he is confusing Payne with Carberry. Payne only played one game in the six nations while Carberry played 4 so maybe that is the mix-up!!
Ah yes the unblinkered view of a leek eater, the same George North that got done over by Tim Visser.
The Lee Halfpenny that’s less attack minded than Mike Brown and with Owen Farrel he’s not even a shoe in as a kicker.
Ach I canny be bothered with this anymore, stuff the Lion’s going to really enjoy watching, highlights, the sans lube prison style treatment the All Black’s are going to give them playing Warrenball against them.
Liam Williams, Good pick, Potential starter
George North, Good pick, Potential starter
Jonathan Davies, Terrible pick should have been Ringrose
Dan Biggar, Terrible pick should have been Russell
Rhys Webb, Good pick, Bench
Taulupe Faletau, Ok Pick, Midweek
Ross Moriarty, Ok pick, Midweek
Sam Warburton, Good Pick, Start
Justin Tipuric, Good Pick, Bench
Alun Wyn Jones, Poor pick, Should have been Launchbury
Ken Owens, Good Pick, Midweek
Jamie Roberts and Gethin Jenkins can sod off
Missed one
Leigh Halfpenny, Terrible Pick should have been Brown if you wanted dependable or Carberry if you wanted exciting
Sorry, but Brown was never going to be in contention… Anthony Watson will soon take his place for England and England will be better for it
In total agreement… Neither AWJ or LH have won against the all blacks, where as Brown and Launchbury have… surely that experience counts more than raising your game once or twice against the English?
Good joke on the Launchbury/A-W Jones thing. I know you’re not serious, but it’s fun , isn’t it! I watched the England/Ireland game with a NZ friend (ex-international) and he giggled about Launchbury. ‘Get lost, they’d eat him up down there. Too slow, too fat, too nice!’. Tend to agree.
Ah the very blinkered view of a haggis eater who cannot accept that the Scots simply do not have the players to compete for Lions places. Wow they actually won a few games this year and came 4th in the table ( yes , above Wales ) but for the first time in how many years ?. Enjoy your highlights, personally I will be watching every game along with most British & Irish rugby fans.
I am well aware of the reputation around Scotland player’s what I have an issue with is that Gatland has picked players to play warrenball against the All Black’s.
You would have thought that after the 40-7 stuffing the cheif’s handed out last year he would have learned from it.
As a Welsh supporter who is well aware that some Welsh players are more than a little bit lucky to be in this squad, I would disagree with Stresco on that. Scottish supporters are totally justified to be disappointed; they have at least half a dozen players who can be regarded as VERY unfortunate. I wanted Laidlaw as at least captain of midweek side – he’s one of the world’s most accurate goal kickers, and a brilliant, cool-headed reader of a game. The Grey brothers well documented, as is Watson; but Finn Russell – I honestly can’t believe he’s not been picked. brilliant, exciting player, potentially as good as Barrett. That’s, for me, the one bad miss in this squad. Everything else is a matter of opinion, and the selectors are entitled to theirs!
Thanks Taliesin.
Interesting shout for Laidlaw to be capt of the dirt trackers but in hindsight an ideal choice.
The biggest mistake is AW-J who is well past his peak. As for Gethin Jenkins, this is surely a joke?
AWJ is a solid player who brings leadership qualities to quite a young squad but in such a fiercely competitive spot I don’t think there is room for someone who is so far below his rivals regardless of the other attributes he brings.
JD, LH and DB are all far worse picks because they are screaming Warrenball which just won’t work against the All Blacks
Sorry mate, I think you’ve misunderstood; Gethin is not in the squad. Quite a lot of people, including Steve Borthwick, thought he should be there. Experience counts, and Jenkins has that in spadefuls. Great player (and no-one who knows the game, doubts that.) No, not a test starter, but incredibly valuable. Think before you write.
I agree with all of these with the definite exception of Halfpenny. You just can’t afford to carry a player purely for kicking ability and you don’t even need to with the other options in the squad
Agree with most of the above comments LH, AW-J & JD are all there purely because they are Welsh and past reputation, none of them on current form. Whilst I have no issue with taking DB as a mid week player, he plays a completely different game to JS so find that comparison really weird!?
haha must have missed that bit… JS but 4 years younger….oh dear.
I’m on repeat here… but Neither AWJ or LH have won against the all blacks, where as Brown and Launchbury have… surely that experience counts more than raising your game once or twice against the English? Payne is 31???? Carberry, Ringrose, Watson and Russell all have more dynamism in attack…. however, the current squad is a tough bunch of lads, that wont take a backward step…. but will they deliver a decent side step dummy and x factor which is always required to beat NZ? Think Christophe Dominici
Look, Jimp; it’s a tough one to understand. Yes you’re right about those Irish players who have beaten the ABs, that was a great achievement. But then the same players have lost to Wales on a number of occasions – i.e. the Welsh players have beaten them! It’s too simplistic to say “Oh Begorrah they’ve beaten the All Blacks, Bless them, they must be on the Right Hand of God on High”. Pick on quality, pick on form – Don’t be so naive.
Owens: deserves to go due to his form, just edges out Hartley and the underrated Fraser Brown.
AWJ: Does not deserve to go, in my books he is behind Launchberry the Gray’s
Moriaty: Verysolid player but it is an utter crime that he has picked ahead of Hamish Watson, who I think is the best 7 in the NH and will be in a couple years time one of the best in the world.
Warbs: Deserves it after a redeeming 6N.
Tipuric: I find he drifts in and out of games but when he is in the game he is a class act definitely deserved.
Falatau: Deserved
Webb: Deserved
Biggar: NO, Russell every day of the week for me.
JD(2): NO, Ringrose, Taylor or Dunbar would of been a better shout IMO.
Williams: Deserved
North: Not deserved, he will be found out defensively and in the air.
Halfpenny: NO, however, Brown is also not good enough. So if I was Gatland I would only of taken 40 players as we enough cover at FB anyway. Also Halfpenny was shocking in the air during the 6N and he is no better defensively than Hogg. Therefore I see no reason in taking him.
As we don’t need HP for his kicking how about Sean Maitland as wing / FB cover.
I’d be more than happy to see that swap! He’s been awesome for Sarries this season!
I hate the Lions so don’t really care about nationalities picked etc but I do enjoy a good debate. For me I think 4 Welshman who don’t deserve it. I’ve seen Biggar put in some great solo performances but never put in a great one for a team. With him in backs around him just don’t function as they should. J Davies is just terrible. He was good 4 years ago but since? Moriarty played well against Italy and England but then did nothing much the rest of the 6 nations. Finally AW Jones hasn’t put in a good shift for years. I would have picked him anyway though before the 6 nations purely for his experience and leadership but that went amiss in the 6 nations and where he was a pretty poor captain.
Agree with all other comments on Biggar, Halfpenny and Davies – none of whom deserved to be called up on current form
But i really cannot understand Moriarty at 6 when you’re leaving players like Robshaw and Haskell behind.
Other than a great 60 mins defensively against England, he was pretty much anonymous for the rest of the 6 nations. I can only imagine that he’s been selected on the strength of that 60 mins.
This article is laughable. Not because the Welsh players don’t deserve to be there but simply because your knowledge is so poor. In writing such a weak article all you’re doing is reinforcing peoples belief that none of the contentious Welsh players deserve a spot.
“Dan Bigger is Sexton four years ago” Sexton has been a consistently excellent attacking fly half for longer than four years. Dan Bigger has none of the attacking influence on a game that Sexton had four years ago.
“Jared Payne is young” hes 31 hes clearly picked for reliability not as a bolter.
AWJ “There’s no argument he shouldn’t be there” … clearly there is an argument. He hasn’t been one of the top 5 locks over the last year. I’m not saying that he doesn’t deserve a spot i’d have probably picked him. But there definitely is AN argument against him.
“In Gatland we trust”
Why would you trust Gatland?
I can’t ever remember a team of his adding up to more than the sum of its parts…
When Wales were at their peak they had he best form players in Europe by some distance. They stuck to a very simple game plan and a power superiority resulted in good six nations wins. However when they came up against southern hemisphere opposition they consistently came short.
When he coached the Lions they came up against one of the worst Aussie teams of the last ten years. The end of Deans’ tenure was a shambles. But they still would have won the series had Kurtley Beale worn long studs instead of mouldys.
Actually does anyone else see parallels with the last tour to NZ? Massive squad, several players clearly picked (rightly or wrongly) because they have a good working relationship with the coach rather than form, several players who don’t really have a chance of making the test team…
God yes, so true. And if only Allie Smith had broken his neck and Dan Carter had broken both legs, then the 2005 Lions woud have trounced NZ 3 tests to one, and if only Hitler hadn’t tried to invade Russia……fior God’s sake. Anybody else with searing historical insights on tuis site???
No, nobody else does. Stick it up your pessimistic irish bottom.
Hi Nick. hes the Lions caught the Wallabies at a bad moment in 20013. Yes, the Irish caught th e All blacks at a bad moment in 2016. Yes, the Scots caught the Welsjh at a bad moment in 2017. These are the facts of sport – nothing is ‘permanent’. Get used to it. Go away.
Taliesin just shut up mate, no one on here is interested in your racist nonsensical drivel!
But that’s where you’re wrong.
Oh and by the way, it’s possibly jingoistic, possibly nationalistic, but certainly not racist; Welsh, Irish, Scots, English – we’re all the same race.
You need to brush up on your etymology racism (according to the UN) applies to race, colour, decent, national or ethnic origin. So yes your comments are racist.
What’s ‘decent’?? Do you mean ‘descent’? I’ll take no pompous nonsense from someone who’s too illiterate to spell properly. Anyway, you’re wrong about the UN.
Really? You want to go there? Ok since when did “Welsh” have a “j” in it or “for” have an “I” in it? Does “the” have a gap between the h and e? and that’s just you’re last few posts! Think there’s some phrase about glass houses that might apply here.
If the author of this article genuinely believes that there should be more Welsh players than Irish in the squad, that there should be six times the number of Welsh players than Scottish players in the squad, and that Gatland is the man to lead the Lions to victory, I can only admire his dedication to the party message and his blind optimism.
I, for one, am incredibly disappointed that this is the tour party and coaching staff that apparently represents the best the the home nations can offer. I’m also disappointed that Gatland – whether consciously or not – has been so self-serving in his selections, that he was selected in the first place, and that he thought it reasonable to firstly offer Townsend a deputy attack coach position and then throw his toys out of the pram when Townsend rightly declined the offer.
Finally, while there is a commonly held platitude about form and class, ignoring players like Watson and Russell who are playing so much better than players like Morarity, Warburton and Biggar is just stupid. I’d at least respect Gatland if he was at least honest about his reasons for no picking Scottish players, instead of spouting a mess of contradictory nonsense.
Please keep comments clean and respectful. There are one or two people in danger of a straight red card. There are no yellow cards or warnings, you just get picked off as if by a sniper and then you’re gone.
I’m guessing there are a few people in your crosshairs Hutch
Cha-chuck boom
Do you get a red for spouting ignorant cr*p? If so, this site will be free of responses!