Warren Gatland has been a busy, busy boy. The Lions circus-master flew in for the last five games of the Amlin and RaboDirect Pro Cups ahead of the 30th April Lions Selection.
That special date draws ever closer when both rugby fans and players alike turn hungrily to social media to find out who has made it onto that fateful plane. Gatland says he has had his captain in his mind for a while… But who??
It would be fair to say that the autumn internationals and the Six Nations campaign were damp squibs as far as the players’ dreams of securing themselves a seat.
Many of the rock stars of international rugby were out injured for most of the tournament, some only now returning to form in the twilight of the season, such as Jonathan Sexton of Ireland, that Celtic incendiary device of a kicker at Number 10.
He is now challenged by Owen Farrell (inexperienced and poor under pressure) and Dan Biggar (fresh from scoring over 900 league points for the Ospreys but still a last minute Six Nations replacement for Rhys Priestland).
Another late-joiner is Dan Lydiate of the Scarlets, last years’ RBS Six Nations Man of the Tournament, out for the entire campaign after breaking his ankle in, ironically, Australia. Both could have been considered dead certs at the start of the season… But have they been eclipsed?
The first question is who is going to captain? Gatland has always favoured Sam Warburton of Wales but it would be fair to say that that has now opened.
After disastrous Autumn Internationals which began the Six Nations for Wales on an eight game losing streak, Warburton was replaced by Ryan Jones and, later, Gethin Jenkins, who did a sterling job and has centred himself for contention. Jenkins has been on a Lions tour before and is familiar with the expectations.
Another thing that goes against Warburton is that during the games where he did not captain, his form improved dramatically. Warburton was also offered the captaincy on the morning of the Wales-England bloodbath but turned it down, preferring to work on his own game.
This could be seen as great humility, allowing another man the honour so that his game could be the best it could be for such an important showdown, but if he can’t handle the pressure of representing his nation as captain, how can he be expected to fulfil a British Lions captaincy?
Chris Robshaw of England has represented his country every time he’s been fit to play since 2009 and is arguably responsible for leading England to victories against the All Blacks and the first games of the Six Nations this year. He is a flanker, and Gatland does have a preference for captains that are forwards.
After Ireland’s disastrous season, including their first ever loss to Italy, Brian O’Driscoll is sadly probably out. This is a great shame as this tour could utilise his experience as a Lion and as well as provide a fitting last hoorah as he retires from international rugby after a stellar career.
It would also wipe the memories of his last-minute sin-binning for an uncharacteristic stamping offence in Ireland’s last game. It’s a close one. Bookies have closed the bets on Sam Warburton but, as they say, it ain’t over till it’s over.
Men who are definite for the plane include a great deal of red shirts. Leigh Halfpenny, Adam Jones and George North for Wales might as well pack now.
Halfpenny was this year’s Man of the Tournament; he was the highest scoring player of the tournament and didn’t miss a tackle in the entire competition.
Playing the kicking game against the Wallabies might not be an option, and I feel it will definitely come down to the scrum and pure physicality, but having Halfpenny there always banks you the points and he is a world class No 12.
To really crucify the Wallabies scrum, you need Adam Jones. Dan Cole might have always been in contention but as far as I’m concerned, Adam Jones is already checked in and enjoying a beer in the departure lounge.
The difference between the professionalism of the two men is stark. Adam Jones has been consistently deciding scrums, whether for the Ospreys or for Wales and for some, reflects an interesting choice for captain.
Dan Cole can always be trusted to start a melee and the frankly abysmal collapsing scrum debacle during Wales-England was almost solely down to him in my eyes. His ridiculous and unprovoked attack on Richard Hibbard during that game should have seen him binned and I hope Gatland recognises this deficiency of sportsmanship and leaves him to enjoy a British summer.
Gethin Jenkins is also a must here, to tear through the Wallabies scrum. Richard Hibbard has been an inconsistent player up until now, tarred with injuries no doubt from his fearless and foolhardy use of his body. I’d rather be on the receiving end of a tackle from a high-speed fridge.
However, after a wonderful campaign for the hooker that saw him put a try over the line as well as nail player after player, the Lions would allow him to prove his point. Hibbard is one of the great up-and-comers, both for the Ospreys and internationally.
For wingers, George North, despite recent debacles over his transfer to the Saints, is absolutely glorious to watch. His speed and size on the wing were game-changers for Wales against France and despite all the hoohah over his departure from the Scarlets, in the weekend Judgment Day derby at the height of the furore, North sailed two tries over the line against the Dragons as if they were nothing.That kind of focus and resolve under pressure is why North is one of the most exciting players of his generation.
On the other wing, Alex Cuthbert has more than proved his worth, flying two tries against England this year and the deciding Grand Slam winning tries last year.
He is golden for seeing opportunities and taking the breaks, as well as his partnership with Justin Tipuric, who outshone Warburton as a 7 in the tournament, should see both of them taking their seats in first class, content that they’ve more than earned them.
That’s not to forget the authoritative experience of Alun Wyn Jones and Mike Philips, whose gravitas and skill are always a treat for the eyes.
The Lions will no doubt have a good representation of the four nations of the UK, but it would be fair to say that Scotland’s third place finish in the Six Nations is a high for them and Ireland are definitely on an uncharacteristic downturn.
However, despite middling results for one and defeats for the other, some players still shone through the dim light. Second row Richie Gray for Scotland is hard to miss generally, given his 6’8″ tank-like frame and his shock of blond cherubic hair.
However, he’s been instrumental at the lineout (being 6’8″ helps!) and he has speed to his footwork. He’s also hard to tackle given his size which can only be a good thing against a physical Wallabies side.
Stuart Hogg for Scotland is the top try scorer of the 2013 Six Nations Tournament which should alone guarantee him a seat for livening up a Tournament that was sadly missing out on that excitement of a man on a break.
For hooker, there’s also Ireland’s Rory Best in contention with Scotland’s Ross Ford alongside Hibbard for which there is no indication on how Gatland will turn.
Tuilagi and Faletau are in for the win as well as Ireland’s Luke Marshall, young and inexperienced but who proved himself on his Ireland debut as a serious one to watch, as did Peter Mahony, one of the few men to emerge from Ireland’s descent with his laurels intact.
The fact is, nobody knows. But tomorrow is going to be a write-off for me, either in anticipatory hypertension or comatose recovery. It’ll be a talking point for weeks, whether the inconsistency of the Wallabies scrum, the possibles for referee and their respective merits or just me keeping a lovesick pair of fingers crossed for them all to have a lively and dynamic Lions tournament to end all Lions tournaments.