State of the Pride: British & Irish Lions prospective following the Autumn Internationals

With England’s 37-21 victory over Australia on Saturday, the Autumn Internationals are firmly done, dusted and already in the rear view mirror as we speed towards 2017 and the British & Irish Lions’ tour of New Zealand.

There is, of course, the small matter of the Six Nations to come first, but with just over six months (197 days to be precise) before the first test against the All Blacks at Auckland’s Eden Park and a month’s worth of international rugby to digest, Lewis Hughes casts an eye over which home nation players have risen up the pecking order to contend for a starting spot with the touring squad next summer.

Loosehead Prop – Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England)

A barnstorming summer tour of Australia and subsequent autumn series has seen Mako Vunipola emerge as England’s clear number one option at loosehead. Whilst his renowned ball-carrying ability continues to make him a destructive unit across all areas of the pitch, the elevation of his scrummaging ability over the last eighteen months makes him the Lions’ first choice as well.

Rory Best - (Ireland, Ulster)

In the wake of Dylan Hartley’s red card for striking Sean O’Brien which has once again reopened the debate around the England captain’s on-field temperament, it would appear Ulster’s Rory Best is now the front-runner for both the starting hooker jersey and the Lions captaincy in New Zealand. An Irish centurion and current captain of the national team, Best’s wealth of experience as a leader as well as his powerful scrummaging and, to quote Lions coach Warren Gatland, his improve lineout throwing makes him the natural replacement should former Hartley find himself omitted - or even barred - from contention.

Honourable Mention: Jamie George, Dylan Hartley 

Tighthead Prop – Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, Ireland)

With only four test appearances for Ireland (and two for his Leinster), the 24-year-old is an unorthodox pick to start a Lions test. But in those six games the Leinster prop has been tearing up trees and has proven as adept at dismantling opposition props as his carrying in the loose or covering the breakdown. A prime candidate to be the first of the Lions ‘bolters’.

Honourable Mention: W.P. Nel

Locks – Devin Toner (Leinster, Ireland) & Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales)

Two, behemoth experienced locks to provide a stabilising force in an otherwise green Lions side and target one of the All Blacks’ few weaknesses – the lineout. What more can you ask for?

Honourable Mention: George Kruis, Iain Henderson

Blindside Flanker – Maro Itoje (Saracens, England)

Even after missing the entirety of the autumn internationals through injury, it is hard to discount the meteoric rise of Maro Itoje who will find himself on the plane to New Zealand one way or another. Although predominately a lock, within this side, the multi-talented 22-year-old finds himself moved backwards to flanker where his freakish athleticism and ball-hawking skills are the perfect remedy to a relative lack of jackaling options from the home counties.

Honourable Mention: CJ Stander

Openside Flanker – Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, Wales)

One of the few out-and-out Northern Hemisphere flankers able of playing at the very highest level, Tipuric’s breakdown ability combined with his lightning pace make him the ideal option to counter an All Black backrow whose game predominately revolve around speed and skill.

Honourable Mention: John Hardie, Josh Van der Flier

Number Eight – Billy Vunipola (Saracens, England)

Although the second Vunipola brother is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, the Tongan-born number eight possesses a combination of physicality and ball-playing ability unmatched anywhere else in the Lions squad or indeed the Northern Hemisphere. With Tipuric and Itoje beside him to handle opposition flankers, B. Vunipola will serve as a leviathanic battering ram straight through the All Black defensive line.  

Honourable Mention: Taulupe Faletau, Jamie Heaslip

Scrum-half – Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, England)

It’s hard to call the 65-cap, 27-year-old Youngs the ‘breakout’ star of the autumn internationals given his lengthy resume which also includes two appearances for the 2013 Lions but the Leicester scrum-half has used 2016 to firmly established himself as one of the few genuinely world-class scrum-halves currently playing. Perhaps harsh on Connor Murray who has been in equally devastating form, on current form Youngs has to start in Auckland.

Honourable Mention: Connor Murray, Gareth Davies

Fly-half – Dan Biggar (Ospreys, Wales)

Arguably the second-most complete fly-half in the Northern Hemisphere (the first is starting at inside centre), Biggar has the vision, kicking ability and composure to ensure the Lions’ backline flourishes in New Zealand.

Honourable Mention: Johnny Sexton, George Ford

Winger – Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England)

Another player to have missed the autumn series, Watson’s combination of power, pace and airborne presence, along with his ability to cover both wings and fullback, make him a de facto starter for the Lions.

Honourable Mention: Tommy Seymour

Inside Centre – Owen Farrell (Saracens, England)

As efficient and devastating at inside centre for England as he is at fly-half for Saracens, Farrell solves the other main positional conundry of any potential Lions XV. As the second creative option (and primary goalkicker) in the backline, Farrell gives the Lions both a stabilizing tactical presence in the midfield as well as an additional creative pivot to bring the likes of Watson, Henshaw and Williams into the game.

Honourable Mention: Garry Ringrose

Outside Centre – Robbie Henshaw (Leinster, Ireland)

The brawn to go with Farrell’s brains, so to speak, Henshaw gives the Lions a powerful go-forward option on the ground to contemplate their aerial attack. But Henshaw is hardly a one-track player; adept at kicking tactically and running around his opposite number, Henshaw is an incisive five-tool player who can make the most of the opportunities presented by New Zealand’s drift defence.

Honourable Mention: Jonathan Joseph

Winger – Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales)

With the shadow of another George North concussion saga looming large, it is his Welsh teammate who is the immediate beneficiary. Another ‘five-tool’ player, Williams’ pace, kicking and eye for a gap gives the Lions an ideal counter-attacking option regardless of whether they’re down a score or leading by twenty.

Honourable Mention: Andrew Trimble

Fullback – Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)

The best fullback in the Northern Hemisphere (apologies Leigh), the 24-year-old finds himself as the heir apparent to Halfpenny’s previously untouchable ‘15’ jersey. With both Biggar and Farrell in the side, Hogg’s clear advantage as a playmaker, counter-attacker and covering defender make the Welsh fullback expendable and ensures all four home nations have at least one representative at Eden Park at the end of June.

Honourable Mention: Leigh Halfpenny