Lions Stock Watch - Sept

The 2016/17 Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro12 campaigns are now four weeks in and we bring you our first British and Irish Lions Stock Watch of the season.

We will take a look at the end of each month at the impressive and not so impressive performances of the players who may be in Warren Gatland’s sights for the tour to New Zealand next summer.

Without any further ado, let’s delve right in.

 Stock Rising

Tommy Seymour, Glasgow Warriors and Scotland

The flying Scotsman has been in tremendous form to start the season, running in seven tries in just four games for Glasgow. He has looked elusive and powerful in equal measure and will be relishing the upcoming autumn internationals and the opportunity to replicate this form on the test stage.

With perhaps just two ‘certs’ among the home nations wings in George North and Anthony Watson, there is plenty of scope for Seymour to make one of the spots in the squad his with a strong season for the Warriors.

Jack O’Donoghue, Munster and Ireland

O’Donoghue could be the stereotypical bolter. He is not among Ireland’s first choice back row - nor is he even guaranteed a start at Munster when CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony are both fit – but he is a versatile player whose ability to fill in at any position across the back row is highly-prized on long, attritional tours such as the one the Lions will embark on.

Munster have yet to hit top gear this season but the same cannot be said of O’Donoghue, who has been a menace in defence and at the contact area.

Ross Moriarty, Gloucester and Wales

Gloucester’s season may have stuttered and spluttered so far, but Moriarty has hit the ground running. He’s been physical and abrasive, but also skilful, as he has looked to play a bit wider and involve himself more in the attacking game plan of the Cherry and Whites.

He may well have done enough to make Wales’ six jersey his own this season and is a candidate to not only tour New Zealand, but also to feature in the XV to take on the All Blacks themselves.

Semesa Rokoduguni, Bath and England

The lance corporal in the British Army has been in sublime form to start the 2016/17 season, scoring four tries and leading the Premiership in metres gained, clean breaks and defenders beaten. His ability to make ground and evade tackles, whether through footwork or powering through them, has helped Bath control the territory battle in their games so far this season.

With Jack Nowell and Jonny May still on the sidelines, Rokoduguni is a strong candidate to feature for England in the upcoming autumn internationals and may yet further distinguish himself.

Courtney Lawes, Northampton Saints and England

The 2015/16 season was a frustrating and injury-riddled one for Lawes but he has started to look back to his best in the opening weeks of the 2016/17 campaign. He was particularly destructive in Northampton’s game against Saracens where, for large swathes of the game, he and Louis Picamoles put a real hurt on Saracens’ vaunted pack.

He is a disruptive defensive force like no other and if he continues to build on his performances so far, he could well head to New Zealand.

Stock Falling

Manu Tuilagi, Leicester Tigers and England

It’s sad to say but Tuilagi’s stock is surely falling as he continues to struggle to stay fit. Injury ruled him out of England’s tour to Australia this summer and he hasn’t played since Leicester’s season opener against Gloucester, with Richard Cockerill stating that the centre is dealing with some tightness in his hamstring.

If fit, Tuilagi is a world beater, but at this point in time it would be impossible to put him on the plane to New Zealand, until he can prove he can stay fit for a significant period of time.

Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams and Scott Williams, Scarlets and Wales

Three very talented individuals, all of whom will be near the top of most people’s shortlists for the Lions, but with the Scarlets pack giving the back line very little to work with, their opportunities to impress are few and far between.

All three will likely be involved with Wales in the autumn internationals and that will give better insight as to where they sit in the respective pecking orders at their positions, but with the Scarlets struggling, they have been unable to catch the eye so far.