Selection has and likely always will be the most contentious issue in any sport at any level. When it comes to the international stage, the level of debate is at its zenith. Pubs across the land are provided with endless background noise, as we debate the pros and cons of our favourites. Whenever a Six Nations or a Rugby Championship rolls around, we agonise over every position. We are inevitably disappointed when our favourite club player does not make his debut, despite the 1000-1 odds. There is one position, however, that this year will cause more debates than any other. The wing spot has been a focal point of selection for a long time in New Zealand, after Jonah Lomu made it the most iconic jersey in Rugby history. This year it is England’s turn to agonise over the wings.

The talent produced by the premiership over the last few years has created a wealth of available options for new coach Steve Borthwick. There is so much talent, young and old, that it will be almost impossible for Borthwick to select the best options. It will definitely be impossible to please everyone. 

The debate should begin with the incumbent. Johnny May is the only player with any consistent involvement with the side recently. Often we can be a prisoner of the moment, buying into the new hot prospect and ignoring old talent for simply because we are used to it. This is not one of those cases. May has lost a step both in his general play and more simply in his pace. He is no longer the number 11 who can turn on the afterburners and skin defenders on the outside. At international level this rift is clear, wing is a young man’s position, and at 32 years of age, May is likely over the hill. However the magic he has produced in the past, along with his veterancy, might make him a valuable squad member to help ease the transition between coaches. This sort of role should be left to the traditional leaders in the team however. With the volume of talent coming through the ranks, keeping May in the team is not available option. 

So now to the young bucks. Here we enter the meat of the debate. Who is the front-runner? On recency, the obvious place to start is Cadan Murley. The bowling ball in Quins quarters has been exceptional this season. He brings a marauding physical style to the game that England may well need if Tuilagi does not return fully to the national set up as many predict.  His defense is outstanding, regularly being assigned the role of tackling the forward carrier off lineouts, halting opposition momentum. None of this physicality comes at the cost of finishing ability. The chemistry between Murley and Smith could be valuable if England decide to adopt a more attacking framework in the lead up to the world cup. 

A short jaunt along the North Circular from Twickenham to Brentford, from a physical specialist, to the best all-rounder in English rugby. Olli Hassel-Collins has timed his rise to prominence impeccably. Tied with Murley at 8 tries, Hassel-Collins tops the premiership scoring leader board. At 6’2” and 100kg, he is a deceptively large prospect to tackle and has genuine pace to burn. Whilst not considered a speedster, he is undoubtedly up there and has the ability to run away from the opposition. His frame allows him excellent ability in the air, something that will undoubtedly be valuable at international level. His defence is perhaps not what it could be, but he is far from a liability. For Borthwick he is perhaps the most complete package available. The only barrier to his selection is Tommy Freeman’s success in the national side. Hassel-Collins is Freeman with a higher upside and better physical attributes, but he may not get a look in with Freeman’s international quality already proved.

Amongst the explosion of talent across the premiership a couple names have been lost in the shuffle. The first is at the other end of the country. Adam Radwan. The appeal? Pace, sheer, unadulterated, pace. Radwan is the man that most would have money on as the fastest English rugby player. To go with this pace, a dynamic first step that seems almost impossible for defenders to track. This skill set gives him the best counterattacking game of any player in England at the moment and it is the sword that he will live and die by. If Borthwick wants to counterattack with flair, he need look no further, but it is likely he will go for a player more suited to traditional international rugby. 

The second of the forgotten gems? Joe Cokanasiga. Full disclosure, this writer loves Joe Cokanasiga. The gigantic winner has been up and down for bath it is true. But there are some days when the Jonah Lomu clone is simply unstoppable. His high ball work leaves something to be desired. You would not be able to select another limited weapon on the other wing as a result. But the danger presented by his personal cocktail of athleticism, strength, and speed, is simply game breaking at points. He has the ability to bring a bite to the English backline, filling a similar role to that which Van de Merwe fills for Scotland. Cokanasiga has also, despite intermittent playing time, shown he can do it at the international level. He is yet to have a game for England where he does not look like one of the most dangerous men on the pitch and Borthwick will ignore his talent at his own peril. 

With all these options, who else could stand a chance at selection? Well, there is the small matter of the wonderkid. Henry Arundel lit the European stage and then the international one alight. Arundel thrived in the England under 20s and has continued that form into his professional career. Arundel is perhaps best at 15, but with Freddie Steward chasing down the best player in the world title, it seems unlikely that Arundel will dethrone him at 15. His chance to slot into the team is definitely on the wing then. He offers the ace and finishing ability, with the aerial nous of a Hassel-Collins… so far. ‘Hype train’ is a term that seems almost designed for Arundel. What remains to be seen is if he is able to put together a significant run of form uninterrupted. Injury has obviously put a question mark over his selection as well as more importantly his development. Until he is able to put together a healthy set of games, demonstrating that the flashes of talent are more than just that, this writer will stick to more known quantities.

Who will Borthwick pick then? This writer’s mind is made up. Murley and Cokanasiga will bring a bite to an England attack sorely lacking weapons. But Borthwick’s selection may well be different. Any number of combinations may make an appearance. May is more likely to stick around than any pundit wants to see. It would also be unsurprising to see a call up for the likes of Potter from Leicester considering the coaching connection. Amongst the options available to him, I believe that Borthwick will have the sense to build around his full-back’s skill set and pick a speedster like Radwan, if fit, and an all-rounder in Hassel-Collins. Cue him picking May and Nowell.

These word echoed through Franklin’s gardens at least fifty times today. The new world rugby law came in with a bang. Luke Pearce marshalled a dynamic Saints victory, but will the new rules help or harm the game?

Luke Pearce’s refereeing performance was almost solely focussed on the speed of the game. “Outstanding!” twitter users will cry. However it took barely 20 minutes for the drawbacks of the new style to rear their heads. The first scrum of the game saw Pearce hurry them the forwards to set at what was a visibly uncomfortable speed for them. Matavesi, one of the most underrated players in the world, had until this point been throwing himself around with abandon. He hurried to set himself up in the front row. His props scrambled to bind properly and Matavesi rushed to set his break foot. The Saints front row took an immediate nosedive straight to the turf as the scrum was set, and Matavesi came up limping, leaving the field straight after. Now whether this can be blamed entirely on the way that Pearce refereed the scrum is impossible to say. However demanding that front rows forgo the short bouts of recovery scrums used to offer, likely contributed to this injury and will definitely create more in the future. 

Some may be unconvinced by a single scrum injury. Even the most vehement defenders of the new rules however, will struggle with the issues presented in managing head injuries. The rules around the immediate stopping of the game when a head injury is identified remain in force. Pearce’s focus was on the speeding up of the ruck. His attention was forced by the new rules to focus on the ruck, not allowing him time to assess the wider situation. Charlie Matthews was downed to a spectacular broken nose, a clear HIA (Head Injury Assessment) situation. Pearce, however, was deeply involved in keeping the game moving at the new desired pace. Quins, as a result, were forced to defend a man down when the game should have been stopped. Considering that long stints of defense tore an already unrested Harlequins team apart, this is not insignificant.

There was an even more egregious incident however. Charlie Mathews was at least able to get off the pitch. Finn Smith, after a clear head knock that sent the physio charging onto the field, was forced to continue by the pace of the game. Pearce saw the situation and elected to play on regardless clearly aiming to keep the games pace up. The whole situation took a turn, when at the start of the second half it was revealed that Smith had failed a HIA in the changing room. So, Finn Smith spent twenty minutes playing concussed because the new rules meant Pearce was too invested in keeping the speed of the game high. 

Of course these injuries were not the only issues. A number of smaller decisions were missed on both sides. Scrappy breakdown play led to a number of ‘let God sort it out’ exchanges of knock ons. Regular inconsistency at the breakdown led to confusion among both sets of players and notably saw a softening on not rolling away. The speed of the game meant the TMO had less time to intervene. He contributed more as the game slowed down. Most of his involvements coming in the final fifteen as the aerobic demands became simply too high on players and referee alike.

Essentially the first game under the new rules has presented World Rugby with a dilemma. Which party line will they abandon? Will they commit to this fast speed of play, at the cost of player safety, and the time for officials to make the correct decisions? Or will they move past this obsession with speeding up a game, that is fundamentally methodical in pace? This writer knows which option he would choose…

Inside centre was once the domain of the big man, the back rower who had lucked his way into the backs at an early age and never looked back. He was always less of a link man and more of a walking brick to be hurled mercilessly at the opposition Fly-half. In recent years the position has taken somewhat of a turn, Farrell and Ford for England particularly changing the dynamic between 1^st and 2^nd receiver. The age of the two distributors began with them, and ironically, looks to be ending with them. 

So who is leading this bulldozering return? Well like a great deal of other things in the world of rugby at the moment its South Africa. Whilst the obvious front runner in this trend is the man who plays in Munster red in Damian de Allende, the real revolution is happening this side of the Irish Sea. In west London a somewhat disgraced former springbok is leading the charge in the inside centre renaissance. For all the great players who have emerged in the last three years at Harlequins, André Esterhuizen might just be the best of them. It has taken consecutive man of the match performances against Saints and Gloucester for the premiership viewers to take proper notice, but now he has English rugby’s full attention. 

To describe Harlequins first phase attack as a little one note would be underselling it, much like all roads and Rome, all set pieces lead to André. If the premiership kept a readily available metres after contact statistic Esterhuizen would be not only leading it, but he would likely have double his closest competitor. Put simply Esterhuizen is at the moment what the prime versions of Lomu, Vunipola and Tuilagi were, utterly impossible to tackle one on one. Teams now are regularly assigning the back lineout marker, alongside the standard ten/twelve two man tackle. This takes away what it is normally a back-rower a shot at the breakdown, not only does this stop a risk of turnover it ensures the ball is recycled quickly to allow Smith the use of his near uniquely dangerous outside backs to their best effect. One look at the first half try at Gloucester shows just how potent this combination can be. 

We know all this though, a big centre gets go forward and helps to expose the edges of a defense. So what makes it an inside centre renaissance, why are the big strong carrying twelves getting the looks they haven’t gotten over the last few years. You need only look at Mark Atkinson’s use of the boot, Esterhuizen world class ability over the ball at breakdown time and De Allende’s sublime handling. We are moving into an era, fuelled by the ever professionalising game, where elite size no longer means a lack of elite skill. A change in mentality around development and selection has swept through rugby in the last five to ten years. Size is no longer enough to make a decent player and as a result the centres coming through now with elite size, also have the skills to accompany it. 

It is this stigma against the big man as an unskilled luddite that is the key to this revolution in the midfield. The Ford Farrell axis era emerged from a concern about beating more complete defences than a binary blitz and drift, and getting as many playmakers on the field at the time. Big carrying twelves like Brad Barritt at the time could not fulfil those roles and so they were sidelined, the thinking being that a big twelve did not have the skills to provide more than one option. Now this mentality has begun to change it will only gain momentum. Esterhuizen is the figurehead right now but there are a number of others coming through in a big way in the sport. A South African counterpart making his money like so many in the North of England, Janse Van Rensburg at Sale is running damaging lines that are slowly establishing him as a starting twelve. He too offers work at the breakdown and defensive awareness that make him more valuable than your average brick. Atkinson is earning plaudits in a Gloucester team that has quietly become top four worthy for his carrying but also for his attacking kicking game. De Allende of course is leading the international charge acting as the embodiment of their physical play. The emergence of Marcus Smith may just force England’s selection hand in future putting a big body in the midfield to give him a reliable outlet under pressure as he has at Harlequins. 

Will it last? Is it a trend like always kicking for the corner like Exeter in their double champion years or Saracens anti-caterpillar techniques? Hopefully it will last. From the perspective of a fan and player watching André Esterhuizen run over players with all the effectiveness of an Afrikaans speaking lorry is reminiscent of why I began watching and then playing rugby in the first place. Rugby  is a uniquely physical sport and the big inside centre is the ultimate embodiment of this physicality. I for one hope it continues, watching André run over first phase defenders at the Stoop has brought more joy than Marcus’s goose-stepping or the ageless play of Danny Care. De Allende doing similarly in the world theatre is helping to open the door for future bulldozers with pianist’s hands and a violence in carrying that will make people fall in love with the game all over again.

A month ago, something very strange happened. Louis Lynagh got outside Tom O’Flaherty and scored in the corner at Twickenham. Smith drilled the hardest conversion of his career and took quins to 40 points, enough to win the premiership final. In the dark months of September through to early January, Harlequins looked aimless. Resigned to the lower end of the table they had become so comfortable in over the last few seasons. Suggestions from Rugby Pass were that it was a player revolt that saw Gustard’s exit in January. Whilst pure conjecture, the nature of the team after their momentous Premiership win, the togetherness of the squad seems to support the rumours. Harlequins as a group of players, then banded together and dragged themselves to a narrow fourth in the league, to get themselves into the tournament. A position the could not have reached under Gustard. Danny Care described the team as “so fourth,” prior to the semi-final with Bristol, emphasising the level of underdog that Harlequins were. So now can they do it again? Can they come close? If they do, how? 

In the words of DJ Khaled Harlequins next year may find themselves suffering from success. Smith’s call up to England and then the Lions shows he is considered to be in the world class bracket. Thus he may well be spending a large portion of future seasons in the white rather than the quarters. 

This is not just the case for Smith. Kenningham, Dombrandt, Evans, Marchant and even the newly acquired Huw Jones may find themselves called to international duty over the season. With others also being lost to national squads Quins will likely be fielding an understrength side in an uncomfortable number of games this season. 

Billy Millard and the management team however have clearly anticipated this. The out of favour Italian Fly-half Thomas Allen has been brought in to bolster the ten spot. Huw jones, similarly not appearing regularly in his own national set up at the moment has been brought in to help share the load with a Marchant primed for England success. Nick David provides ample cover in the back three and a nice hooker battle is forming between England U20 Sam Riley and Bath import Jack Walker.

Success has also put Harlequins in an unfamiliar place, being a legitimate European threat. Whilst they won the challenge cup in the 2010-11 season they have never been a player on the European stage in the way they could be this year. Balancing the two competitions will be a headache for the management team. However with the draw putting them up against Castres and Cardiff, fairly favourable options, they should be looking to really threaten in the champions cup as well as the premiership. 

A common criticism of Harlequins was that the victory was a flash in the pan, because their style of play cannot guarantee consistency. This season showed it clearly can, but next season Harlequins must confirm it. One of the concerns Harlequins will have this season however, is that with such a strong playing identity teams will be better prepared to take them on. It seems a compelling theory. Except that the teams that many thought would be able to install game plans that would restrict quins attack, the likes of Chiefs, Tigers and Bristol were drawn into the shootouts Harlequins thrive in. The inherent unpredictability of the quins system will also help keep teams off balance despite having a half season of experience against it.

A team that are yet to have any experience against this new Harlequins side is Saracens. The return of the London side will present a serious obstacle to every club, but particularly the top four. Make no mistake, Saracens will threaten the number one spot not the number four spot. They have a pretty good claim to be favourite this season despite their time in the championship. Whilst some players’ form did suffer, having arguably the best player in the world in Maro Itoje, and the wealth of other talent available to them they will be a serious force in their return season. 

Danny Care is the most dangerous scrum-half to have played in the professional era. There, I said it. By no means does that make him the best, that accolade goes comfortably to the 100 cap man Aaron Smith. In terms of having the ability to break a game open, there is no one better than the ageing Harlequins legend. With another England call up seeming unlikely, Care will be integral to Harlequins season. If they can get 20 odd games from DC Harlequins will more likely than not, be toward the top of the table, he is that valuable to the way they play. 

On the subject of players being valuable to the way Harlequins play. Allen and Jones amongst some other new signings, have a chance to slot in wonderfully with the Harlequins way. Allen is an attacking minded fly-half with a notably reliable boot from hand. Perhaps not the elite level threat with the ball in hand like Marcus Smith. He is however an effective distributor, who most importantly, takes he ball to the line regularly. A feature that will combine well with Huw Jones. The Flying Scotsman’s best performances have come when taking the ball from an elite, on the gain line distributor, in Finn Russell. His link with half backs could be a major threat for quins this year, especially when you consider the success that lower ceiling players like Luke Northmore have had there.

So then. Can they do it? In short, Yes. The style of play that Harlequins employed over the second half of last season showed itself to be effective against both top four and mid to low table teams. Harlequins appear to have bought back into this identity and if they continue to play the way they have shown they can, they have a real chance of being a major threat to the title. Their style of play will be particularly dangerous in the knockout element of the competition as was proved this year. They might find it more difficult to get into the top four, than to win a semi-final and final. So here’s to hoping that Harlequins can manage to rustle something up once again. After a Lions tour that was considered a bad advert for the game, there can be nothing better than some champagne joué from the men from Twickenham. 

With Autumn internationals announced, it is time to look toward a return to international rugby. After the Lions tour is decided, over October and November, the rugby world will begin to take shape ahead of the 2023 world cup. A premiership season of the highest calibre, combined with an interesting pair of summer internationals, has left the English team with a variety of options and opportunities. The potential for personnel changes is almost limitless. So how much will Jones change? Which players will he cling on to and which will he, or should he, put out to pasture?

Freddie Steward

The man behind much of Leicester’s resurgence over recent months. Steward is no longer a full back prospect for the future, but a fully-fledged player for the here and now. Competition over the 15 shirt between him and Max Malins will be stiff, but Steward has the stature and ability under the highball to make him a truly world class player. He plays with a maturity that has been fostered under the group of old heads at Leicester. There is a smoothness to his play that few can match, and having such a classy operator at the back of the team could be a real boon in 2023. 

Max Malins

The back three has a rich future in England and none emphasise this more than Max Malins. His time with Bristol has shown just how great an attacking threat he can be. His recent stint with England showed his quality as a defensive player and operator in the kicking game. With players like Malins and Steward inevitably competing for a single shirt, it could come down to form at the time. Having these two available however will sure up a position that has been a problem for England since the departure of Mike Brown.

Joe Cokanasiga

With 11 caps under his belt already, he’s not really the new kid on the block, but he simply must be in the autumn international squad. Whether that requires resting players like Watson or not.  Cokanasiga has elite size and freakish finishing ability for a 112kg winger. He has pulled off some outrageous scores in the premiership for Bath and was dominant in England’s two summer games. His work under the high ball is improving rapidly and with the impact Duhan Van De Merwe has had on tour in South Africa, the value of a bulldozer winger is going up rapidly. 

Harry Randall

Not exactly an insightful pick, but it still has to be made. Randall is the second coming of Danny Care, only he has dialled back the erratic play by the 20% needed to make him a possibly world class player at 9. His box kicking could do with some improvement. It was an element of Randall’s game that sometimes saw Andy Uren, another exceptional scrum-half, start over him at Bristol this season. Aside from this, Randall is an outstanding attacking player with pace and flair to match anyone in the world. 

Jack Kenningham

Kenningham replaced Will Evans about two thirds of the way into the season, the 21 year old picked up where the premiership turnover king left off. He’s long and athletic, able to cover ground better than almost any back row in the Premiership.  He put worries about his physicality to bed early, and has clearly been taking pointers on support running from his teammate Dombrandt. Elite breakdown skills and an industrious attitude, Kenningham has the makings of an excellent out and out 7 option for England. 

Will Evans

If his teammate Kenningham is elite at the breakdown, Evans is world class. With 29 turnovers in just 14 appearances, 12 more than his closest competitor. Evans is simply the best player at the breakdown in England. Injury side-lined him from the summer tests, but if he proves his fitness he will be a lethal weapon for England in upcoming international fixtures. Evans may well grow to be a game changer in 2023 again offering that pure 7 that England so often lack.

Richard Capstick

Another back rower, although Capstick brings a more physical and abrasive style to the table. Born and bred in the Exeter machine, Capstick will only become more physical and more dangerous as he grows into the chiefs starting shirt. Which he no doubt will gain a stranglehold on within the year. A physical workhorse could be of major benefit to a team like England, who always want to play with that physical dimension at the fore. 

Joe Heyes

Heyes might be the player with the greatest upside on this list. The tighthead prop is a fully-fledged international at 22, in the position with the most demanding physical requirements on the pitch. He’s strong in the loose, and a genuinely crafty scrummager. His open play has shades of Marler about it and his physicality at scrum time will only increase with age. He may spend half his career sat behind Kyle Sinckler, but if the Lion ever takes a step back Heyes will no doubt be the heir apparent. 

Johnny May 

May, may well be the big victim of this world cup cycle. His finishing ability is no doubt top tier, but if LRZ burning him in the Six nations told us anything, it’s that he may have lost a step. I am by no means willing to right him off completely, but wing is potentially the deepest position in England. Speedsters like Radwan, Lynagh and Muir are waiting in the wings (pun intended) and they all have had excellent seasons. Radwan particularly standing out. May will need a bounce back season, he needs to remind the world why he has so many caps for England and just how dangerous he can be. If he cannot, his time in the white may be coming to an abrupt end. 

Elliot Daly 

This seems a strange one. His Lions tour has been as good as his Six Nations was embarrassing. The Lions tour has shown us that Daly is a centre, not a back three player. Jones needs to understand and respect this. It gives England potentially the best 13 depth in the world, with Slade, Daly and Marchant all being realistic options to do well in the starting jersey. Daly has to perform upon his return however. He has to find a place in this England team, and not one at Full-Back. With much to prove in spite of an excellent Lions tour, this Autumn must be the time for him to shine. 

Billy Vunipola 

Billy is not necessarily done, but he’s close. Vunipola needs to find something new to add to his game. Be it fitness, be it a rejuvenated physicality, perhaps even an actual breakdown game. Whatever it is, Vunipola must prove it in this coming year, Jones has shown he will give him an unparalleled amount of leeway, but even that must run out eventually. Vunipola needs to return to his transcendent self, if he can, he is one of the best Number Eights in the world. If he cannot, he has to lose his international honours.

With this season seeing the ascension of Sam Simmonds, Marcus Smith and Hamish Watson from club players to Lions, the question of size in rugby has never been more to the fore. Any discussion of the lions test team has seen the idea that Hamish Watson might not be big enough to play against the springboks. Whilst this view has been expressed with varying degrees of venom, it is hard to know whether anyone truly believes it. The topic is of course at the forefront of the minds of pundits and coaches alike. The Lions are in South Africa, a nation whose rugby is built on size and a dominance in the most violent elements of the sport. The most physically confrontational team in the world. So how does size fit into the makeup of a professional rugby player? How important is it to being a successful competitor at the club and international levels? Is Rugby really the sport ‘for all shapes and sizes’ that it claims to be?

There are a few key reasons for rugby’s obsession with size. First and most simply, rugby is a contact sport. Much like Olympic wrestling or MMA it pays to be bigger than your opponent. Size, particularly in the amateur era, correlated directly to a competitive advantage. I say in the amateur era, because the professional game bears little resemblance to its predecessor in anything but aesthetic detail. One need only go and watch Jonah Lomu’s destruction of England at the 95’ world cup to see how amateur players tackle. In a word, badly. Throughout the amateur era there is an almost Under 10s like effect of size instilling fear, causing defenders to back out of tackles. Size then, was paramount in the amateur era because of this lack of discipline. That is not a slight on the legends of yester year, they played an amateur sport and couldn’t devote their entire lives to it. Size was something that in the amateur days you either had or didn’t have. If you were in the latter category you were constantly beaten with the adage: ‘the bigger they are the harder they fall’. 

That incredible string of games by Lomu in the 95’ world cup is the second reason for rugby’s obsession with size. Lomu is without doubt the closest thing to a superstar rugby has ever had. Watching Lomu run over white jersey’s like speed bumps is one of the most enduring images in the sport, second only to Pienaar being handed the World Cup by Mandela. Lomu’s physicality and athleticism stood out, people fell in love with this idea of the big bulldozing winger. So much so that any winger with a bit of heft today is compared to Lomu’s legend. This was Lomu’s real impact, he created an attitude within rugby that saw the size of Lomu and believed that it was the reason for his success. Whilst it was undoubtedly part of it, many overlooked the other excellent attributes of Lomu as a player. Focussing instead on his size as the X-Factor. 

This contact sport mentality, paired with the superstardom of Lomu, meant that when professionalisation rolled around in the late 90s the future of the sport was clear. The strength and conditioning side of rugby would take a while to catch on. In an early professional era rife with players still behaving as amateurs, players who regularly worked on this area were anomalies, not the norm. However as the last amateur players filtered out, the strength and conditioning portion of the sport has become essential. Academy players are often tasked with stacking on size when they graduate to first teams. One need only look at the age of props like Bevan Rodd and Joe Heyes. 20 and 22 years old respectively the two young men have been consistent starters who have really helped their teams this season. This is significant as ten years ago a prop who could compete physically at that age were one in a million. This shows the impact professionalisation has had on the size and physicality of players. 

So amateur roots, professional development, and a huge winger running over Mike Catt, changed rugby from a punters game to a sport with a deeply ingrained desire for players to always be getting bigger and stronger. So where does size sit now, in the modern game? 

Let’s look first to the domestic scene. The premiership this year, despite ring fencing, COVID-19 and no Saracens, produced two of the most incredible games of rugby in the competitions history. Harlequins efforts against Bristol, affectionately named the ‘miracle of Bristanbul’ after Liverpool’s 2005 effort in the Champions League final, set a new bar for attacking rugby. Next week they went further, scoring 40 points against a fully charged Exeter Chiefs squad to win the premiership, the largest underdog ever to do so. The key to success in the final, and throughout much of the season was two men who live at opposite ends of the size scale. Marcus Smith and André Esterhuizen. The 10/12 combination is a bit of an odd couple match up. Esterhuizen stands 6’3” and weighs around 115kg, Smith conversely stands 5’6” and weighs around 82kg. So the two men who couldn’t be more different, one a born and bred South African bruiser, the other a diminutive, golden wristed Filipino. Yet two men who came to define harlequins season.

Esterhuizen is a coach from 2005’s wet dream. His size and strength coupled with his love of a classical inside centre crash ball, made him an excellent safety valve for Harlequins this season. His size is doubtless a part of his success, however players like him and his South African counterpart De Allende are no longer the game breakers they once were. It is important to recognise that players like Esterhuizen have exceptional size for their positions. To say that they are simply big is reductive, in reality their size is a rare and exceptional attribute that makes them effective on the field. They open up opportunities for phase play and provide go forward for an attacking team, where in times gone by they would tear open defences on one up carries. Their role has been adjusted with the improvement to tackling and overall defence of modern professional teams. So the enormous South African is no longer the game breaker, instead its newly minted Lion Marcus Smith. 

Smith this season has, as an outright small rugby player been transcendent. He is clear proof, along with team mates like Louis Lynagh and Tyrone Green, that a lack of size can be easily made up for in the professional game. Smith is stronger in defence than many realise and his 131 tackles in the season speak to a commitment in defence that many other 10s do not possess. Smith shows that you can play at the top level, even the Lions, without elite size. Admittedly you must be exceptional in other areas, but there is no shortage of players with that kind of ability at the professional level. Smith is able to open up the game with his decision making and his goose-step, and is competent enough defensively that playing him is not a liability. 

Smith receives less focus in the size debate, because since the days of Shane Williams being told he was too small to play rugby, the backs have always had a bit more freedom in shape and size. The battleground in which the size debate is fought, is the forwards. Meatheads, piano pushers, knuckle draggers whatever name you use for them the forwards have to be big, right? Wrong. One need only look to the debate around the Number Eight position this year for England. Vunipola was manhandled throughout the six nations, his stature no longer doing him the favours it used to. Vunipola’s size coupled with his hard running and consistency was what made him dangerous. Not his size alone. In contrast, the ‘too small’ Simmonds dominated the season physically and on the score sheet. He looks so physical in fact that he stands out as the most abrasive option at Number Eight for the Lions. His speed and explosiveness more than make up for his perceived lack of size and make him arguably a more effective player, ball in hand, that Vunipola ever was. Simmonds is doubly impressive when considering the ‘big man’ based system he plays in at Exeter. Alex Dombrandt plays in a team and system which emphasises his obvious strengths (namely his support running). Simmonds’ situation is the opposite, big brawlers like Jannes Kirsten and Johnny Gray are the players designed for success in the Exeter system. So Simmonds is not successful because of his team’s style. Instead he is successful in spite of it. Simmonds is proof that exceptional size is not necessary, even in a power game. Of course it helps, but exceptional attributes in other facets of the game can easily account for a lack of size. 

Here we see the through line between Smith and Simmonds. They lack the exceptional size of other players, but have elite skills in other areas that make this size deficiency negligible. Smith’s decision making and distribution in attack is the best in the world at the moment. Simmonds might be the most explosive forward on the planet. Watson’s ability to carry into contact is his exceptional skill, an area often reserved for the largest back rowers. Here’s the idea then, a more positive approach to both selection and support. The Lions squad is full of examples of selection based largely on size (Courtney Lawes and Duhan van De Merwe come to mind). This negative selections style is rampant, particularly in international squads. To be clear these players deserve their spots and played exceptionally on the weekend. Positive selection revolves around selecting players based on performance not attributes. In a time when the game is seeking to be more exciting and more inclusive, selection plays a huge role. Players like Hamish Watson and Marcus Smith capture the imagination of fans because they are a breath of fresh air. They are not the bludgeons of the 2010s that pundits like Sir Ian McGeechan are still so obsessed with. Is it a coincidence that players like Smith, Watson, even Rees-Zammit do not fit the ever increasing size requirements and yet are some of the most exciting and effective attacking players in the world? Maybe, but It would be a huge coincidence. 

So yes size matters, but it is not the limiting factor people seem to believe it is. Some, like Eben Etzebeth, are such exceptional physical specimens, that for them physicality and size is the quality they will hang their hat on. However, others stand testament to the old adage of rugby as a game for all shapes and sizes. Perhaps the rise of the Simmonds’ and the Smith’s of the world will force a quality first selection, with a more creative approach to the sport as a whole. I am not saying every team should play like Harlequins. Eschewing physicality in favour of playmakers. But come on how entertaining would that be? 

Here we go, the test team for the Lions against the Springboks, a monumental match up of players, coaches and styles.

Despite a stilted build up and a set of lacklustre performances in the warm up matches the British and Irish lions will face the Springboks next Saturday for what could prove to be the first of three clashes with titanic importance. The balance of power in the rugby world is up for grabs here, and two of the great coaches of the modern era have chances to cement their legacies. With a winning series Gatland can confirm his place as the greatest coach in the history of northern hemisphere rugby, despite how highly Sir Clive Woodward thinks of himself. Rassie Erasmus has an opportunity to prove that he is the best international coach in the world currently. So with those extra stakes established, we arrive at selection. South Africa ‘A’s win in the week is hugely significant in selection for both teams. The Lions looked to be a step behind a team who had been stuck in hotels for three weeks, and this may have shone some light on which players really are test animals. Who then should pull on the test jersey for the Lions? 

1. Rory Sutherland 

Sutherland has had a meteoric rise since being named to the squad. Expected to be the midweek player behind bigger names like Wyn Jones and Mako Vunipola he has come on admirably on tour and has just about secured the loosehead shirt with some excellent performances. He showed real pace and athleticism in the games against the Sharks and has proven a solid option in the scrum where in reality parity rather than dominance is key. Wyn Jones strong performance against South Africa ‘A’ made this a tighter decision than before that game but ultimately Sutherland edges it. Mako has been a non-factor throughout this tour much in the same way he was for England in the Six Nations.

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie 

First an acknowledgement of Jamie George. Post the six nations George has come back the strongest of the crop of Saracens players where Farrell and Vunipola appear to have taken a backward step. George proved in the second Cell-C Sharks game he was capable of the starting spot and a leadership role. Onto the man of the moment: Cowan-Dickie, he is physically a class above. His lineout has been deadeye, where Owens and George have had wobbles. Most importantly, his athleticism and physicality stand out in the toughest place for it to stand out in the world. For me that is the factor that really separates him and secures the no. 2 jersey despite excellent offering from a really strong position group. 

3. Kyle Sinckler 

Sinckler’s performances recently are absolutely worthy of the starting spot. He has become more considered with his hands recently and is now best able to make the most of his ability as the best link prop in the game. His ability to pull the ball out of a forward pod and into a second line of attack will be integral to the success of the Lions wide to wide attack plan. He is otherwise inseparable from Furlong, perhaps a more dangerous carrier but only marginally. His hands could be a genuine difference maker for the lions, and he has unfinished business with the Springboks after his early departure in the World cup final. 

4. Maro Itoje

Whilst he plays on the edge a little too much for some, his physical gifts, his skill both on the ball and over it separate Itoje from the other locks on tour. Referees have been somewhat lenient over the tour so far and the ball is spending a long time in play, both of which benefit Itoje’s play. His battle with Etzebeth may decide not only who has go-forward in the game, but is also a meta competition to crown the best lock in the world. One Maro is entirely capable of winning. 

5. Taidgh Beirne 

Beirne’s selection in the row is in part to serve the rest of the team. He is the second best available in the position regardless, although Lawes has tried his best to push him for the spot. Adam Beard has stepped up as well and should secure a bench spot for the ‘big man’ option in the lineout. However, including the ‘auto-locking octopus’ that is Tadgh Beirne, gives the Lions five genuine jackal threats which may well help them control the pace of the ball at least and possession at best. Beirne’s selection also is the first adoption in this XV of the mantra ‘just play the best available players’ Beirne was the shining light for Ireland in the Six Nations and has carried that form onto tour and deserves the start. 

6. Tom Curry (VC)

Tom Curry is the best back rower in the world. It seems a controversial statement but in reality it’s not. He’s recently added a real carrying threat to his game, and has developed a Dombrandt-esque ability to run lazy inside supporting lines that saw him score against the Sharks. This is on top of his supreme defensive capability and an unstoppable motor. For all the controversy surrounding the selection of the back row Tom Curry is the least controversial and whether he wears 6 or 7 he needs to start in the tests. The battle between Curry and Du Toit has my pick as the most important of the tests.

7. Hamish Watson 

The mullet wielding marauder himself. Watson has been excellent in limited game time and the size question is one that should not have been entertained in the first place. If you can physically  compete successfully in professional rugby, be it club or international you are big enough to do so in a lions shirt. Watson is the perfect example of this idea of an undersized player, who despite this supposed disadvantage is one of the more physically dominant forces on the pitch. Especially with ball in hand. Again this boils down to not overthinking selection and just picking the best available player in the position. Watson and Curry will form a very dynamic axis for both breakdown and carrying work and will be adept at harrying the Boks tight game.

8. Sam Simmonds 

Similar to Watson he has proven that the size argument is not relevant at the professional level. Simmonds is not only holding his own physically but looks so well-conditioned that he ironically stands out as the most physical option for the lions which will be necessary with the less brutish flankers selected. His pace is elite at the eight position and more generally he has an ability to break the line that can’t be matched by Conan or Faletau. Simmonds could well be the danger man for the Lions if Gatland has the courage to pick him. 

9. Ali Price 

A beneficiary of a weak position group more than anything for Price. He has been by no means a bad player and has certainly stepped up since the beginning of the tour. Fortunately for Price, Murray is wearing his age more obviously and Davies is arguably not worthy of a tour spot. Price has injected much needed pace at the ruck which will pay particular rewards in the first test against a springboks side who may be a little behind the conditioning 8 ball. He fits Gatland’s plans for the Lions and has proven himself superior to his lack lustre competition and deserves the call up. 

10. Marcus Smith…. Maybe 

If I were picking with my heart Smith would start and be captain. Alas, whilst Smith showed on Saturday he can compete and stand out in this squad, it is the safer option to pick Farrell. Smith answered a number of questions on Saturday that those unfamiliar with him often have. Namely his defence which has always been excellent despite his lack of size, and he only looked more at home in attack the further into the game he progressed. Farrell has the ten shirt for now. There’s a little tickle of hope though that if Farrell or indeed Biggar underperforms the goose-stepping Filipino might make it into arguably the most prestigious jersey in the world. 

11. Duhan Van De Merwe

Van De Merwe whilst somewhat limited in his link play and offloading is showing himself to be a supreme physical presence. His power is translating into consistent metres and he has a finishers pace.  Whilst it may be a risk with him being supposedly weaker under the high ball, one that De Clerk and Pollard will look to exploit, he has been the main go forward man for the Lions thus far.  A strong showing under the highball will put any doubts to rest. 

12. Robbie Henshaw 

Henshaw essentially just had to get on the pitch and show his fitness against the stormers on Saturday in order to secure this spot. He was magnificent in the Six Nations and has experience in droves at Lions level that makes up for his lack of tour playing time. Right now he is maybe the best centre on earth on 12 months of form and simply cannot be ignored by the Lions. Van de Merwe’s selection will help share the 1^st phase carrying load, and whoever Henshaw partners with in the 10 shirt he will likely slot straight in. Whilst Aki has justified his selection to the tour, Henshaw is a class above most in the world right now. He should have the opportunity to prove his ability against the terrifying Springbok midfield.

13. Elliot Daly 

Six months ago Elliot Daly would have ranked about 50^th on the list of Lions centre options. His terrible six nations combined with his time in the championship, in which he played limited minutes, made him an outside choice for the tour let alone the tests. However, so far Elliot Daly has been the best player on tour. His 220+ minutes in just an 8 day stint has shown his toughness. He has demonstrated why at 13 he was the scourge of the premiership in his time at Wasps. Daly has made a serious bid for the greatest comeback in rugby history so far and his partnership with Henshaw puts two skill players against two Bok powerhouses. This will suit Gatland’s ball speed approach to the Springbok puzzle. If that’s not enough, it never hurts to have his siege gun of a left boot. 

14. Josh Adams 

Narrowly edging out both Rees-Zammit and Watson, Adams gets the nod despite a fairly pedestrian game against the Stormers. With such a solid back line there is value in playing the hot hand and that is what Adams has shown himself to be. Six tries already on the tour and elite under the high ball. He has shown himself to be a great compliment to Van de Merwe and should pair well with Hogg. 

15. Stuart Hogg (C)

Big boot, great hands, near peerless under the high ball and evasiveness to die for. Hogg is potentially the best full back in the game right now and has shown excellent leadership both with the Lions and Scotland. The snub of Liam Williams is tempered a little with the idea that he can comfortably cover both Wing and Full back off the bench. Put simply Hogg is a more dangerous player, and teams are aware of it. South Africa’s at times terrifying aerial attack will have to be cautious with Hogg at the back and his counter kicking will be of innumerable value. He makes a claim to the captaincy that should have been his since Alun Wyn Jones’ injury against Japan. Hogg will act as the cool head at the back of a dangerous Lions back three that may be able to cause real issues for the Springboks. 

So Do The Lions Win?

Optimism is a fine thing, and if there is a test to be optimistic about it’s the first one. The Boks will only get stronger as their game time increases. Vermeulen returning around the time of the 2^nd test will also pose a serious, potentially insurmountable challenge. So now is the time, but will the Lions be enough? Whilst the side looks stronger in person than it does on paper it is difficult to see this team take on a Boks side equipped with the likes of Kolisi and Pollard and come out on top. Gatland’s planned style of play, working the wider channels and prioritising attacking speed could pay dividends. However the Springboks power game is what took them to number one in the world and may well keep them there until France 2023. The Springboks will want a war, the Lions want a shootout, however I think the Springboks will be able to grind the lions into submission, and open up opportunities for a scary backline of World Cup icons. 

Prediction: South Africa 24 – Lions 13 

The first games in the new format adopted due to Covid, delivered in both the champions and challenge cup this weekend. We saw all the quarter finals be decided in one fell swoop and there was some glorious viewing for the rugby minded population. We learnt a huge amount from this weekend’s games, the champions Exeter are here to stay, Racing really are the freight train we all feared they were and out of the blue Sanderson’s Sale pose a real threat. The challenge cup contests meanwhile showed us that if anything the competition is Ulster’s to lose. Whilst Leicester and even saints have been quietly gaining momentum, Ulster, outside of the international window, have so much quality available it is difficult to picture another team hoisting the trophy. With the quarter finals firmly in sight lets go over the best of the qualifying round and where the storylines lie coming into one of the most competitive weekends of European rugby in years. 

Racing Ahead

Racing 92’s team sheet is so talent stacked that it can win games before they even start. I saw it first hand when the French side came to The Twickenham Stoop to face a harlequins team that looked defeated before they finished the warm up. Racing have the feel and momentum of the 2011-15 All Blacks, and inspire an “oh well, there’s always next year,” attitude in all but the best of the best in Europe. With the presumed return of Finn Russel to occupy the 10 shirt held dutifully but not spectacularly by Gibert over the international period, Racing will have the best backline in European club rugby. Whilst Edinburgh have been a team on the downward trend recently and thus a win over them was somewhat expected, a 53 point deficit tells of a racing with clinical attacking ability. They have a series of excellent individuals who have enough flare to consistently capitalise on breaks. Their forwards are the right mix of power, abrasiveness and awareness epitomised in Camille Chat and future international backrower Jordan Joseph.

Whilst Bordeaux-Begles do present a genuine challenge for this marauding Racing 92 side, the Parisian side should be heavy favourites going into the quarter final. This is despite Mathieu Jalibert’s incredible form bolstered by international game time, which has seen him rise to being a legitimate starter on the world stage. However Racing have so many weapons available along with a deepening bench that allows them to continue the pressure into the last quarter of the game unlike many French teams. Racing 92 should be favourites not only for the quarters but for the whole tournament.

Sailing past Scarlets

Sale announced their presence on the European stage with a comprehensive 57 – 14 win over a scarlets team brimming with enthusiasm and Six Nations winning players. The suspicious similarities in this game to the, similarly impressive if less high scoring, World cup final dismantling of England by South Africa are a sign of things to come in Sale. Sharks defence was where this game was first won, and then dominated. Scarlets woes were centred in the forwards where the pick of the carriers was Number 8 Kalamafoni. The leading carrier in the Pro14 this season managed just 18 metres on 11 carries. This anaemic output came as a result of Sale’s line speed. I would like to say that I had seen them doing something particularly intelligent, ran some special scheme or attacked a certain weak point. This was not the case. Sale simply spent the entire game in the Scarlets’ faces frustrating the back line which was unable to receive front foot ball and could not launch into the free flowing attacking Scarlets of recent memory. Line speed was very much the story and Sale came to bully the welsh side, preventing the ball getting to the outside, neutralising Liam Williams and McNichol completely.

Sanderson was muted in the post-match interview, claiming they just “caught them [Scarlets] a bit cold,” but it was clear from the emphasis Sale were placing on their line speed, that this was Sanderson’s vision. This Sale side is aiming to become a new version of the Saracens 2014-19 ‘wolf pack’ marshalled by Alex Sanderson then forwards coach at the London club, and they showed that they could on the weekend. The defensive capability of Sale clearly translates from the domestic to the European stage making them a legitimate threat to the competition. 

This weekend the Sharks face La Rochelle a team full of confidence and scoring ability, as well as a good dose of muscle. If Sale can turn it into a tight arm wrestle they will more likely than not  come away with a quarter final win. 

The Eagle Soars 

If Andy Farrell could cry, he would have done so watching Sale this weekend. Despite all the think pieces about Sexton being able to carry on till he’s 70 in the international Fly-Half slot, Ireland are in deep trouble in the position. Burns and Byrne are not competitive at the international level, and unless Carberry can put together more than 10 games without injury, there is no one behind Sexton.

This is because the next best option, the son of the headmaster of the most prestigious rugby school in Ireland, Blackrock college, is spoken for. AJ MacGinty has 28 caps for the USA Eagles  and is thus unavailable for selection for his home nation. This is frustrating for the Ireland coaching set up, not only because he has shown incredible form with the ball in hand and off the tee this season, but because his style of play is eerily similar to the incumbent Irish Fly-Half. He is a game manager, a label that normally relegates players to the bracket of good but never great. However in the case of MacGinty, as well as with Sexton, it is a high compliment. Sale’s Fly-Half has a sublime control of a team full of powerful but one dimensional players. The Sharks key to victory is no secret, it lies in physicality and game management. Thus AJ, along with his Scrum-Half partner De Klerk, are the most important players on the team. MacGinty’s  control of the game is the reason he finds himself second only to Marcus Smith in point scoring in the premiership and saw him grab 32 points against Scarlets. His selfless style maps wonderfully onto Johnny Sexton’s and would make him a perfect heir to the throne. It is the similarity between the two players that is the most frustrating, both have similar kicking statistics both in hand and off the tee, and have an innate ability to bring those around him into the game. Alas Andy Farrell will have to continue to sit in the purgatory of hoping that Joey Carberry is no longer made of porcelain, or work up the courage to pick Paddy Jackson. Neither seems likely. 

Paolo Odogwu: this Kid could Play for England…

Wasps forced Clermont to dig as deep as they could on Saturday to come away from the Ricoh with the win. The newly uncaged Paolo Odogwu was a major reason for this down to the wire finish. The wasps flyer was a well-publicised inclusion in Eddie Jones’ squad  for the Six Nations however the winger/centre didn’t make it into a single 23 over the course of the tournament. So after 7-8 weeks without any match speed game time could Odogwu have lost the form that saw him selected in the first place? In short, no. Odogwu looked to be at his bullish best with a try just 5 minutes in. He followed it up later in the game with a disallowed effort that was one of the closest calls I can remember seeing, beating three Clermont defenders on the way to the line, unfortunately leaving half a toenail in touch. He was a constant threat with the ball in his hand and showed a cool and collected vision of the game that could well have made a real difference on England’s campaign. Wasps, despite losing out in heart-breaking fashion, will take heart from how good Odogwu looked and indeed how good the whole team looked in what has been a disappointing season so far. Also judging by Eddie’s normal policy around these pseudo-apprentice players they can rest easy in the knowledge that Odogwu won’t ever get called up for England again…

In all seriousness, almost regardless of Lions selection Odogwu should be the first name on the team sheet for England’s tour to America in the summer. He offers a physical combative style of winger that’s almost unique in world rugby. There are not many players with his low centre of gravity combined with genuine pace and a real ability to shrug off tacklers. Especially with Antony Watson likely heading to South Africa Odogwu should be given the chance to make that 14 shirt his own. 

Who can Challenge Ulster?

Ulster’s victory over Harlequins is important for everything except the result. The performance of Ulster was far more valuable than the number of points they could put past a Harlequins C team. This game was about reintegrating the bevy of internationals that had returned to the club this week. To say this was done well would be an understatement, Burns, Stockdale and Herring slid back into the Ulster shirt with ease. Whilst the Fly-Half struggled in the international window he is excellent at club level, he has something of the George Furbank about him in that regard. Stockdale for all his up and down form will always be a lethal finisher, an athlete similar to Damian Penaud, in that they have long builds and don’t necessarily jump out at you, until they get near the line. Cooney controlled the game with the class of an international Scrum-Half, and at the age of 30 he will need to continue this form if he stands any chance of being picked consistently during the lead up to the World Cup. Furthermore with Craig Casey showing unbelievable amounts of promise, Cooney will need to stamp his authority on the 21 shirt, especially with the demonstrated lack of depth behind Murray. 

With the international class present in the team, as well as the fact that they are competing in the challenge and not champions cup, Ulster should be favourites as we progress though the knockout rounds. 

A six nations full of surprises is (almost) over. A lots changed in the past 8 weeks, and that is reflected in the lions squad that will now for certain tour South Africa. The team will no longer be England with Stuart Hogg as most people seemed to think before the tournament. Indeed this is probably the most open lions selection in a long time. This leaves Gatland huge opportunity but also huge risk, compounded by the fact he is coaching against the most physical team on the planet who will be looking to solidify themselves as the best in the world. Selection needs to reflect the opposition and with South Africa’s DNA so clearly established Gatland has the opportunity to pick a team that can really attack the defending World cup champions. 

Loose Head: Joe Marler

What? How? He didn’t even play in the six nations! Correct and Wyn Jones will doubtless be the first name on the team sheet for most. Marler however was selected for England and turned down the opportunity to better support his family. Had he been a part of England’s campaign there may well have been tangible differences. He is one of the most physical players in the world and is becoming more and more reminiscent of his old England front row partner in Dan Cole. He doesn’t make mistakes on the field, he’s a hard worker in attack and a monstrous presence in defence. Furthermore he is the best loose head in the set piece and tight game in the world. His physicality and set piece quality will be a necessity against the likes of Malherbe and Koch (and potentially Wilko Louw his Harlequins teammate). 

Hooker: Ken Owens 

Honourable mention must go here to Luke Cowan-Dickie who has proven that he can thrive on the international stage. However Ken Owens has been immense for wales, doubly impressive considering the long layoff due to injury prior to the six nations. He offers an industrious and fast approach to the game but does not lack in physicality and much like Marler is a former tourist. Unlike Marler he has also captained the lions, experience that will be invaluable in a team that  will likely feature a large volume of youth. 

Tight Head: Tadgh Furlong 

Of course it is. The depth here makes it arguably the lions strongest position with both Sinckler and Porter proving themselves world class, the latter for the first time. Additional names like Will Stuart who really stepped up in his limited game time as well as Thomas Francis having somewhat of a resurgence show that Taidgh will be by no means unchallenged. The Irish prop showed in the games he did play just how classy a player he is, the leaving aside the greatest side-step in the history of rugby, he returned to the physical play that has been his hallmarks since he shrugged of Reid and Retallick in 2016. 

Lock: Maro Itoje

I have never been the biggest fan of Itoje, and there’s not much new to say about him. He gives away too many penalties and once he gives away one or two he does tend to spiral. However he is on his day anywhere form the best 2^nd row in the world all the way up to the best player in the world. The ability he has in the loose, especially over the ball which will be essential in disrupting the consistency of South Africa’s front foot ball. Aside from that he is a previous lions tourist and will inevitably have a massive role in the leadership of the group. 

Lock: Tadgh Beirne

The auto-locking octopus himself, Tadgh Beirne was first a revelation for Munster and this year he has been the same for Ireland. He is my player of the tournament, although Stuart hogg as the potential to pinch that this weekend, and importantly he allows the Lions to have essentially five backrow players when included with Itoje. Beirnes’s inclusion will be a real boon to the lions around the breakdown and will make it difficult for south Africa to maintain the front foot ball that is so central to their physical style of rugby. His inexperience is notable, especially when compared with the other option of Alun Wyn Jones at the position. Although his short but successful international career has shown his cool head and quality under the heat of the bright lights. 

Blindside: Justin Tipuric 

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Tipuric is up there with his forbear Warburton in terms of who represents the phrase best. Tipuric has been outstanding his entire career and nothing changed this year. Offering the hands of a 13 alongside a savviness around the breakdown that sees him win key turn overs with alarming regularity, his value to the lions is obvious and immense. Hamish Watson has played well this six nations and would probably be the form man to pull on the 6 jersey, Tipuric though is world class and has been for a long time and if the way he played this tournament is anything to go by he will continue to be long into the future. 

Openside: Tom Curry (VC)

It’s difficult to pick an attribute of Tom Curry that stands out, a Tipuric has his handling, a Rees-Zammit has his finishing ability. Tom Curry in contrast is just really good at rugby. Its flippant but it is the simplest way to get across the quality of player that Curry is. His well-rounded skill set is reminiscent of the great 7s of the past and I’ve no doubt he will be in that pantheon by the time he hangs up his boots. For me he’s as likely as Itoje to lead England when the captaincy next changes hands, and his work rate in a leadership position will keep the rest of the pack honest.  This is an opportunity for Curry to confirm himself amongst the best in the world and despite good tournaments from other options, Hamish Watson particularly, Tom Curry is Just too good to be left out.

No. 8: Sam Simmonds

Sam Simmonds is underrated by even his biggest fans. He for me ranks alongside Vermeulen and Alldritt as the best at the position in the world, not just in England. The decision not to pick him for England is short sighted, not picking him for the lions would be even more so. Simmonds work rate is phenomenal and between him, his fellow backrowers and the 2^nd row the turnover battle easily tilts in favour of the Lions. He has been the only 8 available to the home nations to  look utterly dominant. Vunipola is not a consistent contributor and let’s face it size can no longer be the main aspect of a player’s game with the increase in the average physicality of players. Stander may not be available but if he were to be he would be an ok option, but has not stood out as a dominant force, the same for Talupe Faletau. Simmonds offers a back row X-factor and whilst the lack of international involvement is damaging to his cause I think he is good enough to compete on the world stage.

Scrum Half: Connor Murray 

Scrum Half is perhaps the lions weakest position, in light of that I’ve avoided pushing the boat out and selecting Allie Price who has really grown into the Scottish shirt this six nations. Regardless it is difficult to look past the ever present figure of Murray, especially after his excellent performance against England last weekend. With no man in the 9 shirt standing out this year, it is logical to take the player who has performed at the highest level for the longest. Connor Murray is definitely that man, he was arguably the best scrum half in the world earlier in his career and has not taken the dive in form that people seem to think he has. He’s the best of an average bunch, but he still is the best option and needs to be pulling on the shirt in that first test. 

Fly Half: Finn Russel 

There’s not much to be said, that hasn’t already been talked about with Finn Russel. He makes Cipriani look like an Aldi own brand product with what he is able to do on the international stage. His timing and attacking awareness are unmatched at the moment in the game. His surprising turn of pace makes him lethal in a position which has so rapidly shifted toward game management specialists. Additionally if you were to pick a man ahead of time to be voted the best tourist he would be the man.

Left Wing: Anthony Watson

England’s six nations campaign was characterised by incompetency and disappointment. The one truly bright spot throughout was Anthony Watson. His finishing through contact is maybe the best in the world and this Six nations he showed that he was still deadly from close range. Now that the idea of him being moved to full back has been put to bed also he can focus on the being the dominant finisher we sometimes forget he is. 

Inside centre: Henshaw

Along with Beirne, Henshaw fits into the category of players who have played themselves into the lion shirt over this six nations. With Jonathon Davies taking a step back accompanied by a move to 12, and no one else really putting their hand up Henshaw is the obvious choice. It is a shame that Redpath suffered an injury so early as his form in the England game suggested that he may have had a similar opportunity. Henshaw however hasn’t put a foot wrong all six nations, and with Farrell regressing significantly I think that the Lions need to play the hot hand.

Outside Centre: North

This was a toss-up between North and Gary Ringrose. For South Africa the physicality of North as well as the speed he has adapted to the position, tips it for me. His move inside was not without its initial issues, but his defense has rapidly been made much more secure, and under Gatland will only improve. Furthermore, the old George North who terrified the rugby world pre-concussion, appears to be returning in earnest. The rampaging north of 2011 would certainly be of massive benefit to the Lions. There is something to be said also for having a centurion in the side, especially one still so young and capable. 

Right Wing: Louis Rees-Zammit 

Why not? The classic take on LRZ has been “Gatland might even take him on the Lions tour.” The guys age should not matter, he has simply been the best winger in the Six Nations. His speed is his most commonly observed attribute, which is not surprising. I assume with the way he burned Johnny May that he is one of, if not the fastest player in world rugby. Additionally he is not the small winger that many seem to think he is. He’s a sizeable athlete with excellent coverage skills, essential for facing off against the likes of Kolbe. Age and wisdom before youth and enthusiasm is a good mantra to apply to most things, just not to the most in form winger in the Northern hemisphere

Full back: Stuart Hogg (C)

Hogg had a little bit to prove this Six Nations. He had performed well for Exeter in the games he played, but had looked pedestrian on the international stage since his rise to captaincy. This is no longer the case. He proved this six nations that any debates about his quality should around whether or not he is the best Full back in the world. He offers immense counter attacking ability, alongside the lethal finishers in the back three he will put the fear of god in the South African kick chase. His leadership during the rise of Scottish rugby has been clear to see, whilst Gatland does prefer his captain to be in the forwards the selected pack has no shortage of motivators. Hogg is arguably the best full back in the world, and has gained a new lease of life under the captaincy of Scotland despite a rocky start. He’s my lions captain, of a team which has a very good chance to really dominate the Springboks. 

After Ireland’s comprehensive smashing of England I take a look at the fundamental flaw in the Jones era.

It would be fair to say, that had someone come up to me at the start of this six nations and told me that I would care about seeing Wales lose to France more than watching England lose to Ireland, I would’ve believed them. I would have believed them, only because I really don’t like the Welsh rugby team, and at the beginning of this championship, I expected England vs France to decide the tournament the week before. Instead, I could not muster an ounce of enthusiasm for Saturday’s least significant fixture. 

Scotland vs Italy had the intrigue of a Scottish team building momentum into the clash this weekend with France as well as seeing an Italy full of youth run out equipped with my two guilty pleasures, Garbisi and Loane. We learnt that Scotland are a legitimate threat, yes it was Italy, but they looked just as good as any other side in the tournament against the Azzurii. 

The Wales vs France match was stacked with tension before the whistle went and maintained it into the 82^nd minute. It was the consummate test match with the drama physicality and excellent refereeing that we had all been hoping for especially in light of the prior games in the tournament. We learnt that Wayne Pivac’s Wales side can hang with the best in the world, and we learnt that this French team, for the first time since Dusautoir and friends in 2007 had the guts to stay in a game till the last. 

When Raynal Blew the final whistle, we had learnt nothing about either side. This isn’t a slight to Ireland, we had it confirmed to us that they were a physical team with two all-time greats in the halfback slots, whose game management is nearly incomparable. England’s story is the complete opposite. One doesn’t have to be a genius to trace the trend that has existed in English rugby since the Jones era began. The Australian came in aiming to create a ‘traditional English team’; a team built on the strength of their forwards and the calmness of their game management. I’m loathe to talk about the 2003 world cup win for fear of sounding like Clive Woodward, but the segment leading up to Wilkinson’s drop goal is exactly the sort of team Jones wants to form. 

The issue with this formula is it hinges on forward dominance. If you need proof of how integral it is, one only needs to look at each of England’s defeats under the Jones era. South Africa in 2019, France in 2020, any of the losses in the similarly abysmal 2018 Six Nations, and now Ireland in 2021, and all of these losses started in the tight. Cheslin Kolbe’s step in the Final to beat Farrell and seal it for South Africa will forever be the image that resides in people’s heads, but that game was won by the work rate and physicality of Du Toit, de Jaeger and Vermeulen. Eerily similar to Saturday’s game, Keith Earl’s first try against England in some 10 years might well be the image that remains, but the game was won by the work of the player of the tournament in my book Tadgh Beirne, Stander and Van der Flier alongside the rest of the Irish pack. What frustrates us so much as England fans, is that many of us know this, it’s not a ground-breaking observation, yet England keep falling afoul of it.

A strategy that is so reliant on one aspect cannot be relied upon to work consistently. Further, this six nations has thrown the issue into a starker light, not just because of the losses but the selection also. The refusal to pick Dombrandt and Simmonds, despite obvious opportunity and reason, is centred on Jones’ commitment to this style of play. George Martin won his first cap in the loss to Ireland, and whilst he is no doubt a talented player with a great deal of potential, he rose to international status because he fits into the Jones Ideal. Martin, in his limited game time for Leicester proved himself to be a work horse. He’s a hard yards kind of player just as most of the England forwards are. Sinckler is one of the few with an ounce of flair, but he is also one of the better tight players in the world, and so fits into the Jones mould. With so many options in the premiership at the moment being side-lined in favour of the bigger Vunipola and an out of form Farrell, it is easy to see the influence that the Jones vision has had on selection, and the results speak for themselves. 

So where do we go from here? It’s a tough question especially as we are mid-world cup cycle, even more so considering what England achieved in 2019 under Jones. However the advantage of the world cup cycle is that it gives teams a chance to reinvigorate after every tournament, to introduce youth and develop the team to new heights. Jones is not using this cycle to do that, the Saracens selections and the refusal to include the most in form players available to him demonstrate an obstinance that is hurting English rugby. The summer tour to the USA, with a lions tour alongside it is the perfect opportunity to rectify this, a change must be seen for Jones to keep the faith of the RFU, the supporters but most importantly the players. The 2021 six nations must be the start of a rebirth, not the beginning of a slow decline. 

S.