My Lions selection
Jan de Koning has decided to play selector and help Ian McGeechan out by selecting his Lions team for him, based on the first round of Six Nations action. Silly man, we know.
With the Super 14 still a week away and the Six Nations our main attraction this past weekend, I managed to get a good look at what awaits the Springbok when the British & Irish Lions tour South Africa later this year.
And I must say, I was not all that impressed.
Maybe it is early days yet and I’m sure the teams will get better, but with the exception of Ireland and Wales, the Boks have very little to fear.
England have become truly awful and Scotland … well, they are just Scotland.
And as I looked at the performances of the individuals, who may make up the Lions squad, it became apparent that Ireland and Wales will dominate the squad – just as they are going to be the main contenders for the Six Nations crown this year.
At this early stage my money is on Ireland, but Wales have a couple of key players to come back.
They lost midfield maestro Gavin Henson to injury and also captain Ryan Jones – one of the captaincy candidates for the Lions – to injury shortly before kick-off.
In the case of Henson, there was a readymade replacement in Jamie Roberts – who was named man of the match in Wales’ 26-13 win over Scotland. Ryan Jones’ replacement, Dafydd Jones, did nothing wrong, but he is clearly not in his captain’s class.
Poor Scotland. Missing their only decent prop, Euan Murray, through injury, they spent the entire afternoon on the back foot and it was only towards the end when Wales took their foot off the gas and decided that tackling practice was needed, that Scotland looked like a team that belongs in the Six Nations.
England made heavy weather of a very shockingly poor Italian side, a team clearly effected by Nick Mallet’s brain explosion when he named a loose forward, Mauro Bergamasco, at scrumhalf. It had disastrous effects and gifted England three tries in the first half. To Mallett’s credit, he realised his erroneous ways at half-time, but by then the game was over as a contest.
Ireland came up against a very willing and capable French team and the manner in which the Irish disposed of them is what makes me think they are early title favourites.
They looked clinical and even when the French threatened to take control, they hit back.
And they have Brian O’Driscoll – my early favourite for the Lions captaincy.
I have decided to name the 30 players, based on this past weekend’s matches (which means injured players don’t come into contention), whom I think deserves to be in the British & Irish Lions touring squad.
This may well change in the weeks to come.
Herewith my 30-man squad, following the weekend’s first round of Six Nations games:
Fullbacks: Robert Kearney (Ireland), Lee Byrne (Wales)
Wings: Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Chris Paterson (Scotland), Leigh Halfpenny and Shane Williams (Wales)
Centres: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland, captain), Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin (Wales), Riki Flutey (England)
Flyhalves: Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales)
Scrumhalves: Mike Blair (Scotland), Michael Phillips (Wales)
Loose forwards: Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace (Ireland), Andy Powell, Martyn Williams (Wales), Allister Hogg (Scotland), Steffon Armitage (England)
Locks: Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), Alun-Wyn Jones and Ian Gough (Wales)
Props: Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Marcus Horan (Ireland), Phil Vickery (England)
Hookers: Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Matthew Rees (Wales)
Do you agree/disagree with Jan?
