The Six Nations is over for another year – England have retained their crown, but it looks a little precarious after Ireland bested them in a fiery final match, while Scotland and Wales both mixed the brilliant with the dire.
We are getting very close to deadline day for Warren Gatland – he names his squad on April 19th – and Saturday represented the final chance for some players to force their way into contention for the most hallowed of jerseys.
My RugbyBlog Lions team has been evolving over the year – here’s how it stood in December following the Autumn Internationals:
1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Rory Best (cap), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Sean O’Brien, 8 Billy Vunipola, 9 Conor Murray, 10 Owen Farrell, 11 Liam Williams, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 14 Anthony Watson, 15 Stuart Hogg
16 Jamie George, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 WP Nel, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 Elliot Daly
Surprise, surprise… it looks a bit different again.
Front row
1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tadhg Furlong
Ken Owens is probably the player who has come from the furthest outside my Lions squad to make the starting XV. It is partly due to the lack of options in one of the weakest positions for the Lions (strange given the burgeoning young talent coming through the ranks) – Hartley underwhelmed again, Best blew hot and cold and Jamie George didn’t get the minutes to really impress. But Owens had a strong Six Nations and has forced his way into contention.
Outside him, the props remain the same – Furlong cemented himself as one of the form tightheads in the world and Mako is on his way back to his best. The carrying ability of these two is frankly fearsome and one area the Lions will have a clear advantage over the All Blacks.
Second row
4 Maro Itoje, 5 Joe Launchbury
Itoje retains his place – despite not hitting the heights of last season, I think that was due to being deployed on the blindside and his best position is at lock. The third player to partner him in my theoretical Lions side (following Alun Wyn Jones and latterly Jonny Gray) is another Englishman, Joe Launchbury. His workrate was phenomenal during the tournament and that will be vital – especially given my original workhorse in the pack, Chris Robshaw, is on the long-term injury list.
Gray faded as the tournament went on and for me, Alun Wyn Jones is just not performing to the same standard as the other second rows. This still remains the position with the greatest strength in depth and I expect both to tour, but it is a sign of the quality at Gatland’s disposal that I have included another English lock on the bench: Courtney Lawes.
Back row
6 CJ Stander, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Billy Vunipola
Billy Vunipola continues in the eight jersey – on his day he is world class and although he struggled in the match against Ireland, by June he should be fully fit and firing.
Either side of him there is change again – as mentioned Robshaw is injured and will likely struggle to make the squad. Even if he was fit, it would be hard to leave out CJ Stander. The adopted Irishman has been simply irrepressible all tournament and his bruising carries will ease the workload on Vunipola and get the Lions on the front foot.
With the carrying ability of six and eight, my previous seven Sean O’Brien’s power was less important, so he shifts down to the bench. In his place I was tempted by both Justin Tipuric and Hamish Watson, but went for the rejuvenated Sam Warburton – my original pick in September. Shorn of the captaincy he seems a new player and hopefully will be able to capitalise on the work of his physical backrow compatriots and dominate the breakdown.
This is a seriously powerful pack – and one I believe can overcome their much-vaunted opponents.
Half backs and centres
9 Conor Murray, 10 Johnny Sexton, 12 Owen Farrell (capt), 13 Jonathan Joseph
Only one change in the half backs and centres – Sexton comes in after a fine run of performances and Farrell continues his yo-yoing between flyhalf and centre in my selection and returns to the 12 shirt. After abandoning the twin-playmaker model in my December team, I have since re-evaluated. The way England have used it to generate space for the outside backs has been brilliant over the past 12 months – it hasn’t always worked, just look at the last match against Ireland – but I think it is the model to take on the All Blacks.
Two issues that make me cautious. One, Sexton needs to stay fit. Two, can Sexton and Farrell play together in the same manner as Farrell’s telepathic partnership with Ford? Who knows, but that’s Gatland’s job to find out, not mine. If they can they could be a lethal combination.
Maybe my biggest call – I have also given Owen Farrell the captain’s armband. It is a slightly forced decision as none of the leading contenders or national teams’ captains make my starting 15. Also, the last tour’s captain, Sam Warburton, looks a much better player without the added responsibility. Farrell does the role for England for the final half hour of the game once Hartley goes for his early bath and this season he has really grown into the leadership role. I think he can lead the Lions.
Murray is still the key man at nine and Joseph continues at outside centre. He showed in the Scotland game he can be truly brilliant. But he needs to perform like that every game – he cannot go missing like he did at times in the Six Nations. Robbie Henshaw is on my bench biding his time.
Back three
11 George North, 14 Elliot Daly, 15 Stuart Hogg
Hogg starts at 15. No debate there. Next.
I criticised North in December saying I couldn’t keep picking him based on memories of his world-class performances. Well he gave a pretty good reminder of his undeniable talent and returns to the team. On the other wing, I have gone for the all-round footballing ability of Elliot Daly. England’s best back this tournament, his skills, pace and versatility will complement the power of North. Plus, his howitzer boot could certainly come in handy…
Bench
16 Jamie George, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Robbie Henshaw, 23 Liam Williams
Jamie George, Jack McGrath, Courtney Lawes and Sean O’Brien are not the sort of players New Zealand want to see entering the fray in the final quarter. This is some real firepower to have at your disposal. Cole takes the tighthead bench spot mainly due to the fact I worry about the scrummaging ability of the other options.
In the backs, a resurgent Rhys Webb edges out a disappointing Ben Youngs and, as we need no reserve fly-half, Robbie Henshaw and Liam Williams take the final two places. Williams can cover the whole back three and will be a real threat to unleash in the dying minutes.
So seven English, four Irish, three Welsh and a solitary Scot starting. A single place for the best Scotland team in a long time feels like an unjust return, but man for man I felt, apart from Hogg, none was the single best in their position.
Anyway – who would you pick?
By Henry Ker
My team as actually quite similar.
front row
I’ve swapped Mako and Mcgrath as McGrath is the better scrummager and i feel Mako would have far more impact from the bench. George is the in form NH hooker despite lack of England time so gets the nod for me
Sinkler offers far more off the bench than Cole, I’d rather see a smasher than a scrummager coming on the pitch at 60minutes
back row
Stander plays far more like a No8 for me and doesn’t offer enough balance in the back row with Billy there. PoM offers the work rate and lineout work that Robshaw would have brought, which will allow Warbs to jackal and Big Billy to smash.
Couldn’t decide on the replacement backrow between O’Brien/Tipuric/Faletau, it all depends on what Gatland wants from the bench. but with Mako and Sinkler carrying and Williams and Joseph running Tipuric might be quite a good linking player.
Daly has to be on the pitch but I feel there are better wings than there are outside centres so he gets the nod at 13 with Watson on the wing, although it is a toss up with Joseph and Williams pushing hard to replace both of them
1) McGrath
2) J George
3) Furlong
4) Itoje
5) Launchbury
6) O’Mahoney
7) Warburton
8) B Vunipola
9) Murray
10) Sexton
11) Watson
12) Farrell
13) Daly
14) North
15) Hogg
16) Ken Owens
17) M Vunipola
18) Sinkler
19) Lawes
20) O’Brien/Tipuric/Faletau
21) Webb
22) Joseph
23) L Williams
I quite like this side, and would love to see POM on the plane after that performance on Saturday.
Not sure about Jamie George, untested at international level, but could play his way in if he has a good tour.
Would also like to see O’Mahoney tour. He was excellent at the weekend. Needs a few more top class performances before I would be convinced to start him over the other options however.
I vaguely recall after the last Lions tour in 2013 someone – Jamie maybe? – did a long term prediction for the 2017 tour and had O’Mahoney at 6 and as captain… I may have imagined this though!
1 Mako 2 Best 3 Furlong 4 Itoje 5 AWJ 6 Stander 7 Tipuric 8 Faletau 9 Murray 10 Sexton 11 Nowell 12 Farrell 13 Daly 14 North 15 Hogg
16 George 17 McGrath 18 Nel 19 Gray 20 Vunipola 21 Webb 22 Henshaw 23 L Williams
Best to start for longer term excellence if not so much this tournament. George the best option of the bench but Owens on tour as well.
I’m really torn between AWJ and Kruis. I think one of them needs to start with Itoje and with their club partnership and arguably Kruis better form (pre-injury) I’m sorely tempted, but ultimately I can’t leave Alun Wyn out. Again, Kruis on tour.
Putting aside trying to match the All Blacks for style, I believe Tipuric matches their back row for quality. For the best balance Tipuric, Stander and a fit and firing Faletau feels about right, with Billy on the bench. You look at Wales’ tour to NZ last year and Faletau looked like the only one keeping up with the ABs. I think Stander and Vunipola starting puts too much work on the 7 to do the rest. Backing them up on tour – O’Mahony, Warburton and Moriarty.
I like the backline but I’d move Daly to 13 and have Nowell on the wing. JJ is a bit too inconsistent whereas Daly shone in every game, and he’s more natural at 13. I’d want a workhorse winger to balance North and Hogg.
On the bench I’d have Nel for Cole if fit (better scrummager, fewer penalties?), J Gray (can call the lineout if needed) for Lawes and Vunipola for O’Brien.
I think I’m with you on Best at Hooker, but can’t see AWJ in the test team on current form. I might not even take him on tour…
In truth it’s a sentimental selection. On form, there are plenty ahead of him. Then again form is temporary, class is AWJ.
*face palm*
AWJ drop in form has been anything but temporary. For the past couple of years he has been average at best, somehow keeping his name in the mix for Lions starter and captain. His rivals at Lock from England, Ireland and Scotland have all been improving and outshining him.
He will be chosen and he will be part of the test team, but not for the right reasons.
Fair enough, like I said a bit of a sentimental choice. BOD and Healy (two second row experts!) had the same front 5 as me on Rugby Tonight, including AWJ, so I feel somewhat vindicated. Still, head over heart and taking the experience and leadership issue out of it, Kruis and Itoje should probably start.
Maybe people are seeing something I’m not because a lot of people have chosen AWJ for some reason.
There are a lot of experienced players still in the squad that will be able to cover for AWJ. His leadership is also questionable, as highlighted by his kickers going for the corner and not for goal as he requested.
You could argue that the most effective captains lead by example, so having someone performing at the peak of their abilities is better than someone underperforming.
This is the squad I would pick and with the exception of Daly, Which I do think is a good shout, we are in agreement on the starting 15.
. 1st Choice 2nd Choice 3rd Choice
15 S Hogg A Watson L Halfpenny
14. A Watson L Williams
13 J Joseph E Daly
12. O Farrell B Teo R Henshaw
11. G North T Vissar E Daly
10. J Sexton G Ford F Russell
09. C Murray R Webb D Care
08. B Vunipola T Faulupe R Moriarty
07. S Warburton J Tipuric
06. CJ Stander S O’Brien R Moriarty
05 J Launchbury I Henderson AW Jones
04. M Itoje K Lawes
03 T Furlong K Sinckler
02. K Owens R Best J George ( Luke Cowan-Dickie)
01 M Vunipola Joe Marler
7 English
4 Irish
3 Welsh
1 Scottish 7 English
3 Irish
4 Welsh
1 Scottish
Touring Party of ; 16 English; 8 Irish; 10 Welsh and 3 Scott’s
I’m surprised to see AW Jones name here so much. I don’t think he played that well for quite a while now. I expected the captaincy to make him up his game in the 6 nations but I felt he was actually worse and turned out to be a pretty poor captain. Before the 6 nations I would have had him in the squad but now I just can’t justify it. I would argue all the Irish, English and Scottish locks played better. I would also put him behind Charteris so I just can’t find a reason to include him.
I’m with you on this. I suspect he’s in a lot of people’s teams because Gatland is likely to make him Captain!
Same here! I still expect him to tour as he is one of the most experienced options, but can’t have him near the test team on form.
I also think AWJ is on these lists due to uncertainty over players; Kruis injured; both Gray’s did not really perform. I originally had J Gray in starting 23.
Backrow is interesting. I think balance requires that one player be the archetypal workhorse. The lions are going to need the type of player who glues a team together.
So at 6 – Robshaw if he’s fit and playing well, POM if not
At 7 – Warburton – has a new lease of life and is as good a 7 as anything the kiwis have – plus he’s got the experience
At 8 – Billy V – a player who will worry the ABs if he is fully fit and firing
Lock is bloody difficult. I can see arguments for Lawes, Itoje, Launchbury, Kruis, AWJ, the Grays and Henderson. I’ll be damned if I can make my mind up.
Perhaps if everyone is fit, my team would be
1. M Vunipola
2. George
3. Furlong
4. Launchbury
5. Kruis
6. Robshaw
7. Warburton
8. B Vunipola
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Nowell (I don’t think North’s one or 2 good games are enough to overlook the number of poor ones previously)
12. Farrell
13. Henshaw
14. Daly
15. Hogg
16 Owens 17 McGrath 18 Nel 19 Itoje 20 Stander 21 Webb 22 North 23 L Williams
Itoje covers lock and flanker. Stander covers flanker and 8. North covers centre and wing. Williams centre and fullback
But I’m hardly sure about this – there are so many decent options in a number of positions!
With perhaps the exception of Hogg and I think Farrell, you could quite easily make an argument for an entirely different team
Personally think O’Mahony is a league above Robshaw, but other than that very close to what my side would be.
Can’t see Robshaw on the plane having not played any part in the 6N’s.
If he’s back and playing well for Quins, it would be madness to exclude him on the basis that he didn’t play in the 6 Nations. Its not as if he hasn’t got any international experience. Ditto Kruis – Europe’s best lock before his injury
As for whether or not POM is better. People have been saying for years how much better *insert flanker name here* is to Robshaw. He just quietly keeps on playing, doing his job superbly week in and week out. There isn’t a Tier One nation he hasn’t beaten at one point or another, not another top-notch international flanker he hasn’t bested.
And it is noticeable just how much the performance of the England team, especially at the breakdown, has dropped off since his absence. He was absolutely integral to that England side equaling the record number of wins.
He’s not flashy. He just does all the hard work that allows players around him to shine – more so than any of the other suggested flankers. That will be crucial in New Zealand. Consistently excellent is not something you can say about many players, but you certainly can about Robshaw.
My potential starting lineup..
1 Jack McGrath
2 Ken Owens
3 Tadh Furlong
4 Maro Itoje
5 Joe Launchbury
6 CJ Stander
7 Sam Warburton
8 Taulupe Faletau
9 Connar Murray
10 Jonny Sexton
11 Jack Nowell
12 Owen Farrell
13 Jonathan Joseph
14 Elliot Daly
15 Stuart Hogg
Bench
16 Jamie George
17 Mako Vunipola
18 Dan Cole
19 Jonny Gray
20 Sean O’Brien
21 Billy Vunipola
22 Danny Care
23 Liam Williams
1. McGrath 2. Owens 3. Furlong 4. Itoje 5. AWJ (c) 6. O’Mahoney 7. Warburton 8. Vunipola 9. Murray 10. Sexton 11. Daly 12. Farrell 13. JJ 14. Watson 15. Hogg
16. George 17. Mako 18. Cole 19. Launchbury 20. Stander 21. Youngs 22. Henshaw 23. Williams
I could go with most of this Jacob apart from AWJ I who is in nowhere near the sort of form he was a few years ago. Launchbury has to start in front of him and I would have any one of Henderson, Lawes, Johnny Grey or Charteris on the bench. Would probably start George in front of Owens, but still think it’s a shame that the best hooker in the UK is limited to turning out for Gloucester because he put Gatland’ s nose out of joint. I don’t think Youngs will even be on the plane.
I don’t think I’d have had Owens on the plane before the 6 nations, but he has such a good 6 nations (and Best/Hartley an average one) that he’s in for me.
AWJ I’m mixed on. I think Launchbury and Itoje are our best lock options but neither offer enough in the line out for me. AWJ is in on that basis, and the fact that the 23 I’d be selecting is light on Lions experience. He’s almost in because I don’t want the captaincy pressure on Farrell or Warburton, and no one else really stands out for it.
Sorry guys I don’t get the fascination with Liam Williams personally I would be hard pushed to have him in to touring party.
For me North, Zebo, Nowell, Watson and Daly are all ahead of him in terms of ability and form.
It helps his case that he toured well in NZ last year. Not a fan of the personality, mind. All the other guys you mentioned would be in my touring party.
If i were to choose Daly for the Lions it would be at 15 and not out of position at 14 as he’s not a natural. However, as he is untried at 15 on the international scene it would be irresponsible to throw him in (a kind of Mathew Tait Hail Mary). Playing people out of position is one area that i agree with DonP on. It’s mad! An Autumn test or Italy in the 6N yes but the Lions – A resounding no.
I’d throw Christian Wade in as a bolter for the 14 position (still by a country mile the premiership’s record try scorer btw) before i ever would Daly. The ABs would have Daly at 14 or 11 for dinner!
Varndell is the Premiership’ s record try scorer, not Wade. I love to watch Wade but he is still defensively unreliable. If you want a Bolger on the wing I would sooner have Roko or Abendanon.
Screwed by predictive text again. bolter not Bolger.
Bolger would be a bolter.
If you are looking for a Bolter/Bolger then it has to be Thomas Young. How Howley left him out of the squad beggars belief……
Haskell will tour. He will be the Andy Powell of 2017- there for club spirit, mainly; knowledge of super rugby and a contender for mid-week stalwart
Hope so. A Haskell tour is a fun tour.
AWJ injured it seems. Out for 6 weeks.
Doesn’t mean that he won’t tour of course, but it’ll be tough for him.
In terms of selections, many teams squads are still noting Kruis, Robshaw and Nel, all of whom are not presently playing. This may of course be a good thing if they can get game time, and hit the tour afresh, but it may also be a big gamble as the squad gets picked in a few weeks time!
How long is Murray sidelined for?
The flip side of this of course is that both Vunipola’s, Faletau, Haskell, O’Mahoney, Itoje and Sexton have all had shorter season’s so could be a real boost for the Lions.
One thing that suddenly dawned on me that has not been noted in the press; Itojes finally had another loss! I’ve lost track of what matches he’s missed for Saracens but he hasn’t been present for many of their losses this season has he? I’d be really curious to see what his win rate looks like in his professional career…
From the limited reaction to your first choice starting 15 it is interesting to see that the majority are agreeing with the following selections;
C Murray, Jonny Sexton, O Farrell and Stuart Hogg being the first choice of 5 bloggers
and K Owens, Tadh Furlong, M Itoje and S Warburton first choice of 4. Is this where the Captain will come from?
Much less disagreement than the first team I picked! Guess as the year has gone on, a natural consensus has formed.
I agree the likely captain will come from those unanimous picks – what about Conor Murray as a potential? He would be my option after Farrell, with Warburton as the other candidate.
Hogg and Furlong to start
in some way or another, everything else is up for grabs
I think I might just wait until the squad is announced and then complain rather than try and create my own, there are so many close calls
Why are people still picking AWJ when he is out for 6 weeks. He will play little or no rugby before the end of the season.We can not afford nor do we need to select injured players there should be no sacred cows. Pick players who are fit and in form end of
10. Andy Goode
12. Gavin Henson
13. Sam Burgess
15. Danny Cipriani
Rest of the team – don’t mind really.
Surely Cuthbert on one wing and maybe Tom James on the other
Inspired by this
Worst Lions team possible using only players listed in this years Six Nations squads
David Kilcoyne
Ross Ford
Paul Hill
Quinn Roux
Charlie Ewels
Olly Cracknell
Teimana Harrison
Dan Leavy
Luke McGrath
Duncan Weir
Jamie Roberts
Luke Marshall
Alex Cuthbert
Marland Yarde
Leigh Halfpenny
Kristian Dacey
Matt Mullan
Scott Andrews
Cory Hill
Mike Williams
Aled Davies
Dan Biggar
Ashton Hewitt
Seems a tad harsh on Halfpenny?
Name a player listed as a fullback who is worse
Mike Brown? At least Halfpenny passes the ball. Often he passes it too early, but his penalty taking prowess would put him ahead of Brown for me.
Halfpenny is far more likely to get on the plane than Brown.
I wouldn’t be so sure Dazza.
With Sexton and Farrell, the Lions don’t need Halfpenny’s place kicking, so what more can he offer the Lions?
Halfpenny is a poor passer, and I do think that Browns passing is not an issue at all.
Could Itoje be Lions captain before captaining England!?!?!
NO.
I’d like to see Brown in the Lions squad (having to choose my words very carefully unless the anti-Brownite thought police come and take me away)!
Coached by Warren Watland he might be a man unshackled especially if given the freedom and the mandate to pass the ball.
Alot of people on here have concluded, myself included, that Brown, with his ‘England hat on’ , focuses on retaining possession and recycling it from an advantageous mid-field position, ready for the next phased play. Freed of that restraint (playing to orders) we might all be pleasantly surprised.
A rampaging and try-assisting Brown under a different set of orders (Gatland’s) would put paid to the bremoaners…nope i didn’t mean that i meant Brownoaners!
I think the question here is how is Gatland going to play against the ABs. He’s entering a lions year with a Northern Hemisphere side ranked 2 in the World with an 18 game winning streak behind them. No NH coach has been in that position before.
So does he play the England way with predominantly English Lions. Or does he play the Irish way with a strong Irish contingent.
Ultimately he will opt on a style that he thinks will smother and unpick them.
The Irish executed that well in Chicago so i expect them to figure heavily in the 1st 15