Here’s a question for you. Who will be the starting British and Irish Lions wingers against Australia in the first test in Brisbane next June? I am not a huge fan of Lions speculation this early - John Bentley and Jason Robinson were two unexpected (wing) tourists and few, if any, would have picked them in the September before the 1997 and 2001 tours, respectively. But truth be told, I have already had a couple of conversations about it - that’s what happens when you have two rugby playing brothers. The Lions have huge strength in depth on the wing, similar to that of the back row, but who will get the nod?
In 2009 Sir Ian and co picked 5 wingers in the original squad (there’s no point in looking at the 2005 squad as if you weren’t selected on that tour you were actually in the minority). A couple of players in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 have already put their hands up for selection, but not necessarily the players that were in your pint filled discussions on this topic a few months ago. Tim Visser, the flying Dutchman but finally capped on Scotland’s summer tour to Australia and the Pacific Islands, currently tops the try scoring standings with a monstrous six tries in three matches. He has also topped the end of season charts for the last three campaigns – an outstanding achievement and demonstrates that he is not a flash in a pan character. Andy Fenby, who incidentally Visser Tweeted is his favourite to top the scoring charts this time round, has started the season well and has three tries to his name. Man (boy) mountain George North, a player who continues to improve each time he puts on the red shirt of Wales, is a born Lions Test starter and is actually second on the list with four tries. His current fellow Welsh wing partner, and Grand Slam winner, Alex Cuthbert is the final name to appear and we all know what he is capable of. Throw Tommy Bowe, outstanding in South Africa in 2009, Andrew Trimble, Keith Earls, Leigh Halfpenny, Lee Jones, Sean Lamont and Max Evans into the mix and the Lions clearly have a selection dilemma. And that’s only taking the Celtic nations into consideration.
Over to England and Chris Ashton remains the first winger on the England team sheet, but for how much longer? Christian Wade has had a sensational start to the season for Wasps, even scoring a Billy Whizz on Latham-esque try in his first Aviva Premiership outing against defending champions Harlequins at Twickenham. Fellow youngster Marland Yarde has also scored tries and played well in a faltering London Irish team. We have seen in the past that previous Lions tour experience is invaluable and if Ugo Monye continues to regain some form, after various injuries, who would bet against the Quins flyer making back to back Lions squads? Matt Banahan, David Strettle and Charlie Sharples have fallen behind slightly in recent months but are by no means out of contention. Could Kyle Eastmond make a late surge into the England set up and then into Lions reckoning? I would also give a mention to Tom Varndell – four tries in his first three matches this season (as has the relatively unknown quantity of Matt Jess of the Exeter Chiefs - but who was the now excellent Tom Johnson until he was selected for the Saxons and then full England team?) and he seems to have a much stronger physical dimension to his ball carrying and even better support play. England have a tendency to shut the door on talented attacking players, if their defence, or physicality in general, is suspect. Matthew Tait and the electric James Simpson-Daniel are testament to this, although injuries have also been their downfall. And look at Topsy Ojo – the poor chap might retire with only two England caps to his name but amazingly with two tries BOTH against New Zealand and BOTH actually scored in the land of the long white cloud, albeit in a defeat, but still against Dan and Richie, if that gives an amazing stat even more credence.
For those of you who haven’t got past the tight five yet, and trust me you will struggle to do so nine months before the tour, there you have around twenty names to consider, but remember only going for 5-6 spots. There appears to be the perfect balance between size and power, footwork and pace, running lines and kicking ability. The latter, and his versatility at being able to play full back, should secure Leigh Halfpenny a seat on the plane (could the same apply to Delon Armitage?) I feel some of the English players have question marks on their defence and certain players have a strange nous for holding the ball in the wrong hand or picking the one, maybe even only, late running line which will not lead to a try being scored. Around ten of those names are likely to dominate most clubhouse discussions and North and Bowe are currently my favourites for the coveted number 11 and 14 shirts. That said, Ashton has also proved a real thorn in the Aussies side in the past. If you disagree, head to youtube and look at his three tries against them in Sydney and Twickenham in 2010. (Intriguingly the same applies to Ben Youngs – having unique form against one country is a strange concept but could it prove to be the difference between a winning and losing series?). A lot of people will argue that the Wade’s, Fenby’s and Eastmond’s should not be in consideration because they are uncapped. But Lions tours are not won on cap tallies - just ask Sir Clive Woodward. Form is paramount – just ask Jason Robinson, Alan Tait and John Bentley.
I will always remember the Jim Telfer “getting picked is the easy bit” quote from the 1997 victorious Lions tour to South Africa. Whilst he was talking about actual Test match selection and motivating the team before the first test, it looks like it will actually be very difficult for the wingers to be selected for the 2013 tour, let alone start the test matches. But that is certainly not something (hopefully one day “Sir” if that is possible?) Warren and co will be worrying about.
No comments:
Post a Comment