British & Irish Lions - BritEvents mock squad NEWS
With the Lions tour to Australia less than two months away and Coach Warren Gatland set to announce his squad on April 30 here's BritEvents own pick of British and Irish players who should be on the plane Down Under.
A Lions tour is the biggest thing in rugby, except for World Cups, and every rugby blog and pundit has their own thoughts as to who exactly should be in the squad. Here at BritEvents we're no different.
Prior to the Six Nations coach Warren Gatland probably had a rough idea of who he wanted to take to Australia and who he would like to select as captain. During the Six Nations, won in dramatic style by Wales with their emphatic victory over England, his original thoughts concerning individuals will have been confirmed or, in the case of others, shown to be false.
Of course, there's still a lot of club rugby to be played, not least the latter stages of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, in which many of his favoured players will play and, hopefully, shine. Some players have seen their recent form drop, whilst others made strides in search for form. There are others still who have just returned from injury or for whom the resumption of playing is imminent. All of this makes the job of picking 37 tourists all the more difficult.
The composition of the squad is not set in stone but certain positions, by their very nature, demand multiple options, such as hooker and fly-half where Gatland will definitely take three players.
Whilst the Kiwi probably has a fair idea of his preferred starting XV for the first test, based on form, tactics and personal preference, there's still time for some individuals to force a change of mind. Lion's squads have a habit of throwing up a bolter or two, a player who offers potential or something different, usually with some risk attached, often allied to a lack of experience at the very top level.
After Wales improved so dramatically in the Six nations and beat England so convincingly its tempting to just include their whole starting XV and just fill in the gaps from there. That's simplistic in our view and doesn't account for how to engender the best possible squad atmosphere, incorporating players from all four home unions, and balancing their characters. Sometimes the best tourist isn't always the best player.
With all of the above in mind here's the BritEvents choice of squad for the Lions tour to Australia, not necessarily who will actualy be selected by Warren Gatland, including our thoughts on who will start the first test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on June 22: -
Prop - Wales' Adam Jones is as nailed on a certainty to start the first test, fitness permitting, as there is. He had a fantastic Six Nations and was the cornerstone of a Welsh scrum that dominated the supposed superior scrummagers of Italy, France and England. England's Dan Cole also had a fine championship and will be on the plane as will Ireland's Cian Healy whom, his stamp and subsequent ban aside, was his usual dominant self. The final two prop spots are a little less straight forward. Wales' Gethin Jenkins had a great end to the Six Nations but his form prior to that was worrying and, as a Toulon man, he will not be available for the start of the tour. Ditto England's Andrew Sheridan, who hasn't featured for England due to his move to France either. Scotland's Mike Ross and Euan Murray merit discussion as does Wales' Paul James and, as an impact sub, England's Mako Vunipola, whose power in the loose could be useful against tired opposition.
Will tour - Adam Jones, Cian Healey, Dan Cole, Gethin Jenkins, Mako Vunipola.
Will start - Adam Jones, Cian Healey.
Hooker - Gatland is almost certain to take three hookers, as is the norm now. Ireland's Rory best was favourite to start prior to the Six Nations and his performances in the green of Ireland gave no reason to change that view. Wales' Richard Hibbard improved his stock during the Six Nations providing power and set-piece stability, but he's a little way behind best at the moment. The England pair of Tom Youngs and Dylan Hartley are in a battle for the third spot. Hartley is bigger and perhaps the better scrummager, but Youngs is England's current first-choice and, as a converted centre, he will offer more on the hard, fast grounds of Australia.
Will tour - Rory Best, Richard Hibbard, Tom Youngs.
Will start - Rory Best.
Lock forward - the Lions coaches difficult choices start with the second row. Alun Wyn Jones return to fitness and form for Wales should guarantee him a place on the plane and he is a contender for the captain's armband. The England trio of Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling and Courtney Lawes each have something to offer, Lawes being the only enforcer type player in this bunch. From Ireland Donnacha Ryan had a great Six Nations and is many pundits choice to start the test matches against the Wallabies, whilst for Scotland Jim Hamilton shone, whilst Richie Gray has a lot of supporters. Paul O'Connell a former Lions captain is back in action and will be pushing for a place, although time is limited for him to demonstrate that he's back to his best. Partnerships and balance could be the key to selection here as well as the versatility of some players.
Will tour - Alun Wyn Jones, Donnacha Ryan, Geoff Parling, Courtney Lawes.
Will start - Alun Wyn Jones, Donnacha Ryan.
Flanker - the selection dilemna doesn't get any easier in the back row where the blurring of roles between numbers 6 and 7 need to considered in the light of how Australia will deploy a true openside. We'll go for two of each and in terms of proper, old-fashioned no.7's Wales have the cream of the British crop with Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric. On the blindside its hard to ignore the claims of England's captain marvel, Chris Robshaw and Ireland's Sean O'Brien. Wales Ryan Jones was having a great Six Nations before injury curtailed his involvement and one negative against him is his propensity for not being fit. Scotland captain Kelly Brown can play either position and is a real scrapper. Ireland's Stephen Ferris is a handful as are England's Tom Wood and Tom Croft both of whom offer positional versatility. Really Gatland is spoilt for choice here.
Will tour - Chris Robshaw, Justin Tipuric, Sean O'Brien, Sam Warburton, Tom Croft.
Will start - Sam Warburton, Chris Robshaw.
No.8 - as with the second-rows and flankers there is a wealth of talent at this position and Gatland isn't able to pick a poor player. Wales' Toby Faletau was the standout no.8 in the Six Nations but England's Tom Wood wasn't far behind him even though he is still probably better at no.6. Ireland's Jamie Heaslip wasn't as effective as usual in the Six Nations but he is a warrior. England's ben Morgan could have been pressing for a place had he not got himself injured and one of his replacements James Haskell, can be an effective, physical alternative at the base of the scrum.
Will tour - Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, Tom Wood.
Will start - Toby Faletau.
Scrum-half - Wales' Mike Phillips grew in authority as each game went by in the Six Nations so much so that he is the accepted front-runner to start the first test in Brisbane. Ben Youngs started the championship extremely well, then dipped, before partially recovering. He's the undisputed back-up to Phillips. In terms of the third scrum-half all of England's Danny Care, Ireland's Conor Murray and Scotland's Greg Laidlaw would do a job.
Will tour - Ben Youngs, Mike Phillips, Greg Laidlaw.
Will start - Mike Phillips.
Fly-half - thank goodness Ireland's Jonny Sexton is back to fitness because, as the highly favoured, starting Lions fly-half, his absence would have been massive. Outside half is one area where gatland doesn't have that many options. After Sexton there's England's Owen Farrell, cool-as-a-cucumber for sure, superb goal kicker accepted, but young and not a proven game maker. He'll tour though and the real decision to be made here is who will travel as the no.3 fly-half. Wales' Dan Biggar had a nightmare against Ireland but by the end of the Six Nations he was far more composed. With Sexton coming back from injury and Farrell inexperienced it would be dangerous to take Paddy jackson and really Gatland should go for an established international, such as Toby Flood. There are some calls for ex-England superstar Jonny Wilkinson, but these will be in vain.
Will tour - Owen Farrell, Jonny Sexton, Toby Flood.
Will start - Jonny Sexton.
Centre - another position where Warren Gatland has a selection headache in that who does he not take? Jamie Roberts is sheer class and picks himself as does, in our opinion, England's Manu Tuilagi. Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll, another former Lions captain, might be at the end of his career, but he remains a superb player worthy of consideration. After those three it starts to get more problematic. England's Brad Barritt is a rock in defence, selfless and a coach's dream, whilst England team mate Billy Twelvetrees made a fantastic start to international rugby and offers more creativity. Roberts' Wales team mate Jonathan Davies is hugely effective carrying and defending, whilst Sean Lamont would not let anyone down. To make matters worse we're plumping for four as Farrell offers back up if required.
Will tour - Manu Tuilagi, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies.
Will start - Manu Tuilagi, Jamie Roberts.
Wing - Wales giant duo of George North and Alex Cuthbert (fitness permitting) are shoo-ins for tour places. England's Chris Ashton is commonly accepted to have played himself OFF the plane and unless he has a storming end to the season he'll be on tour with England, or ven on holiday. Scotland's flying Tim Visser impressed many during the Six Nations, as did Ireland's Craig Gilroy and, before his injury, Simon Zebo. England's Mike Brown isn't a true wing and he missed too many opportunities to merit selection. Ireland's Tommy Bowe would be a serious contender were it not for him only now coming back from injury - has he enough time to convince Gatland?
Will tour - Alex Cuthbert, George North, Craig Gilroy, Tim Visser.
Will start - Alex Cuthbert, George North.
Fullback - the Six Nations Player of the Tournament, Wales' Leigh Halfpenny, takes the no.15 shirt and is probably the first name on the team sheet for Warren Gatland. After him there is huge competition for a place and really it depends upon how many players Gatland wants to take, 37 believed to be his preference. Ireland's Rob Kearney is coming back to form and there is an argument for playing Halfpenny on the wing so that Kearney can take the fullback spot. Scotland's Stuart Hogg has seen support for his inclusion grow and his raw speed and attacking instincts could be a huge bonus on the fast tracks down under. England's Alex Goode did little wrong during the Six Nations but he's just a little off the quality of the others. A personal favourite would be England's Ben Foden but he's not even playing for his country and so would be seen as a surprise choice.
Will tour - Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg, Rob Kearney.
Will start - Leigh Halfpenny.
So, our squad has 13 players from Wales, 12 from England, 9 from Ireland and 3 from Scotland, the starting XV being dominated by Wales though with 9 Welshmen starting, 4 Irishmen and 2 Englishmen - no Scots sorry, although they'd have a couple on the replacements bench.
Its highly doubtful that Warren Gatland will pick exactly the same squad but it won't be too far off. Whoever he picks they'll travel to Australia with the hopes and prayers of the British rugby public with them. Being a Lion is the greatest honour for any British rugby player and whoever gets the nod will shed blood, seat and tears to ensure the team is successful.
Australia beat Wales 3-0 last Summer although Wales did run them close and it shouldn't be forgotten that Scotland managed to beat the Wallabies down under last year. With their top player David Pocock out injured and star fullback Kurtley Beale suspended indefinitely the signs are optimistic for the Lions. No pressure Warren - but a victorious tour is overdue.
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