With trading closed in the pool stages of European Competition for another season, it’s time to see whose Lions stock has gone up, and whose has gone down.
GOING UP
Tommy Taylor
In a frankly abject game on Sunday afternoon, Tommy Taylor was one of the only bright spots. Taylor picked several brilliant lines. Gained 30 metres, all with his hair-a-swinging, and made 7 tackles whilst missing none. All of this added up to a typically energetic performance.
What’s more, Taylor played a full 80 minutes (and has done several times this season). If selected, this would give Gatland the flexibility to play Taylor for the full 80 in the midweek team and keep his other hookers powder dry for the test match. All this is supposing he chooses to take three hookers, like in 2013.
Tim Swinson
Honestly, I could have chosen just about any of the (Lions eligible) Glasgow players from Saturday night. But, Tim Swinson raised his hand higher than the rest for selection in the most hotly contested position on the Lions team. Whilst his second row partner, Jonny Gray, normally gets all the plaudits Swinson put in a brilliant performance. He carried an impressive fourteen times, and scored a try. He only made five tackles, but this can be put down to Leicesters truly awful performance.
One of the most impressive parts of Glasgows performance was their box of tricks at the lineout. As an incredibly mediocre fly half, line outs are normally of little interest to me so long as the ball reaches me in a timely manner, but Glasgows were a bit different. Something rather special and to be admired. Swinson, as the leader of this lineout, could add something a little bit different when compared to all the other locks available for selection.
Robbie Henshaw
If second row is the most hotly contested position on the Lions tour, then I think centre is a close second. Here Gatland also has a lot of options, perhaps governed by how he wants to play, as much as by who is ‘better’.
Henshaw tossed his hat significantly further into the ring this week. Two tries, an eye popping 93 yards and 5 defenders beaten would tend to do that for a centre. Equally significant were his defensive stats, Henshaw made 14 tackles (whilst missing two). Quite a workload on both sides of the ball. An all round footballer, I’m starting to think my Lions midfield would include Henshaw at 12, sandwiched between Farrell and Joseph or Daly at 13.
GOING DOWN
The Youngs Brothers
Whilst the Youngs brothers were far from the worst performers for Leicester, I think their stock may have been most heavily hit. Nothing seemed to go right for the two of them.
Tom; a hooker in the international wilderness, was probably always an outside chance to be getting on the plane, but after this weekend it looks even further away. The elder Youngs missed 3 tackles, only carried the ball for 1 metre, and the stats show 1 scrum and 2 lineouts lost. As a player on the outside of the international circle, who isn’t putting in weekly sensational performances with a winning club team, it’s difficult to see him getting selected.
Ben; a feast or famine scrum half, capable of world beating days (think, versus South Africa in the autumn) had an off one. His passing from the base wasn’t great, but this has to be mitigated somewhat by the fact the Leicester pack were rapidly backtracking over the top of him. Five more world beating days in white, and a few shabby ones from the corresponding man in green, may yet see Ben Youngs starting at scrum half for the Lions, but Conor Murray looks to be in pole position.
Enough from me, who caught your eye this weekend?
By Angus Williams
I will admit I didn’t rate him when he first came into the scotland team, but after his stint with the sevens and then joining Glasgow, Lee Jones has been an outstanding player this year for Glasgow. He might not be the classy/deadly finisher that Seymour is, but his running lines and support play make him a key player for Glasgow. Just on Saturday alone, he made the line break for Gray’s try, and his half step back inside was enough to give Bennett the space to score.
To me, he’s a slightly younger and faster Sean Lamont – both won’t score loads, but their general contribution is usually very important but unnoticed.
I think Henshaw is a certain starter, its either Farrell 12 Henshaw 13 or Henshaw 12 Joseph 13.
I’d be a big fan of the attacking threat posed by a Russell-Farrell-Henshaw axis.
We’re assuming that Farrell won’t be starting at 10? Sexton is probably the most likely to start, but is his form better than Farrell’s at the moment? A combination of Farrell, Henshaw and Joseph would be good with Hogg at 15.
I know I’m biased but I still think a good outside bet of a spot on the plane is Alex Lozowski. Whether playing 10, 12 of 15 he has proved his worth for Sarries this season. Great pace and vision with ball in hand, and punching well above his weight in defence. Not sure he’ll get a chance with England in the Six Nations, but if he does, you can bet he will give it absolutely everything.
Agree with Faz – Henshaw – JJ; this offers the best of attack and defence IMO. Would Henshaw be pushed to 13 to accommodate Farrell at 12? Considering he plays 12 for club it would seem unlikely.
I don’t think Russell done enough to earn a place ahead of Farrell, Sexton and even Ford. He has had a good season but at times has looked very mediocre. He needs a good run in the 6N.
Love Russell. But I don’t think he’s mature enough as a player to be a Lions starter. A brilliant game breaker, but I think he lacks a bit in game management and decision making.
You’re right. Like a lot of players, a big Six Nations could leapfrog them up the pecking order.
The weird thing is 12 is probably Henshaw’s worst position of the 3 he can play but as a Leinster/Ireland unit it just works. After seeing the damage he did versus England in Twickenham I would be confident enough he could do a job. For me Russell just isn’t good enough yet, not only the obvious 3 but id even have Jackson and Bigger ahead of him.
Jackson and Biggar ahead of him!
Why?
Look at what they have done on the big stage, what I’ve learned about Russell is he isn’t a big game player whereas the other 2 are.
I keep forgetting about Jackson; a good player who is really pushing Sexton and is likely to start 6N with Sextons latest injury.
If you talk about lack of game management, I think Biggar is a prime example…he has none. Yes he can kick a good up and under but that’s about it.
About Russell not being a big game player I could not agree more, he thrives of pressure. His kicking stats are consistently higher in more important games, see his touchline conversion against Ulster in the Pro 12 Semis a year and a half ago. Also people saying he has poor decision making, apart from the drop goal against Munster he is superb with his decisions, yes he may do some risky plays in games against small teams when Glasgow are comfortably the better team but in the big games he is superb.
Also most importantly when it comes to the international stage, I have never seen him have a bad game, he either has great or good games, also I can not remember a single time, when a rare mistake of his, has ever cost Scotland i,e never throwing an intercept. I just hope Price starts at 9 for Scotland to give Russell the chance to show his quality.
Also, would just like to add that it is interesting Russell’s best performances Leicester x2, Racing x2, Ulster (In the semis and to qualify for the playoffs), Munster in the Pro 12 final, Australia
are all what would be considered big matches.
1 moment doesn’t make him a big game player, both game’s against Munster he was not good enough. Im not saying he has done anything wrong but he has not done anything brilliant either which just makes him ordinary, Jackson for example make’s loads of line break’s and is capable of big moments when needed and also outplayed Russell when Ulster played Glasgow in the Pro12.
I haven’t seen Farrell make a great number of runs to break the line at 10? Has only scored 5 international tries in his career. However, his game management and kicking are excellent so he is fighting with sexton for number 10 shirt. Finn would be a good number 3.
‘ Jackson for example make’s loads of line break’s and is capable of big moments when needed and also outplayed Russell when Ulster played Glasgow in the Pro12.’
Cathal- Have you ever actually watched Russell play? he makes line breaks so often and is nearly always the player providing the big moment in the lead up to a score. Also the game against against Ulster was Russell’s first game back in 5 months due to his injury received in the pro 12 semi final, before that game Russell has consistently performed to a much higher level than Jackson when they had met, if my memory is correct he actually had 3 MOTM in the last 4 games against Ulster, which definitely is not to shabby.
In my opinion Lions eligible Fly halves would be ranked:
Farrell
Sexton (injured to often), Russell
Ford, Madigan (Underrated IMO)
Biggar, Jackson,
Due to this, I feel Russell’s flair would compliment Farrell’s accuracy as 10-12 partners for the Lions.
Also, I still don’t know if Jackson is at the level required. I think he fades out of games quite a lot, or at least has this season.
Re: your comments on “Lions Eligible” Glasgow players, the entire squad, bench and all are Scottish qualified.
I’m not sure that Brian Alainu’uese is Scottish Qualified yet although he isn’t internationally tied having only played u20 for Samoa.
I don’t think Big Brian is, is he?
I must admit, I did not know that. Thanks!
Favaro? Injured atm but a certain starter surely?
i would say russell is the best attacking 10 in the northern hemisphere and very strong in defense for a 10, his goal kicking is around 80 % which is the only worrying thing
He is when your playing shite teams.
For the Lions though you need the best all round 10, which at the moment is either Farrell or Sexton. If Sexton keeps getting injured then Farrell is the most likely starter. Sexton and Farrell are the two most experienced 10s, and the two best.
Best attacking 10 in the NH is probably still Cipriani, but unfortunately he’s not much good at anything else apart from attacking.
Dazza – he has only missed two or three tackles this season – they may not be dominant, but he doesn’t miss them anymore. Russell is behind George still at international level. Club is a different story – the difference being explained by packs various form and the visibility playing in the champions cup has over the other thing. Se(c)ton needs to last a game to be considered. I’d suggest that based on noise the running order should be Russell, Farrell, Sexton, Ford; based on talent Cipriani; Ford; Sexton; Farrell; Russell, based on reputation, Sexton; Farrell; Ford; Russell. The balance of selection will be based on style chosen by Gatland so I predict an axis of Sexton, Farrell, Henshaw although what i’d like to see is Ford, Farrell, Daly.