Wasps win (again), an England squad announcement, Irish provinces in fine form and a few high profile injury concerns inform this week’s Lions stock check.
GOING UP
George North
George North was a little quiet last season, publicly stating he wasn’t enjoying his rugby at Northampton (he didn’t like ‘carrying the ball into a wall’ apparently). Well that role has been taken with aplomb by Louis Picamoles and instead North is doing what he does best – exploiting open space, breaking half tackles and generally getting the crowd on their feet. He showcased his full skillset at the weekend; utilising his strength to go through two players for a try and then creating one of the scores of the season as he fielded the ball in his 22, stepped, went through a tackle and raced upfield, before unselfishly giving the pass which set up 20 year old Rory Hutchinson to score on his debut. If North maintains this form, he is one of the few definites in that first Lions test.
CJ Stander
A player who was in a similar position to Jones not long ago, Stander took advantage of the raft of Irish back row injuries to established stars like O’Brien and O’Mahony and made himself integral to the Ireland team. He carries with real menace and that was demonstrated all through the match as Munster bullied Zebre into submission. He pulled off a great charge down and collect for his first try before showing great tracking to pop up on the shoulder of the ball carrier for his second. Peter O’Mahony was also back this weekend and it will be an interesting fight to see who keeps the 6 shirt in the long run. Stander’s ability at 8 could help his cause, however, particularly for the Lions.
Gareth Anscombe
Leinster might have beaten Cardiff this weekend and Johnny Sexton reminded everyone that he is still a great flyhalf, however, it was his opposite man, Gareth Anscombe, who stole the show. Anscombe has taken a little time to find his feet since moving north two years ago, but he really is a talented player. His try was pure class as he collected a pass and switched on his afterburners to run straight through the heart of the Leinster team and score. Now Dan Biggar is an excellent player who has really performed for Wales in the last season or so, however there are concerns he is not the man to build a more expansive attacking game around. With Owen Williams at Leicester and Sam Davies also showing fine form, Biggar is suddenly under a bit of pressure for his 10 jersey.
GOING DOWN
Sam Warbuton
I really hate including players in the ‘Going down’ section because of injury, but that seems to be the way things have gone so far this season. Sam Warbuton, the victorious captain from the 2013 series, is the latest to be on the treatment table, suffering a broken cheek bone this weekend. Initial reports suggest he will miss all the autumn tests. Test rugby certainly has short memories and if his deputy should excel, it could be a long way back for a supremely talented but all too regularly injured player. More concerning for Warren Gatland is that the first choice sevens for England, Ireland and Wales are now all on the long-term injury lists. Who is going to take this opportunity?
Sam Jones
Sam Jones was a surprise inclusion in Eddie Jones squad, with many thinking his Wasps partner and openside Guy Thompson a more likely name, but Jones left the camp yesterday with an injury, and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out for. At the weekend, Jones showed exactly why he was called up in the first place. Aggressive in defence, he was at the heart of everything Wasps did, allowing guys like Gopperth (how good is his form right now!), Daly and Wade to excel. He also showcased surprising pace as he raced through Quins’ defensive line to set up Wade’s try. I would have put him a nose in front to take the 7 shirt for England next month, but we’ll await further news of his injury.
Owen Farrell
Now Farrell’s injury was not really concerning me a couple of weeks ago, however, he is still yet to make an appearance with ‘maybe next week’ being the repeated refrain. Worrying news is that he has barely been able to practice his kicking, surely a problem for an international fly half. When fit, Farrell will likely be straight back in the England side (whether at 10 or 12) but he has had previous slumps of form after protracted injury lay-offs. This situation is one to keep a careful eye on, not least because, with Farrell at the minimum shorn of match fitness, the England 12 debate is suddenly back on the table (sigh…).
By Henry Ker
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
If you dont like putting players in the going down section for being injured it seems ironic that the entire going down section is just injured players. Why not discuss players whose stock is going down based on recent team performances or form? Eg is tigers inconsistencies effecting Ben Youngs chance of being a tourist or perhaps Marler slipping down englands pecking order due to the form of Vunipola? Just a thought
Hi James, I was trying to acknowledge the irony of that statement! Normally attempt to avoid just including injuries. However, this week there were some high profile injuries and truthfully I didn’t think many players played themselves further down the pecking order this week – e.g. I thought Youngs was ok at the weekend and will still start vs South Africa. Marler/Vunipola is a good point though.
Sam James was originally in the ‘Up’ column but his injury yesterday forced a quick rewrite.
Dan Biggar? Not injured, but looking less and less like Wales’ or even the Ospreys’ first choice 10.
Fair enough, im not trying to argue and i was struggling to think of many examples of players going down the list anyway. I dont watch any of the pro 12 and missed the premiership on sat as i foolishly watched the snoozefest that was Australia v South Africa. What a shame it is the lions arent touring SA or Aus, from a homenations perspective it would likely be a white wash. Think we are getting ahead of ourselves RE: Sam Jones, dont think he would have made the england squad at all if Haskell and Clifford were fit, let alone Lions. Perhaps a good example of someone going down is Cipriani, whilst Gatland may well still consider him, a lack of exposure to international rugby certainly wont help his cause.
Yeh definitely agree that Jones would be unlikely to make the squad with Clifford or Haskell in. Really feel for him with this injury though. Sometimes all a player needs is a first opportunity and they will take it.
Anscombes try looked pure class because both tacklers where impeded! I laugh that people complain about Ruddock’s try, Ascombes was much more illegal.
George North – If he avoid’s injury he is dead certain to travel and probably start so no debate needed.
CJ Stander – If he stays fit and carrys the same form he did last season and so far this season then he surely has to be certain to at least travel. Being an Irish international might count against him as Gatland resents the IRFU and will want to pick as little Irish as possible. ( He is a big reason why ill be supporting NZ over the lions in 2017 despite being Irish myself)
Anscombe – Made of glass, he is a talented fly half who I would have ahead of Bigger myself but I dont think he stands much of a chance of being a Lion and his real battle is trying the make the Wales team weather that be 15 or 10.
Warburton – He will be captain of the team even if he loses his leg and can’t play, no debate needed.
Sam Jones – Similarly to Anscombe, needs to establish himself in the England team which will be hard as I can’t see Jones breaking up a GS winning back row unless he really has to or if one of the starters is woeful, the only players I can’t see breaking into that England Backrow are Hughes or Clifford maybe Itoje if Jones decides to move him back a row.
Owen Farrell – The big thing need to realise is, after the form Alex has been in Farrell has a job on his hands to get back that 10 shirt from Alex before he even thinks about the Lions. Realistically though he align with Sexton are a level above the other fly halves and he is almost certain to travel once he gets that 10 shirt at Saracens back. One thing that could count against him getting the 10 shirt for the lions is he plays 12 for England, I know he is a 10 but its been so long since he played fly half and surely you’d want a regular 10 going down to NZ.
Cathal, i may have missed something but why are you supporting NZ against the Lions (dependent on whether you get your personal quota of Irish players)?
Support for and of one’s own is unconditional isn’t it?
When England aren’t playing I support Scotland and when Scotland aren’t I support the Irish (50% English, 25% Scot and 25% Irish: my own make-up that is)
It’s not the “I support Barcelona FC phenomenon is it?”
AlexD
I think Cathal was referring to the fact that Gatland is coaching the Lions and this is the reason for supporting NZ over the Lions.
Come tour time the Lions will have my full support, but I have no doubt there will be some grumblings come squad selection time.
I can’t bring myself to support a team coached by Gatland, I was going in 2013 and didn’t realise how much I hate him and now I do. Plus I’m half kiwi so I’ve an excuse to cheer for them. I’ll cheer for the lion’s if an Irish player scored though.
Fair play Cathal. I obviously had no way of knowing you are half Kiwi!
Sorry, should have mentioned that originally! :)
Teecee.
A reply to the comment about toning it down for my comments on SA.
I think the original thread has gone but from memory nothing unacceptable was ever said unless you can tell me specifically.
I said something about the attempts to ‘blacken’ the SA team in a process that can only be described as what it is: Positive Discrimination! The adjectival usage ‘of the word ‘blacken’ was clearly not meant as racist in this context.
I defo am not of the PC school of thought anyway (you may have deduced that already) and post Brexit it could be argued there exists a mandatefrom 18m people (as well as a moral necessity) to counter all the PC gibberish anyway. Plain speak (devoid of the fear recrimination-wise from the PC brigade) Boris-style is defo what is required now!
In short: The BEST rugby player for the shirt and all that (regardless of race, colour and creed!)
I think North is a shoe-in to start the first test, form or not he has shown himself to be an incredible player.
I can’t see players like Jones or Anscombe touring – I could see Anscombe taking over from Biggar though. Biggar for me is nowhere near international quality, the hype last year was based on simply his goal kicking – he wasn’t doing the job of a fly half well if you took that out.
I think with Stander, it’ll be Heaslip that suffers. He only played 6 to get him in the team, he has always played 8 for Munster and back in SA I believe. A back row of O’Mahoney, O’Brien and Stander would be great.
Just like to say that I am Irish and the Lions will have my full support -doesn’t matter how few Irish travel.
I am ashamed of the dribble posted by another ‘Irishman’ on this forum.
Warren Gatland has fond memories of his time in Ireland. I know this from sources close to him.
An outspoken individual at times, I think he has matured and become more wily as a coach. He is of NZ nationality, and through previous experience, has earned the right to takes these Lions on what looks an impossible tour.
CJ Stader and Gareth Anscombe for the Lions…what a total total joke.
It is bad enough they are playing for European-based international teams without cheapening the Lions Jersey with people who are nothing more than SH mercenaries.
This ludicrous selection on residency/ one relative or once eating the national dish of the team you have crossed the globe to play for is utterly devaluing the status of the international cap.
As for a 7 to play NZ…..Tipuric?????
Its not a suggestion page it is merely saying who has improved their chances of touring (however slim they were) and who’s chances are in decline
Apologies for stiff remark in post above. Just seen the post on NZ Heritage now.
You’ll have a winner next year for sure!