Post-RBS 6 Nations Lions XV

With the conclusion of the 2016 Six Nations this past weekend, the rugby world creeps ever closer to the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

The annual summer and autumn tests this year and next year’s Six Nations are all the international rugby that remains between now and the tour, and performances in this year’s competition will certainly have put down significant markers for a number of players in their bids to be on the plane to New Zealand.

The identity of who will coach the touring side will heavily dictate who makes the final XV to take on the All Blacks at Eden Park in the first test, but, all things being equal, we take a look at the XV of players who may have their noses in front at this point:

15. Stuart Hogg, Scotland

At his best, Hogg is mesmeric and worthy of consideration amongst the Ben Smiths and Israel Folaus of the world. His consistency might not be quite that of his antipodean rivals, but with another excellent Six Nations under his belt and a further year to mature and develop, Hogg should be in the driving seat for the 15 jersey.

14. Anthony Watson, England

Watson has game-breaking speed and footwork that makes him a potent attacking weapon. The improvements to his aerial game have been stark over the last 12 months and even at just 22 years of age, he is already verging on being a top class, all-round international wing.

13. Jonathan Joseph, England

There were calls to drop Joseph for Elliot Daly at the start of the championship, but the Bath centre answered his critics (or more accurately, Daly’s supporters) emphatically over the last seven weeks. Scotland’s duo of Duncan Taylor and Mark Bennett could both push hard, as could Wales’ Jonathan Davies.

12. Robbie Henshaw, Ireland

Henshaw could be shuffled out to 13 to accommodate Jamie Roberts here, or a second playmaker like Owen Farrell, but much of that will depend on who is coach and the style they want the Lions to play with. With the direct, ‘Warrenball’ approach largely sussed out and countered by England and South Africa, let alone New Zealand, moving in a different direction may be key to the Lions’ hopes of success and that gives Henshaw the nod.

11. George North, Wales

Six Nations rugby is all the better for an in-form and firing North. The Welsh winger has returned to being a plentiful source of tries for his team and, at his peak, is in the conversation for the best at his position in world rugby.

10. Owen Farrell, England

Again, without knowing the coach, picking a fly-half is difficult. Jonathan Sexton has had an inconsistent season, while Rhys Priestland was praised for the added attacking incision he added to Wales when he replaced Dan Biggar against England. Farrell, who has been in fine form this season, moves in from inside centre, something which the returns to fitness of Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade could also prompt in the England team this summer.

9. Rhys Webb, Wales

Webb’s return provided Wales with plenty of impetuous over the final game and a half of their championship, speeding up their play considerably. Conor Murray is the more accomplished box-kicker, whilst Ben Youngs would test Aaron Smith around the fringes, but Webb is skilled enough to take on both of those tasks and flourish.

1. Rob Evans, Wales

The arrival of Evans has shored up the creaking Welsh scrum and he handled himself more than adequately against the likes of Dan Cole and WP Nel over the last few weeks. There is plenty of competition at the position, with Jack McGrath, Mako Vunipola, Alasdair Dickinson, Joe Marler and Cian Healy all capable of ultimately donning the jersey.

2. Dylan Hartley, England

Hartley has taken to the England captaincy like a duck to water, retaining his high-intensity style of play with no incidents of ill-discipline to speak of. Most importantly, he is scrummaging well, hooking the ball and aside from a couple of wobbles, throwing accurately at the lineout.

3. Dan Cole, England

Both Cole and Nel have scrummaged very well of late and ultimately it’s the added value Cole brings at the breakdown which swings it, ever so narrowly, in his favour. The Lions benefitted from Gethin Jenkins’ extra-curricular activity at the breakdown during the 2013 tour and Cole can provide the side with a similar ace up its sleeve in 2017.

4. Maro Itoje, England

The once-boy wonder of English rugby has turned into one hell of an international rugby player. Even with just four international caps to his name, Itoje has already demonstrated his phenomenal leadership, physical and technical abilities, shining in an England pack which has begun to regain its fear factor.

5. Alun Wyn Jones, Wales

There would be a strong case to partner Itoje with club and international teammate George Kruis or one of the Gray brothers, but it’s impossible to leave out a player as good as Jones. Alongside Hartley and Itoje, Jones would add another natural leader to the pack and would complement Itoje superbly in his battle against Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

6. John Hardie, Scotland

Another position with plenty of competition. England’s Chris Robshaw and James Haskell have impressed of late, whilst Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien will put forth their own cases when they return to fitness. Hardie knows New Zealand, knows the players, has the graft and work rate to play six, whilst also adding an extra threat at the breakdown.

7. Sam Warburton, Wales

Barring injury or a spectacular loss of form, Warburton surely has to be retained as the Lions’ first-choice openside. Injury curtailed his tour in 2013, but that should not lessen his achievements as Lions tour-winning captain and he remains the best international seven in the northern hemisphere.

8. Billy Vunipola, England

The toughest call of all comes at the end. How do you separate Mr Vunipola and his cousin, Taulupe Faletau? Both are extraordinary players, capable of putting their respective teams on their backs and carrying them to victory. Vunipola may be the slightly more dynamic of the pair and that proved the decisive factor. The always effective Jamie Heaslip also deserves a very honourable mention.