Cometh the man, cometh the Lions

Lions Tour 2009 - 16/06/09
Southern Kings 8, British & Irish Lions 20

The head scratching begins as the spaces to the right of a Lions test positions numbered one to twenty-two will be carefully inked. The selection process that’s been eagerly awaited and severely scrutinised over the previous months will be finally made, but before that can happen Ian McGeechan and his coaching team will be looking at a sleepless night ahead of them.

Put the kettle on as this may be a long one. The team put up against the bruising Southern Kings Tuesday may shed some light on the selection thoughts McGeechan is swaying towards. With some names possibly being rested in anticipation of Saturday’s test in Durban, it is not however the case that players picked for the mid-week team are not still in contention.

Yes, two players already picked may feature on rows five and thirteen – with Captain Paul O’Connell and grand slam winning captain Brian O’Driscoll marking their territory not only in the last few weeks, but in the season before the tour’s flight south of the equator.

However, the inbetweeners are not yet set in stone. Everyone from management staff down to the opinionated pub-goers will want to state their claims, and players that were involved in Port Elizabeth will be seeking a quick turnaround in hope of a test position this Saturday.

I’ve never been one to jump on the bandwagon, knowing full well opinions are only left to debate and will have no input on final test selection. An individual’s satisfaction placing himself in the same acclaim as Geech the Almighty is good for massaging the ego. But, shouldn’t it be easier to leave the job to the professionals and kick back and watch events unfold stress free?

That’s not what a Lions tour is about however. The excitement of the fan as well as the team selector is what makes the tour so worthwhile. So why not? Let’s have bash and produce something more substantial. What’s there to lose? Only the light awakening that you’re not quite the rugby manager you initially thought. But let’s forget about that.

Where to start? Front row? Let’s politely leave that aside for the moment, as too the back row with the absence of injured Springbok Schalk Burger shaking things up.

Alun Wyn Jones at lock is a favourite alongside O’Connell which will hopefully make him a likely starter. Half backs should be kept simple but creative. Michael Phillips is strong and unyielding as a scrum half decision maker, and Stephen Jones is unreserved with his positive running style.

Jamie Roberts sits between Jones and O’Driscoll looking to find the gap with his rampaging charges, which would normally narrow play in favour of a strong Springbok pack, but is instead aided by the supporting O’Driscoll, who is handed the space he loves and that Roberts always seems to serve.

Ugo Monye keeps on scoring on the left and right, as does the team’s X-factor in the shape of Tommy Bowe who has been the most deceptive for pace and power thus far. An Anglo-Irish wing combination will need a Welsh influence at full-back. Enter Lee Byrne and a new type of running style, hitting the line hard and deep, instead of following the sidesteps of Wales and Lions great JPR Williams.

Now, the back row is the one that may leave Geech and co. at sixs and sevens. But one that shouldn’t be resolved by playing good players out of position. Look at the game plan. Keep away from the breakdown as much as possible. Lions have struggled in this area thus far, so preparing a back row with strong runners in Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace combined with the illusive running of Tom Croft, the Lions can look to play a wider game plan keeping the ball in hand rather than its, so far, vulnerable situation on the floor.

Lee Mears is guaranteed a test spot with his precision line-out throwing, as too I feel has Gethin Jenkins with his composure to roam the field with a low penalty count. Tighthead is now a big question mark though. Euan Murray would be my man at three, but whether his injury sustained in the Southern Kings contest is long-lasting, it is hard to say who would replace him.

Shuffle Jenkins across and place Shez in at the loose? Or make a straight swap with controversial favourite Phil Vickery in the tight? If crutches-bound Murray is unfit, I would be more inclined to play Adam Jones as the strong man at the defending breakdown than settle for a predominantly English front row.

The balance of the bench will be vital too. Ross Ford and Phil Vickery as front row replacements bring strength and composure. Andrew Sheridan falls short by mere millimetres since his powerful but narrow style of play shouldn’t be the direction of the Lions. Martyn Williams and Nathan Hines make versatile second and third rowers with good ball handling.

Harry Ellis links the forwards and the backs purely on a lack of competition for the bench. Rob Kearney is another versatile addition to the back three. And here’s hoping James Hook is fit as his kicking abilities make him a perfect impact player at either ten or twelve if required.

British and Irish Lions: 15 Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), 13 Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland), 12 Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England), 10 Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), 9 Michael Phillips (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland), 7 David Wallace (Munster/Ireland), 6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), 4 Paul O’Connell (Munster/Ireland), 3 Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), 2 Lee Mears (Bath/England), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales).
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland), 17 Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), 18 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), 19 Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland), 20 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England), 21 James Hook (Ospreys/Wales), 22 Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland).