Just when you thought we were away for Christmas, here’s the Lions Stock Check.
Another weekend of European rugby and a number of mightily impressive performances by British and Irish sides. As it is nearly Christmas, I thought I would engender some festive goodwill and only pick the positives from the weekend.
Here are a few players who furthered their chances of wearing the Lions jersey next summer.
GOING UP
Finn Russell
Two man-of-the-match displays in two weeks against the greatest flyhalf of all time? Well that’s one way to make Warren Gatland take note. Finn Russell is not so much quietly pushing his way into contention as lighting fireworks and blasting heavy metal. Firstly, credit must go to Glasgow’s pack, who have been monumental recently (Jonny Gray in particular) and have given Russell the perfect quick ball with which to show his skills. He has played smart rugby and combined it deftly with a few glimmers of exceptional skill (watch his chip that started the move for Strauss’ try at the weekend).
With Farrell looking a cert to tour but likely as a centre/flyhalf hybrid, there will be space for one/maximum two more flyhalfs in the Lions’ squad – which means at least one of Ford, Sexton and Russell won’t be going. If the tour was announced tomorrow, Russell would be in.
Nick Abendanon
We mentioned Abendanon back in October after his performance in the first round of the Champions Cup and he was brilliant again at the weekend – scoring a brace out of position on the wing. Although he won’t be considered for England, he is certainly an option for the Lions.
The Lions’ fullback cupboard is pretty well stocked, with Stuart Hogg and Liam Williams in such sparkling form, and Rob Kearney returning to something approaching his best. However, wing is less certain. Most people’s original choices for the wing still have a lot to prove – George North is so out kilter right now, England’s first choice wingers, Watson and Nowell, are making their way back from injury, and Tommy Bowe is still searching for his very best. Simon Zebo has been good and so have Scotland’s pair of Seymour and Maitland, but Abendanon would certainly offer something very different. A livewire of uncertainty with a fantastic try-scoring record, he would make New Zealand sit up and take note.
Sean Cronin
Leinster’s demolition of Northampton was at times uncomfortable and a little sad to watch. And I say that as a Leicester Tigers fan who usually revels in our East Midlands’ neighbours getting beaten. But even if we ignore the quality of opposition a weakened Saints team provided, Leinster were mightily impressive. Led by a destructive pack effort, in particular Sean O’Brien, Tadhg Furlong and Sean Cronin, who all got on the score sheet.
Hooker is not the position with the greatest strength in depth for the Lions – I certainly can’t see Ross Ford making another tour – with Rory Best the only certainty. Despite this, Cronin has featured in very few conversations about the Lions squad. Gatland is likely to want three options in the initial selection: Hartley has his discipline worries, Jamie George has only got bench experience at the top level, while Ken Owens has yet to convince he is international class. Sean Cronin could sneak onto that plane if he keeps up this level.
Tadhg Furlong
Another impressive Leinster front-rower, Furlong has continued his form from the Autumn Internationals with another class performance. He is such a powerful ball carrier, Northampton regularly required multiple tacklers to stop him and he powered through three men to score his try. One of my first names on the team sheet right now.
Scott Williams
The man-of-the-match and try scorer as the Scarlets claimed a mightily impressive victory over Toulon. Scott William’s didn’t enjoy the greatest of Autumn’s while on international duty, but neither did most of the Welsh side. However, he was better than Jamie Roberts, who started Wales’ weakest two performances (against Australia and Japan). Surely with the way he is playing for his club, he will get a chance for some continuity in the Welsh side and a run of games through the Six Nations? If that happens, and Wales get some big results, he could make a late case for a Lions spot.
Who impressed you at the weekend?
By Henry Ker
That really is it now, except for the predictions articles ahead of this weekend and next weekend. Happy Christmas!
Joe Launchbury had yet another fine game and is currently as good as any second row in Europe. I still think that with so many good second rows available Jones may play Itoje at 6, and if he does well there Gatland might do the same. Not a great depth at hooker but Cronin is definitely putting his hand up and I fancy George to be England first choice by February. With Cowan Dickie fit again we can hope that Hartley misses out yet again.
Certainly an idea Andy, Launchbury has been excellent recently. However, would you drop Robshaw? Probably my England player of the year given the sheer consistency of his performances and that other standouts like Haskell and Itoje were injured for periods. Jones also name checked Lawes regularly for his performances so even if we moved Itoje to 6 it is not a given Launchbury would start over Lawes (if we assume Kruis still starts).
I see Itoje more likely to feature at 7 if there is a position swap and especially if Haskell takes some time to get back up to speed after such a long injury lay off.
I think you are just as likely to be right as I am Henry. Good to have competition in almost every position for England and the Lions though. My major concern is the attritional nature of an over long season leading to a lot of the top players being injured or exhausted before they get on the plane. The Lions in NZ should be a series between players who are at their peak rather than knackered after the money men have squeezed the last drop out of them.
Itoje is starting at 6 for Sarries this weekend so I suspect Jones will want to be at that game.
I had completely omitted Abendanon from my Lions selection thoughts as not eligible but your right he does provide an option on the wing
I’m a big fan of Cronin, he’d certainly be my choice of hooker on the bench – he’s so dynamic. Great to watch.
I haven’t seen much of Abendanon at Clermont. Has he ironed out his propensity to follow a bit of stunning play with a howling error?
I haven’t seen loads of Clermont matches this season – mainly the Europe games – but my answer would be ‘nearly but not quite’…
The problem Russell will have is that through the six nations he will be playing outside Laidlaw. Laidlaw has a lot of great positives but given his mediocre pass, making a fly half look good is NOT one of them.
True. I also think this is part of Ford’s problem playing outside Youngs. Leicester also look more dangerous outside when Harrison and his quicker pass comes off the bench.
Hookers will be interesting as we are almost certain to have a reserve traveling as I don’t think any hooker in Scotland or Wales is good enough. Best and Hartley are certain travelers unless the latter blows a fuse again with the previous now edgeing ahead. I think George is the favourite for the last spot although being an Irish fan I would love Cronin to go.
The fact that EJ seems to rate Hartley doesn’t necessarily mean that Gatland feels the same. Would much rather see Cronin or George. Or almost anybody currently playing the game for that matter.
I get that and accept that point but bar his tendency to get sent off he is still a cracking player although I feel Rory Best has now overtaken him in the last 2 months (something I didn’t think would ever happen at the end of last season). I personally would like to see George and Cronin in the squad as they both add something different to the hooker options. Best is like another flanker, George has a very good all round game + is very dynamic and Cronin is also very dynamic but has impressive pace for a hooker, while Hartley is a very good player at what he does he doesn’t have that some special in other departments that the 3 other do. Cronin’s big advantage is he is a surprisingly experience international ( I looked at his wikipedia and was shocked to read he has 56 caps!) so if Hartley is fancied by Gatland than the lions won’t lose experience with Cronin. Big advantage for the 2 reserve’s is they are starters of clubs that will go far in Europe ( Leinster and Saracens) whereas the 2 other start for cubs that won’t (Ulster and Northampton), so outside the 6N they will have an extra chance to prove themselves.
We will have to agree to disagree on this one Cathal. Although I accept that Hatley has done a decent job as captain in the past year, compared to many modern bookers he lacks pace, impact when carrying and spacial awareness. The fact that Sarries now rate George as being on the same level as Brits, who is in a totally different class to Hartley is indicative. There also seem to be a lot of Northampton fans who think Haywood is better than him at his own club. Add to that the fact that he has always been a cheap shot merchant ready to clobber people on their blind side when defenceless also counts against him.
I think Hartley is a very reliable thrower in the line out but I would say he lack’s in part’s of his game that other dont. He really only seems to care about playing for England as Ive heard that he’s more or less checked out of Northampton. I do think the 6N will tell a lot, this incident with O’Brian was his first real f up since the Eddie Jones era begun and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to what he did. The reason I still think he will be 2nd choice ( possibly even first if Best has a stinker in the line out like he can do on occasions) is he will be playing most game for England and playing something like 60 minutes or more meaning George will only have 20 minutes or so stake a claim and if England are well ahead like I expect them to be in most game’s this 6N he won’t have much to do and therefore might not do enough to impress Gatland. I think what’s key for George is have a stormer for Saracens as that will be his most likely way of making a very strong case to Gatland. A podcast I heard to other day made a very good point saying that Hartley being born in NZ the NZ media will also have a field day trying to wind him up, dont want to risk him blowing a fuse during the series, need every boost we can get.
Eddie Jones has already fired a warning shot at Hartley and I wouldn’t be surprised if George moves in front of him in the pecking order for England. Nothing wrong with changing your captain at the beginning of a new year.
Anybody fancy a late charge from Tommy Taylor? I wonder if Hartley doesn’t get selected for 6N, and the fact LCD just back, if EJ might bring him into squad and i fancy him to take his chance if he gets it.
I like Taylor a lot Stu, but maybe he needs an extra season to bulk up a bit more and get a bit stronger in the tight? He also possibly has to overtake Cowan-Dickie in the England pecking order now he is fit again.
fair point, i rate him above LCD already to be honest and hopefully strong showings in a Wasps side doing well in Europe and domestically will give him an edge.