My Lions squad: Getting the chemistry right is key
have resisted the temptation up to now but, with D-day fast approaching, it’s time to get off the fence. The Lions squad to tour New Zealand will be announced this day next week and Warren Gatland has some big calls to make.
The hype surrounding the Lions has exploded out of all proportion and, with a challenging tour to come, I have deliberately kept my powder dry to this point. Getting the balance to your selection right is probably the single most important ingredient in presenting the party with a chance of winning the series.
Given all the other challenges Gatland faces, this is one of the few totally within his control. There are so many issues contributing to making what is always the most demanding of destinations more testing still, so Gatland had better get the one thing he can stand over as close to perfect as possible.
I say that in the knowledge that when faced with picking up to 38 players, many of whom you have never worked with before, you are bound to get a few wrong. History also shows that some players who failed to make the original cut often prove hugely influential when called out as injury replacements.
Over the course of a long season, it is inevitable players’ form will peak at different times. Gatland’s challenge is attempting to have them at their impactful best, at the tail-end of a demanding season, when he has no influence whatsoever over the first nine months of their playing load.
In selecting the squad, apart from form, I am also considering a player’s ability to handle disappointment, to remain positive in a highly pressurised environment, and contribute most, on and off the field, towards securing a series win.
The squad selected is the one that I would largely pick myself but is influenced by the way Gatland thinks. He will want a minimum of four Scottish players in the squad so I have factored that in. I may be accused of Irish bias in some areas but I have a better fix on the qualities they bring to the mix. In addition, it will be hugely beneficial to the squad to have a strong quotient of players who have already beaten New Zealand this season.
That is also why Gatland will have plenty of his trusted lieutenants from Wales in the squad, despite the fact that they finished fifth in the Six Nations championship and had no team in the last eight of the Champions Cup.
The thing that hit me most when pondering the final party is, while there is healthy competition in a number of key sectors, that is not the case at hooker, outside centre, and on the wing, with nailed-on selections and little separating the leading candidates.
The character of the side will be centred on having a powerful mix of strong, athletic forwards capable of going toe-to-toe with the best New Zealand has to offer. Gatland will look to deliver a dominant set-piece, regardless of the front five selected on any given day, and a back-row combination capable of competing at the breakdown. Given that all opposition on this tour will excel in this area, it is vital to get that back row balance right.
My front five is picked on the basis of providing a scrum capable of being used as a weapon to launch first-phase attack and with the ability to generate penalties if necessary. In addition, all the players selected are good in the contact area and capable of generating turnovers.
My props are Jack McGrath, Mako Vunipola, Tadgh Furlong, Dan Cole, Cian Healy, and, subject to proving his fitness, WP Nel. At hooker I have gone for the leadership qualities Rory Best brings to the mix. England captain Dylan Hartley hasn’t played well enough for me in any of the Six Nations games to warrant inclusion, with Welsh hooker Ken Owens far more consistent. For bench impact, I have opted for Saracens’ Jamie George, a slot Leinster’s Sean Cronin could well have occupied but for injury.
There are a lot of quality performers competing in the second row. Alun Wyn Jones and Joe Launchbury, despite a poor outing against Leinster in the Champions Cup quarter-final, have been pencilled in for some time, as has Maro Itoje, who I’m picking here as opposed to the back row, where he could yet feature on tour.
England’s George Kruis was a certainty for me before injury ruled him out of the Six Nations. He is due to return to action for Saracens this weekend and, subject to successfully negotiating that, I have included him.
he remaining slot represents a tight call between the Gray brothers, Donnacha Ryan, Iain Henderson, Devin Toner, and Courtney Lawes. The need to have a meaningful Scottish presence tips the balance in favour of Jonny Gray.
To beat New Zealand you have to, at least, match them in the back row and, with that in mind, I have gone for a combination of versatile players with a strong emphasis on their carrying and poaching skills.
My No 8s are Billy Vunipola and his cousin Taulupe Faletau, my No 6s CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony, with the Welsh pair of Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric travelling in direct competition at open side. My floater is Sean O’Brien, who is rediscovering his best form at the right time and has previous Lions experience.
All seven back rows are capable of playing in the test series which is vital given the attritional rate that normally accrues with back rowers on tour in New Zealand. In addition O’Mahony would make an outstanding mid-week captain or bench impact player.
The half backs largely pick themselves: Conor Murray and Rhys Webb look the ideal combination with Murray starting and Webb offering something different off the bench. My third No 9 is a toss-up between Ben Youngs and Greig Laidlaw but the Scottish captain’s recent injury looks like ruling him out. If fit, he makes it over Youngs.
Gatland only brought two out-halves to Australia four years ago and I am following that lead with the comfort blanket of selecting Owen Farrell in midfield. Johnny Sexton travels as my test No 10 but given the question-marks surrounding his ability to last three tests on consecutive Saturdays, I am opting for Dan Biggar over Finn Russell as back-up.
With Robbie Henshaw also in the mix for test section, Farrell is the obvious option to cover Sexton in the event of injury. Russell has played well for Scotland but failed to convince in three of the four big pressure games I watched him in live this season — the two Champions Cup pool outings against Munster and the England game at Twickenham.
Farrell and Henshaw are easy picks in midfield but the other three are far from straight forward. Here, I am taking a leap of faith with an exciting mix of younger talent in Garry Ringrose and Jonathan Joseph alongside a proven Lions test series winner in Jonathan Davies.
My two full backs are Stuart Hogg and Liam Williams even though the Scarlets man was picked on the wing for Wales. With plenty top of the range place-kickers available, Williams gets the nod over 2013 Lions player of the series Leigh Halfpenny.
The wings present a challenge, with few must-pick options presenting themselves over the course of the season. As a consequence Sale Sharks’ new rugby league sensation Denny Solomona and Chris Ashton are being pushed heavily in England. Gatland is a great man for taking a punt and I wouldn’t be surprised if he opts for one of them. I don’t know enough about Solomona and wouldn’t select Ashton.
Scotland’s Tommy Seymour has always impressed me and has been remarkably consistent all season. Based purely on the form he showed against Ireland, George North has to be picked. One hopes that when surrounded by such a talented group, he will be able to rediscover his best form.
My final three picks are influenced by their ability to cover a few different positions, compete favourably in the air and score tries. Anthony Watson and Simon Zebo satisfy that criteria while Elliot Daly can play anywhere across the back three and cover midfield in an emergency — vital on a tour of this nature. In addition, his ability to kick penalties from inside his own half tips the balance in his favour.
Right now there are hundreds of different selection combinations doing the rounds. Only one matters, however.
Over to you Gatty.
MY LIONS SQUAD
Jack McGrath (Ireland), Mako Vunipola (England), Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), WP Nel (Scotland)
Rory Best (Ireland), Ken Owens (Wales), Jamie George (England)
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Joe Launchbury (England), Maro Itoje (England), George Kruis (England), Jonny Gray (Scotland)
CJ Stander (Ireland), Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), Sam Warburton (Wales), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland)
Billy Vunipola (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Conor Murray (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Youngs (England), Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Dan Biggar (Wales)
Owen Farrell (England), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Gary Ringrose (Ireland), Jonathan Joseph (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Liam Williams (Wales)
Tommy Seymour (Scotland), George North (Wales), Anthony Watson (England), Simon Zebo (Ireland), Elliot Daly (England)
