Year of the Lion - Pre 6 Nations Predictions - Second Row

 

Following up from yesterday's post on which fatties are likely to be touring, today we're going to look at the engine room boys of the second row, where those chosen will have some pretty big boots to fill – literally. Lions legends such as Willie John McBride, Gordon Brown (not the jowly ex-Prime Minister, the Scottish lock from the 70s), Wade Dooley, and Martin Johnson have all been at the heart of Lions packs before.  Then again, so has Brent Cockbain (yes, he's actually toured with the Lions), which helps ease the pressure.  Let's see which lanky lads will be ducking their head onto an Oz-bound plane in 6 months time…

Second Row – This is probably the first time that a partnership really needs to be taken into account.  All the great partnerships have had that perfect balance of brains and brawn – think Matfield and Botha, Kay and Johnson, Torvill and Dean.   Lineout supremacy is key to beating the Wallabies and ensuring they can't get the territory from which their pretty-boy backline can be so effective, so we need a Victor Matfield to call the shots, as well as an 'enforcer' to physically impose himself on the Aussie pack. 

GEOFF PARLING looks and sounds like a B&Q shop assistant, but he is probably the closest thing we have to set-piece guru, seeing that he is a self-confessed lineout geek.  An ever-present in the England resurgence, he has led England towards winning 88% of their lineouts in the 10 games he has started, whilst restricting opponents to 82.5% of theirs – a key difference in close matches.  His contribution around the park has not gone un-noticed as well as he consistently appears towards the top of the tackle charts for England, and his understanding with hookers Hartley and Youngs is key to him getting the nod to start. 

Who's going to back him up?  ALUN WYN JONES is another smarty pants (he's got a law degree, you know) who should play some part in the 6 Nations; if he demonstrates his leadership qualities and rugby nous (and doesn't trip anyone up) then he should get on the plane at the very least.  But wait…I'm forgetting someone…Paul O'Connell anyone?  Remember him?  Captain on the last Lions tour?  Currently the forgotten man of Irish rugby having been injured for the best part of the last year, POC's experience could be an invaluable asset on tour – but with a comeback not due until post 6 Nations, it's likely that time will run out for the angry Munster-man to show he's still got it in big games.  Here's a short video to remind ourselves what Paul O'Connell is all about:

We need some serious bulk to compliment all that grey matter in the engine room, so let's look at who our enforcer is going to be.  Big Scotsman RICHIE GRAY may look like the result of an experiment involving One Direction and a grow-bag, but he packs a punch in the loose and carries hard.  At 6 foot 10 and 20 plus stone, I have to admit I thought he looked like bambi on ice when I first saw him play, but a series of intensely physical displays have seen him rocket in most people's estimation.  The big blonde bimbo made a staggering 31 metres per game on average last six nations (over three times that of any other Lions second-row candidate), beating 6 defenders and making 3 clean breaks.  Take a look at his handy try against Ireland: 

 

 

We can only hope the woefully underperforming Sale Sharks pack hasn't taught him any bad habits – assuming not, Richie Gray starts.

 

Pushing him all the way will be an army of physical second rows – Joe Launchbury is green but acquitted himself well against the mighty Springbok pack and the All Blacks, despite looking as if he hasn't started shaving yet.  Courtney Lawes has come back from injury with a vengeance for Saints, but needs to make a positive impact in the England team again after his catastrophic cameo against Wales last year (where he committed the cardinal sin of allowing a back to nick the ball off him).  Donnacha Ryan is quickly becoming a lynchpin for the Irish pack, as he has for Munster, and if he continues his recent form he will push his way into the selectors' minds, whilst Bradley Davies and Ian Evans have both shone for Wales in the past but are struggling with injuries.  From this lot, I'm going to pick COURTNEY LAWES – capable of scaring the Aussies with his tackling, and I reckon we'll see him starting for England again before the end of the 6 nations.

 SECONDS IN

The key to beating Aussies is always up front, and the locks have to form a key part of that.  Dominate the set piece, win your collisions. The first job of a second row is to secure their own lineout ball, whilst pressurising the opposition into making mistakes in their own throws.  The second job is to rampage around the park in constant state of fury striking terror into the hearts of all who oppose you.  The third job, in Richie Gray's case, is to maintain a quite beautiful mane of blonde hair which, to be frank, is bordering on smug insolence given that all respectable international locks have their hair stuck at a constant short back and sides, if they are able grow any hair at all.  Do these jobs effectively (well, the first two), and the Australians won't be able to get a hold in the game.

Starters:  Richie Gray, Geoff Parling

Sub: Alun Wyn Jones
Dirt tracker: Courtney Lawes

 

Who would you have in your Lions engine room?