Lions year!
Lions year - the excitement is already building!
It comes around every four years and I for one cannot wait for the greatly anticipated British & Irish Lions tours. There really is something special about combining the best players from the four home unions and testing them away from home against the world's best international teams. It still remains the ultimate challenge for international players and this year's tour to New Zealand is about as tough as it can get!
It's a classic pub conversation and clubhouse debate - choosing your starting Lions test XV, but here are my initial thoughts on who are the current front runners to make this gruelling tour.
Front Row
I can't claim that this is my specialist area by any means, but in the opening two rounds of 6 nations Dan Cole and Joe Marler have certainly put forward their claims. WP Nel of Scotland was a big favourite for many pundits before his injury, but will Warren Gatland still stick with him despite a lack of game time? Mako Vunipola is still the stand out prop in my view and should return to action for England against Italy.
Hooker
At the moment England captain Dylan Hartley is just about hanging on to his starting place and is under extreme pressure from Jamie George, so in my view is some way off a Lions spot at this point. The Welsh hooker Ken Owens will also be at the forefront of the selection team's minds. Rory Best is a reliable and experience operator.
Second Row
This is one area where Gatland is spoilt for choice, you can reel off so many names. Alun Wyn Jones is many people's tip for captain and I'd have to agree in terms of the presence and leadership he brings. The Gray brothers have been quite outstanding for Scotland and both could easily make the tour. This is before you even start with England who are blessed in this department - Itoje, Launchbury, Kruis and Lawes. There will be many hours of discussion between the Lions selectors on this position, but lineout specialist Steve Borthwick will have a massive influence on selection here.
Back Row
Again an extremely competitive area and the Lions will have to be on the money if they're going to win the battle of the break down against the All Blacks. Ross Moriarty was superb against England and at present is keeping Faletau on the bench, which is no mean feat. Sam Warburton is hitting form again at the right time and I think losing the captaincy will have the 'Robshaw effect' on his overall game. CJ Stander cannot be ignored following his hat trick against Italy and Sean O'Brien is the aggressive wrecking ball that the Lions will need. Billy Vunipola, if fit, goes despite his lack of involvement in the tournament, and James Haskell has shown in the past year how crucial he is to England, even when employed from the bench.
Scrum Half
Conor Murray already has Lions experience under his belt. The Ben Youngs/Danny Care debate will always rumble on between England fans. Care provides the change in tempo from the bench and Youngs was fantastic in England's autumn series. Greg Laidlaw has also shown he's a fine leader and an ever reliable kicker.
Fly Half
Owen Farrell is now the first name on the team sheet for England and Ian McGeechan would describe him as a 'test match animal'. He's a world class goal kicker and his all round game is always improving, that pass he delivered to Daly for the winning try against Wales is the best you'll see all season. George Ford will also go but I'm not sure I'd start him in the test matches. I've not always been Dan Biggar's biggest fan, but in the recent Wales V England game he shows that he's always the man for the big occasion (that game against England in the World Cup springs to mind!).
Centres
Robbie Henshaw of Ireland has to be in the mix and Scott Williams is now streets ahead of Jamie Roberts in the Wales starting XV. Jonathan Joseph is not quite hitting form, but I've always been a fan of JJ and I don't think you can ignore the class he has, especially now his defence is so assured.
Wings
Liam Williams is a test starter for me, for a guy who has a slight frame he's incredibly strong and is electric in open space. From England, Anthony Watson is unfortunate with the timing of his injuries because he's another exciting winger. Jack Nowell is busy off his wing, carried hard and has the work rate that Eddie Jones loves. Tommy Seymour of Scotland and Simon Zebo of Ireland are other names in the mix.
Full Back
If there's one player who is a dead cert alongside Owen Farrell it's Stuart Hogg. A tour squad member in 2013, the Glasgow number 15 has everything you'd want from a full back and is the form player in the 6 Nations. Leigh Halfpenny although not the most exciting attacking full back, he's solid under the high ball and you can't leave a goal kicker of his quality left to practice on his home pitches of Gorseinon!
Outsiders
Lions tours have tended to throw a couple of wild cards or uncapped picks in years gone by. Will Greenwood in 1997 and Keith Earls in 2009. With my biased Bath supporters hat on, Semesa Rokoduguni is the best finisher in the premiership at the moment. Perhaps there will be a spot for the young Osprey Keelan Giles who Howley ignored in the autumn and can you ignore the form and versatility of Eliot Daly at the moment?
Certainly some food for thought for Warren Gatland and his team, but whatever squad he picks it'll be the strongest Lions squad to hit the land of the long white cloud for some time!
It comes around every four years and I for one cannot wait for the greatly anticipated British & Irish Lions tours. There really is something special about combining the best players from the four home unions and testing them away from home against the world's best international teams. It still remains the ultimate challenge for international players and this year's tour to New Zealand is about as tough as it can get!
It's a classic pub conversation and clubhouse debate - choosing your starting Lions test XV, but here are my initial thoughts on who are the current front runners to make this gruelling tour.
Front Row
I can't claim that this is my specialist area by any means, but in the opening two rounds of 6 nations Dan Cole and Joe Marler have certainly put forward their claims. WP Nel of Scotland was a big favourite for many pundits before his injury, but will Warren Gatland still stick with him despite a lack of game time? Mako Vunipola is still the stand out prop in my view and should return to action for England against Italy.
Hooker
At the moment England captain Dylan Hartley is just about hanging on to his starting place and is under extreme pressure from Jamie George, so in my view is some way off a Lions spot at this point. The Welsh hooker Ken Owens will also be at the forefront of the selection team's minds. Rory Best is a reliable and experience operator.
Second Row
This is one area where Gatland is spoilt for choice, you can reel off so many names. Alun Wyn Jones is many people's tip for captain and I'd have to agree in terms of the presence and leadership he brings. The Gray brothers have been quite outstanding for Scotland and both could easily make the tour. This is before you even start with England who are blessed in this department - Itoje, Launchbury, Kruis and Lawes. There will be many hours of discussion between the Lions selectors on this position, but lineout specialist Steve Borthwick will have a massive influence on selection here.
Back Row
Again an extremely competitive area and the Lions will have to be on the money if they're going to win the battle of the break down against the All Blacks. Ross Moriarty was superb against England and at present is keeping Faletau on the bench, which is no mean feat. Sam Warburton is hitting form again at the right time and I think losing the captaincy will have the 'Robshaw effect' on his overall game. CJ Stander cannot be ignored following his hat trick against Italy and Sean O'Brien is the aggressive wrecking ball that the Lions will need. Billy Vunipola, if fit, goes despite his lack of involvement in the tournament, and James Haskell has shown in the past year how crucial he is to England, even when employed from the bench.
Scrum Half
Conor Murray already has Lions experience under his belt. The Ben Youngs/Danny Care debate will always rumble on between England fans. Care provides the change in tempo from the bench and Youngs was fantastic in England's autumn series. Greg Laidlaw has also shown he's a fine leader and an ever reliable kicker.
Fly Half
Owen Farrell is now the first name on the team sheet for England and Ian McGeechan would describe him as a 'test match animal'. He's a world class goal kicker and his all round game is always improving, that pass he delivered to Daly for the winning try against Wales is the best you'll see all season. George Ford will also go but I'm not sure I'd start him in the test matches. I've not always been Dan Biggar's biggest fan, but in the recent Wales V England game he shows that he's always the man for the big occasion (that game against England in the World Cup springs to mind!).
Centres
Robbie Henshaw of Ireland has to be in the mix and Scott Williams is now streets ahead of Jamie Roberts in the Wales starting XV. Jonathan Joseph is not quite hitting form, but I've always been a fan of JJ and I don't think you can ignore the class he has, especially now his defence is so assured.
Wings
Liam Williams is a test starter for me, for a guy who has a slight frame he's incredibly strong and is electric in open space. From England, Anthony Watson is unfortunate with the timing of his injuries because he's another exciting winger. Jack Nowell is busy off his wing, carried hard and has the work rate that Eddie Jones loves. Tommy Seymour of Scotland and Simon Zebo of Ireland are other names in the mix.
Full Back
If there's one player who is a dead cert alongside Owen Farrell it's Stuart Hogg. A tour squad member in 2013, the Glasgow number 15 has everything you'd want from a full back and is the form player in the 6 Nations. Leigh Halfpenny although not the most exciting attacking full back, he's solid under the high ball and you can't leave a goal kicker of his quality left to practice on his home pitches of Gorseinon!
Outsiders
Lions tours have tended to throw a couple of wild cards or uncapped picks in years gone by. Will Greenwood in 1997 and Keith Earls in 2009. With my biased Bath supporters hat on, Semesa Rokoduguni is the best finisher in the premiership at the moment. Perhaps there will be a spot for the young Osprey Keelan Giles who Howley ignored in the autumn and can you ignore the form and versatility of Eliot Daly at the moment?
Certainly some food for thought for Warren Gatland and his team, but whatever squad he picks it'll be the strongest Lions squad to hit the land of the long white cloud for some time!
Great article Drew, I hope your outside pick for Rokodoguni comes to fruition; world class player in my opinion!
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