Lions 2013: Who are the early contenders for test spots?
With the World Cup well and truly over, it is time to look forward to the next time the home nations go en masse to the Southern Hemisphere: the 2013 Lions tour of Australia.
Having narrowly lost the test series to South Africa in 2009, the 2013 Lions will be after their first test series win since 1997. That tour to the newly crowned World Champions, South Africa, was the first one of the professional era, and a memorable one thanks to the “Living with the Lions” documentary.
However the home nations haven’t won since then. They certainly have the quality of players to go to Australia and win, but will they?
Foresight is a wonderful thing, so provided everyone is fit, which they probably won’t be but we can dream a little, here is who I reckon will make that first test XV, based on past performances.
15. Ben Foden
He may have had a quiet World Cup but the creativity that we know Foden has is in there somewhere waiting to come out once more. James Hook was another option but Foden is more of an out and out full back.
14. Tommy Bowe
Having impressed in 2009 with the Lions, Bowe is given another chance for his attacking prowess. George North is the unlucky one missing out but there’s plenty of time for him as he will only be 21 in 2013.
13. Manu Tuilagi
By choosing this centre combination, the focus is on bulk and pace but the two should work well together. Manu Tuilagi started out as a winger but has taken to the 13 jersey like a duck to water. The only possible worry for him is sticking to the defensive line but with just under two years of rugby still to come that should sort itself out.
12. Jamie Roberts
Another 2009 Lion, Jamie Roberts has shown how vital he is to the Wales squad in both attack and defence. Both will be stretched to their limits in Australia but Roberts is easily the best inside centre in the home nations at the moment so will be able to handle the pressure.
11. Chris Ashton
An excellent player to watch, Ashton works his way around the pitch looking for work to do. He will capitalise on any opportunities given to him whilst making ones of his own. With that hard work and ethic he’ll be in the squad and the first test team.
10. Jonathan Sexton
It could have been Toby Flood, it could have been Rhys Priestland or Ruaridh Jackson. Instead I’ve opted for Jonathan Sexton to take on the fly-half berth. The way he controls a game is impressive and his kicking – both out of hand and spot kicks are superb. It was a tough choice but I think it’s the right one.
9. Mike Phillips
A member of the 2009 Lions squad, Phillips has continued to improve and impress while the likes of Ben Youngs and Conor Murray have come on the international scene. He makes the team for his skill and experience, once again vital in such a specialist position.
1. Cian Healy
The Irishman has been one to watch for a while and has proved his worth over the past couple of seasons both for Leinster and Ireland. A good all round player that deserves the chance to represent the Lions.
2. Matthew Rees
Unfortunate to miss out on the World Cup through injury, I still reckon that Matthew Rees is one of the best hookers in the home nations and having toured with the Lions before he will have the necessary experience in such a specialist position.
3. Dan Cole
As someone who has been successful against Australia in the past, Cole is a pick as I reckon he and Healy will shine against the Wallabies improved scrum. They are both young but already very good at the dark arts of the front row, any weaknesses will be exploited.
4. Richie Gray
In the second row we have power and mobility, as both are as adept at ball carrying as they are at the line out and scrum. Richie Gray has been one of the stand out performers of the past year and should it continue through to 2013 he would be a definite for the test XV.
5. Courtney Lawes
Lawes will complement Gray well in the second row. While Lawes gets stuck into the rucks, Gray will prefer to carry the ball. This is a Lions combination for now and future tours, that’s how the coaching staff should think.
6. Sean O’Brien
He’s like a brilliant bulldozer. Sean O’Brien is everywhere that matters on the pitch and when playing on the blindside he can be a game changer, as shown in the second half of the 2011 Heineken Cup Final. O’Brien should relish the challenge in Australia, whether he’s up against Rocky Elsom, Scott Higginbotham or even Dave Dennis.
7. Sam Warburton (c)
The 24 year old Wales captain has done it by jumping in the deep end at the World Cup so why not the Lions? He should be facing fellow brilliant openside David Pocock in a head-to-head to savour, with both players having upped their games since 2011.
8. Jamie Heaslip
Toby Faletau will find himself unlucky not to be named in the side, but I wanted to have the extra line out option in the side, and Heaslip provides that. A storming player, he regularly gets over the gain line and when on form is a pleasure to watch.
What do you think of this side? Who would make your Lions test XV? Let us know in the comments.
49 Comments
Leave a Comment
Recent comments
Take us on at SuperBru
its hard to judge!! more like who can shake things up! so more who can get on the squad, 30 players 16 14 split
forward front row contenders in 2 years time … healy, Hagan irish both be 26 ish very mobile gethin and adam will be pushing the 32 mark good scrumagers but against oz don’t need to be world class as oz can be beaten up by good props england so much strength in depth in props, joe marler could be up their hookers rory best was one of the best hookers at the world cup hartley and rees can all be good options second rows paul o’connel will be 33 but could still be a force and the other options have been mentioned dan touhy could be up their hope he gets game time with ireland from now on finally back row tom croft won’t make the squad sean o’brien ferris heaslip warbarton and felateau would be my 5! at the moment
backs 9, philips not my favorite at all murray, danny care, alt of strength in this area for oz a quick pass is needed.
10, Prestland, sexton and farrel ten cover might start 12
centers bod if his bod keeps going tuilagi, roberts stand outs now
back 3 bowe aston fitz halfpenny north kearny, earls up and coming conway sharples great talent will be left at home for the back 3 hard to pick just 5 all i can say is ho said northern hemisphere rugby is dead this is only a fraction of the choices and it seems like i have wrote an essay in 2 years alot can change newzealand might not be the best team in the world….
15 foden eng
14 north wal
13 tuilagi eng
12 roberts wal
11 ashton eng
10 priestland wal
9 youngs! eng
8 heaslip ire
7 warturburn wal
6 obrien ire
5 lawes eng
4 gray sco
3 cole eng
2 hartley eng
1 healy ire
16 rees wal
17 jenkins wal
18 davies wal
19 ferris ire
20 falutau wal
21 murray ire
22 sexton ire
23 halfpenny wal
others
wood eng
lydiate wal
phillips wal
best ire
jones wal
murray sco
ansbro sco
davies wal
flood eng
haskell eng
jackson sco
williams wal
As the 6 nations draws to a close its an interesting (albeit early) time to review the potential Lions. Here’s my (1st/2nd) choice…
15. Kearney (Halfpenny)
14. Bowe (Cuthbert)
13. O’Driscoll? (Tuilagi/Davies)
12. Roberts (Williams)
11. North (Hogg)
10. Sexton (Farrell)
9. Phillips (Reddan)
1. Healy (Jenkins)
2. Best (Hartley)
3. Jones (Cole)
4. Gray (Jones)
5. O’Connell (Ryan)
6. Ferris (Croft)
7. Warburton (O’Brien)
8. Denton (Morgan)
Tho I might be slightly biased in favour of my home nation!?
I’m Irish and I would have issues with several of your selections. Kearney is great under the garryowen/high ball but I would expect nothing less from a full back. That’s his job afterall. Unfortunately he plays heads down rugby with ball in hand. The play usually ends with him being tackled and going to ground which slows everything down. He doesn’t link with the other backs because I suspect he doesn’t know where they are most of the time. He needs to play heads up before I’d pick him. Sexton was out played and out thought by Farrel in the Ire v Eng match so no I wouldn’t pick him ahead of Farrell.I wouldn’t even have Reddan on the plane as a third choice. Murray is my pick. Best is an honest player but I think Rees shades it. I wouldn’t pick that scumbag Hartley for club or country not to mention the Lions..I’ d like to have seen O’Brien get a run at no.8 in the six nations as I think he could be a revelation but that spot was taken up by the posing and preening Jamie Heaslip who did next to nothing all through the championship. Ferris will have a job to get in ahead of Croft.
After the Six nations, this is who i’d pick to be in the Lions squad 2013……
1. Jenkins Wal
2. Best Ire
3. Jones Wal
4. Gray Scot
5. O’connell Ire
6. Lydiate Wal
7. Warbutton Wal
8. Denton Scot
9. Phillips Wal
10. Sexton Ire
11. North Wal
12. Roberts Wal
13. Davies/ Tulagi Wal/Eng
14. Cuthbert Wal
15. Foden Eng
16. Cole Eng
17. Rees Wal
18. Davies Wal
19. Croft Eng
20. Youngs Eng
21. Priestland Wal
22. Halfpenny Wal
Others..
Healy Ire
Hartley Eng
AW Jones Wal
Evans Wal
Ferris Ire
O’brien Ire
Faletau Wal
Reddan Ire
Farrell Eng
Ashton Eng
Williams Wal
Bowe Ire
Kearney Ire
Starting XV
1 Jenkins (W)
2 Hartley (E)
3 A.Jones (W)
4 Gray (S)
5 A W Jones (W)
6 Lydiate (W)
7 Warburton (c) (W)
8 Faletau (W)
9 Dickson (E)
10 Farrell (E)
11 North (W)
12 Roberts (W)
13 Tuilagi (E)
14 Bowe (I)
15 Halfpenny (W)
Subs
16 Rees (W)
17 Healy (I)
18 Charteris (W)
19 O’Brien (I)
20 Phillips (W)
21 Sexton (I)
22 Bowe (I)
The Rest
E.Murray (S)
Corbiseiro (E)
Ford (S)
O’Connell (I)
Ferris (I)
Robshaw (E)
Morgan (E)
C.Murray (I)
Priestland (W)
Davies (W)
Williams (W)
Hogg (S)
Ashton (E)
Kearney (I)
15 Kearney (I)
14 Bowe (I)
13 Davies (W)
12 Tuilagi (E)
11 North (W)
10 Priestland (W)
9 Phillips (W)
1 Jenkins (W)
2 Ford (S)
3 Jones (W)
4 Grey (S)
5 O’Connell (I)
6 Ferris (I)
7 Warburton (C) (W)
8 Heaslip (I)
16 Rees (W)
17 Corbisiero / Cole (E)
18 Lawes (E)
19 O’Brien (I)
20 Blair (S)
21 Farrell (E)
22 Earls (I)
The rest
Healy (I)
Best (I)
Charteris (W)
AWJ (W)
Lydiate (W)
Rennie (S)
Faletau (W)
Youngs (E) Pending a recapture of form
Sexton (I)
Visser (S) Wildcard
Roberts (W)
Ashton (E) Pending a recapture of form
Halfpenny (W)
Foden (E)
Has anyone mentioned BOD yet? he’ll still be around in 2013 and I doubt he won’t make it into the Lion’s squad.
15.kearney
14.bowe
13.tuilagi`
12.roberts
11.north
10.sexton
9.philips
1.healy
2.ford
3.jones
4.gray
5.o’connell (c)
6.ferris
7.warburton
8.o’brien
to be honest i think a lot of people above dismissing brian o driscoll would be mistake and wildcard who i think will go as 2nd choice number 10 is jonnny wilkinson in my opinion playing some of his best rugby in france and reliable with boot in tight encounters
my starting xv :
1. cian healy ( scrummager and ball carrier )
2. rory best ( accurate arrows, gets around park
3. adam jones ( cornerstone of pack
4. richie gray ( terrific line-out and in loose
5.paul o connell ( leadership, line out forward
6. stephen ferris ( powerful carrier and defender
7.sam warburton ( captain and only out and out 7 good enough
8. jamie heaslip ( carrying, line out , defence got it all
9. mike phillips 9 (strong, experienced
10.jonny sexton ( running threat, good in defence
11. leigh halfpenny ( goalkicker, utility back , dangerous counter attacker
12. jamie roberts( strong ball carrier , defence strong too
13. brian o driscoll ( amazing in defence and at breakdown, also lots experience and nous
14. chris ashton( northern hemisphere best finisher
15. rob kearney( good runner, good in air , kicks well
16. dylan hartley
17.dan cole
18.alan wyn jones
19. sean o,brien
20. ben youngs
21. jonny wilkinson
22. manu tuilagi
other travelling squad members :
mike ross
gethin jenkins
courtney lawes
chris robshaw
toby faletau
danny care
rhys priestland
george north
gordon d,arcy
sean cronin
jonathan davies
alex cuthbert
tommy bowe
dan lydiate
im welsh and non-biased
1. Healy Ire -good scrummager + carrier
2. Heartley Eng -leadership+carring+good lineout+scumager
3. Cole Eng -Best tighthead in the world by far
4. Gray Sco -best lock in the world
5. Lawes Eng -provides grunt and hart tackleing+rucking
6. Wood Eng -great at breakdown and tackling+a poacher of the ball
7. Warburton Wal -Best openside in the north hemesphere
8. Heaslip Ire -great ball carrier+line out option
9. Care Eng -attacking threat+great passing
10. Sexton Ire -attacking treat+brings others into game
11. North Wal -good carrier and ram with speed
12. Roberts Wal -best inside centre in the north hemesphere
13. Tuilagi Eng -best ball carrier in north hemisphere+game changer
14. Ashton Eng -best finisher in north hemisphere
15. Halfpenny Wal -great under high ball+counteratacking threat+can kick
subs
16. Best Ire
17. Corbisiero Eng
18. Jones Wal
19. Ferris Ire
20. Phillips Wal
21. Farrel Eng
22. Hook Wal
Total Starting team(whole team)for countrys
Wal-4(7)
Eng-7(9)
Ire-3(5)
Sco-1(1)