The
2013 Lions Tour is in full-flow and the Test team seems to be writing itself. High-scoring
routs have proved very little in real terms in relation to the Test series, but
some individuals have stood out. With the first Test against Australia, just
days away now, who has impressed for the British & Irish Lions and who
deserves a starting place?
The back-row is the most contentious area
on the team sheet, with Warren Gatland undoubtedly suffering selection
headaches. Sam Warburton appears to have found some good form at short notice
and his leadership qualities earns him the No. 7 shirt. Tom Croft’s athleticism
edges the battle on the blind-side flank ahead of Dan Lydiate, the tackling
machine. If the Test against the Wallabies break-down and space appears out
wide, then Croft is the man to capitalise on this. He is also an agile option in
the line-out and gets through a tremendous amount of work. The No. 8 shirt
should be given to Jamie Heaslip, although he has been given more of a chance
behind a dominant pack. Toby Faletau is an outstanding impact player from the bench
and the Australian pack will not enjoy seeing his imposing figure on the
touchline with 20 minutes or so to go.
Leadership and set-piece ability are
crucial in the second-row, so unsurprisingly Gatland should look to veteran
Lion Paul O’Connell and Alun-Wyn Jones. The Munster talisman has 85 Irish caps
while the Ospreys set-piece guru has 70 Welsh caps to his name. This balance of
guile and bulk in the second row will be vital to success in the Test series.
So far, the line-out has been unconvincing. However, with two of the best
target jumpers in the business, the starting hooker’s job is much easier. Both
players featured in the last tour to South Africa and get through plenty of
work around the park. Also, with Geoff Parling on the bench, Gatland can call
upon a dynamic line-out caller and a real war-horse to close out a Test match.
The Lions front-row suffered early injuries
to Cian Healey and Gethin Jenkins, however, Mako Vunipola seems to have made
the No.1 shirt his own thanks to his work in the loose. The Saracen prop has
plenty of work to do in the scrum, but he has done enough to prove his power
with ball in hand. Hooker is a problem position at present, Dylan Hartley would
have walked in to the Test team at the moment, however, he is suspended and the
battle is between Tom Youngs and Richard Hibbard with Rory Best disappointing in
the 14-12 defeat to the Brumbies on Tuesday. Hibbard just about beats Youngs to the
starting shirt as his line-out throwing has been slightly more consistent than
his Leicester competitor. At tight-head prop, Dan Cole has impressed both in
the loose and in the set-piece. He gives away far fewer penalties than he used
to and is adding to his game with important carries in open-play. Adam Jones is a very experienced alternative and perhaps is a stronger scrummager, however, he is a less dynamic player in the loose. The set-piece is crucial in the Test series so Jones' experience just gives him the shirt on past pedigree. Matt Stevens
can do a job when called upon, but lacks the dynamism and fitness needed to be
really explosive and dangerous at the top-level nowadays.
The halfbacks should be filled by Mike
Phillips, who played in the Lions Series in South Africa and Jonathan Sexton,
who is bound for Racing Metro next season. Phillips adds a real physical
dimension from scrum-half and has proved to be a potent threat around the
fringes. He picked up two tries against the Barbarians in Hong Kong and his
try-scoring ability should create space for others around him. Sexton seems to
have the No.10 shirt to himself without much competition from Owen Farrell who
has struggled to find form in the closing stages of the season and in Australia.
While the Saracen utility-back has kicked well from the tee, his game
management and passing has been poor. Sexton has looked dangerous with ball in
hand and has put the Lions in the right areas of the field while playing he
ball wide at the right time with real accuracy. Also, with Leigh Halfpenny in a rich vein of
goal-kicking form, Sexton can concentrate on his accuracy with kicking from
hand and on unlocking the Australian defence.
Expect to see an entirely Welsh back three
if fitness permits: George North, Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny have once
again proved their value in attack, while looking assured in defence for the
majority of the time. Halfpenny’s goal kicking has been outstanding - his metronomic
accuracy in the match against Western Force has the Aussies worried about
giving away penalties in the Test series. He nailed 9 conversions and two
penalties from all over the pitch. Cuthbert has a devastating try-scoring
record for Wales with 9 tries in just 18 Tests and he has also started well in
Australia with two tries against the Barbarians and one against the Combined
Country XV. North has yet to hit his
full potential on this tour as a niggling injury has prevented him from shining.
However, when he has played he has created space for his team mates and added
much needed physicality in the back-line, especially considering Jamie Roberts
will miss the first test due to injury.
In the centres, Brian O’Driscoll proves
that he is ageless, despite losing a yard of pace, his runs from deep allow him
time to pick perfect running lines and he knows exactly where to position him
self in supporting roles. Sadly Roberts misses the first Test due to injury,
the qualified Doctor was in fine form and had the No.12 shirt nailed on before
he succumbed to a badly pulled hamstring. Luckily, fellow countryman Jonathan
Davies is a viable option at 12 or 13, the Scarlet has crossed for a couple of
tries this summer and he looks to be distributing the ball well and proving to
be a nuisance in defence. England’s Manu Tuilagi has been out with a ‘stinger’
injury to his shoulder, yet may feature from the bench against Australia. The
Leicester bulldozer has plenty more to give on this tour, so hopefully he will
recover fully in the near future.
With this in mind, my starting British and
Irish Lions Test Team would be:
1.
Mako Vunipola
2.
Richard Hibbard
3.
Adam Jones
4.
Alun-Wyn Jones
5.
Paul O’Connell
6.
Tom Croft
7.
Sam Warburton (Captain)
8.
Jamie Heaslip
9.
Mike Phillips
10.
Jonathan Sexton
11.
George North
12.
Jonathan Davies
13.
Brian O’Driscoll
14.
Alex Cuthbert
15.
Leigh Halfpenny (Goal-kicker)
Who do
you think has impressed so far and who do you think deserves a starting place? Have
you got any thoughts or comments? Post them below or message me on twitter
@tommyd91
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