Talking Rugby Union posed the question the other day of who should the next Lions captain be. An interesting proposition, as there is no stand out leader in Britain or Ireland at the moment. Also an interesting proposition is to think of who will make the team come 2013? Two years away and allot of rugby still to be played many of these discussion are often pointless as injuries and form can change over a tour let alone two seasons of rugby. So for a bit of fun as the rugby world has been a bit slow with news and excitement recently, I thought I would look into my crystal ball, and have a look at some of the players who I think could lead the Lions in 2013 and the starting XV. I have thrown some controversy in there to get a bit of discussion going aswell!
Potential Captains:
My shortlist of captains for 2013 would consist of POC, BOD, Heaslip, and Warburton. O’Driscoll if he can maintain form and fitness and avoid injury will more than likely make the squad, could Australia be his swansong? It would give his career a fairy tale ending as it was in 2001 in Australia where he really established himself as a world power. Unlikely he will be captain. The same could be said of POC, he is getting older now but I’m sure will be down under in 2013. For me Jamie Heaslip is the stand out number 8 of British and Irish rugby. He is forging a highly successful career and has experience of previous Lions tour and has been lead by some truly exceptional captains and players. Time for him to step up? I think it could be. My left field prediction is Warburton. By 2013 I think he will be the standout 7 in northern hemisphere rugby and will be in all likelihood the Welsh captain. If he can stay injury free he has an outside chance of being captain, although no previous experience of a Lions tour will count against him.
Looking further into my crystal ball, here are my thoughts on who the best XV in Britain and Ireland could be:
1. Gethin Jenkins.
2. Dylan Hartley.
3. Dan Cole.
4. Richie Gray
5. Courtney Lawes.
6. Tom Croft.
7. Sam Warburton.
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Ben Youngs
10. James Hook
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Chris Ashton
15. Rob Kearney
Yes lots of names that we have all heard of, all of whom are young and whom I believe will be leading players in Northern Hemisphere rugby for the next few years. There are some big names missing out aswell. It is a very quick team with lots of power and overall I think would give the Aussies quite a scare!
My choice of coach would be Declan Kidney, he reminds me Geechs by the way in which his teams play with a very streetwise attitude in terms of trying to play clever and never to complicated. Kidney has experience at winning at both European and international level. I don’t think there is any other coach in Britain or Ireland who has a better record?
What do you guys think?
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How about a coach who has played as a Lion, coached on two Lions tours and won a World Cup? This may sound rash but I don’t think there are enough Scots in there. If you think about the number of Irish backs (though unlikely it will be in that area we contribute) who were off radar in the years before the 2009 tour and seen as “surprises”, I think a lot of players have still to show their true mettle. Despite what the likes of Stephen Jones would say about “test animals”, Geech managed just fine by picking talent and almost got the series…
That’s a pretty one dimensional mid-field.
Tom Croft ahead of Sean O’Brien? Pull the other one.
Nice blog idea…though my head is currently spinning with possible World Cup squad choices!
I will chuck in a couple of names to challenge your wingers…Leigh Halfpenny and Tim Visser. LH has had terrible luck with injury but has already gone on a tour and if he can stay fit for the World Cup or even just ONE 6N campaign I’d say he’ll lock down a wing position. As for Visser, he only qualifies for Scotland next year but if his finishing ability survives the step from Celtic League to Test level, he’ll be a tough Scotsman to leave off the starting XV.
As for skipper, I’m with you on Heaslip though I wonder will they pick three Irish captains in a row? You never know…
A few pllayers who I think will make really strong cases for test inclusion in the starting XV: Bradley Davies, Stephen Ferris, Sean O’Brien, Toby Flood, Jonny Sexton, Ben Foden. These players are also in the mix along with those mentioned in your article.
Two years out, picking a Lions XV is incredibly difficult. There are sure to be those who make late claims for inclusion etc… Thoughts?
sextion over hook anybody over Tuilagi
All the guys mentioned above, I gave a thought to! Foden Flood and Ferris all came close. Of course we all know the team will look completely different from that. Who would have thought in 07 that Monye, Roberts and Heaslip would be starting in 09. Tommy Bowe didnt even make the Irish 07 world cup squad and neither did Lee Byrne.
In 07 Eddie O’Sullivan was favourite for the job. Would love Geechs to do it again but if there is any one else I think it has to be Kidney. Not enough scottish players? They were lucky to have one. I think the Irish were the harshest done here! One dimensional midfield yeah, but they would certainly ask a few questions!
Johnny Sexton is the Stand out number 10 by a long shot in the Northern Hemisphere, and just had the game of his life in the Heineken Cup Final, he’s young too so no idea why you would leave him out. Sean O’Brien also now the stand out flanker so same case again. And what about Tommy Bowe!? Obviously an Irish point of view!
In my personal opinion I think Hook given more time at 10 can be world class. Sexton is a great player and has had a great season. O’Brien came close, i just think Croft on the hard grounds of OZ and against such a quick Aussie back line there going to need a quick back row.
Not a bad team at all. I’d go for:
1. Jenkins
2. Hartley
3. Adam Jones
4. Gray
5. Lawes
6. Ferris
7. O’Brien
8. Heaslip
9. O’Leary
10. Hook
11. Kearney
12. Roberts
13. Earls
14. Ashton
15. Foden
I appear to have forgotten Sexton. I’d play him at 10 and Hook 12.
Post RWC 2011 I think their will be a few changes to the teams above. Hook was shocking for Wales particularly against France and Heaslip & Sean O’Brien awesome versus Australia but largely anonymous against Wales. As shocking as England were you have to think in 2 years time they will be in better form. That said, picking Croft at 6 ahead of Ferris, O’Brien or Lidiyate is somewhat one eyed.
For what it’s worth here’s my Lions XV if the tour started tomorrow:
1 Gethin Jenkins
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Adam Jones
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Alan Wyn-Jones
6 Stephen Ferris
7 Sam Warburton
8 Jamie Heaslip
9 Mike Phillips
10 Toby Flood
11 George North
12 Jamie Roberts
13 Brian O’Driscoll
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Rob Kearney
In 2 years time, who knows how many will still be around & in form.
If the Lions tour started tomorrow you would have Hartley Flood and Lawes and Heaslip in the team?
What form have those guys shown? If your going on form from the WC then surely Preistland, Best, O’Connell/Charteris, O’Brien would all be ahead of them, on form.Tuilagi would also push pretty close aswell. Halfpenny. Those guys you mentioned all very talented players who on there day would all push for selection, but some failed to perform at all at the RWC.
1. Cian Healy
2. Ross Ford
3. Adam Jones
4. Richie Gray
5. Paul O’Connell
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Sam Warburton
8. David Denton
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Brian O’Driscoll
14. Sean Lamont
15. Ben foden
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Rory Best
3. Dan Cole
4. Ritchie Gray
5. Ian Evans
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warbuton / Chris Robshaw
8. Dave Denton
9. Mike Phillips
10. Owen Farrell
11. George North
12. James Hook
13. Jamie Roberts / Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Rob Kearney / Ben Foden
Time to maybe re post this and see what people think nearly a year on? I think looking back now the team I posted could be quite near! Warburton will be captain I think, so not a bad shout on that one!!
1. Cian healy
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Adam Jones
4. Richie Gray
5. Paul O’Connell
6. Stephan ferris
7. Sam Warbuton
8. Sean O’Brien
9. Mike phillips
10. Johnny Sexton
11. George north
12. Jamie roberts
13. Brian O’Driscoll(c)
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Rob Kearney