Lions Squad - Reaction

Well, today was like Christmas.  Mostly what you expect, but with a few unwelcome surprises from a seedy uncle thrown in as well (that role in particular played by Warren Gatland).  There were several notable omissions, in the shapes of Rory Best, Chris Robshaw and Jonny Wilkinson, and some pretty leftfield inclusions – with Matt Stevens and Sean Maitland in particular raising a few eyebrows.  I’ll deal with some of the omissions later, but in the meantime, here’s my review Gatland’s Lions 2013, with an Aussie twist to get us in the mood for the tour.

 

KEY (based on quality of Aussie Beers available*)

Hahn Superdry – Exactly what you want in the harsh Australian environment – hits the spot every time.

Carlton Draft – Not exactly your first choice, but does the job OK when it comes down to it.

XXXX – Watered down and useless, only better than vomit and Tooeys New.

* Feel free to criticise my taste in beer.

 

Props

Cian Healy – HAHN – Mobile and aggressive, and a solid scrummager – the Quasimodo look-a-like was always a certain tourist

Gethin Jenkins – HAHN – Despite resembling an escaped-axe-murderer from Texas, the Toulon man had a great Six Nations, plus he has bags of experience.  Doesn’t start for his club though, so will he be undercooked or fresh?

Mako Vunipola – HAHN – Sensational club form has earned him a tour spot and he’ll bring the “Mak-Attack” to the Aussies with his explosive carries (I’m copyrighting that).

Adam Jones – HAHN – Seems a certain starter after a leading role in destroying the English scrum, and the human-yeti is now set to anchor the Lions pack

Dan Cole – HAHN – Destroyed the Toulon scrum the other week and is like an extra flanker.  Will push Jones all the way but remains a distant second in the hair stakes

Matt Stevens – XXXX – I have no idea what this bloke is doing anywhere near the Lions squad.  Smashed at scrum time against Toulon, he is a penalty machine; the Lions may as well give the Aussies a 9 point head start.  Sure, he plays both sides of the scrum...badly.  Pointless selection.

Hookers

Richard Hibbard – HAHN – Powerful, abrasive and a good scrummager, he impressed for Wales in the Six Nations with his physicality and luscious blonde locks.

 Tom Youngs – HAHN – Superb workrate, mobility and defence – aided by the fact he is geometrically perfect square – ensured he was on the plane

 Dylan Hartley – CARLTON– Lots of experience and a leader, but his temperament is questionable and it’s surprising he's ousted Best

Second Rows

Alun Wyn Jones – HAHN – Powerful and athletic, he led from the front in Wales' dominant performance against England.  As long as he doesn’t trip anyone up, a candidate to start.

Paul O'Connell – HAHN – Has roared back into form following a nasty injury, excelling for Munster and demonstrating the raw rage we’ve become accustomed to – hopefully he’ll stay wound up.

Richie Gray – XXXX – Great ability but pants season; out of form and injured.  If he hits his straps, then great, otherwise there are plenty of locks playing better rugby than the giant Scottish bimbo

 Ian Evans – XXXX – He's played reasonably but I'd take Donnacha Ryan any day, although I might be bias against Evans after he stamped on the side of Harry Ellis' knee 5 years ago, beginning the problems that ended his career

 Geoff Parling – HAHN – Was superb for England in the 6 Nations and a real lineout guru.  Plus there must be commercial benefits to taking the wearer of the “World’s Sexiest Beard” on tour

Back Row

 Tom Croft – HAHN – In sensational form for his club since returning from injury and has a stellar Lions pedigree and a titanium reinforced neck.

Dan Lydiate – XXXX – Gatland stated he based selection on "Six Nations form and relevant club games of a high enough level to draw comparison to internationals".  So, er…where does Lydiate fit in then?  I know he can be a class act, but he's played 4 games in the last 12 months – for the mighty Newport Gwent Dragons.

Jamie Heaslip – CARLTON – Had a noticeably terrible Six Nations, but a great performance against Biarritz at the weekend suggested he may be back in form

Toby Faletau – HAHN – A real workhorse and powerful defender who will be pushing for a start

Sam Waburton – CARLTON – A definite tourist but is the best captain?  In my opinion he's not even guaranteed a start.  Best of luck to him though – he can be world class on his day.

 Justin Tipuric – HAHN – Has looked like the real deal for the Ospreys this season, despite limited opportunities in an international shirt.

 Sean O'Brien – HAHN – Massive ball carrier who may well start tests.  Question is – where do you play him?

Scrum halves

Mike Phillips – HAHN – Proven operator at this level, hopefully he can find his form of his last tour and not get sent off in the second minute

 Conor Murray – CARLTON – A decent enough player, and he’s pretty physical, but I think there are better 9s in better form out there.  Prone to making the odd howler.

Ben Youngs – HAHN – In great form for his club and has a good track record against the Aussies who will be nervous of him.  Will push for a start.

Fly Halves

 Jonathan Sexton – HAHN – If he's fit, he starts.  The best 10 in the Home Nations by a fair stretch despite the fact that his eyes are so close together he’s almost a Cyclops.

 Owen Farrell – HAHN – Granted, he was pants against Toulon, but he's proven himself more than capable at international level.  Plus it helps that daddy is on the selection committee.

Centres

 Jamie Roberts – HAHN – Haven't seen a big performance in a while but there's no denying his quality and tremendous jaw line.

 Manu Tuilagi – HAHN – The most destructive ball carrying centre in the Northern Hemisphere was always going to tour – just keep him off the ferry.

 Jonathan Davies – HAHN – Yes, he had a poor Six Nations, but he's playing well for Scarlets and has stood out for Wales previously.  Hopefully we’ll be hearing more from this guy and less from that irritating twit of a namesake.

 Brian O'Driscoll – HAHN – Great to see him on his 4th tour.  A couple of Aussie fans still remember the way he shredded them to pieces 12 years ago. Guaranteed to start – should be captain.

Wingers

 George North – HAHN – Phenomenal athlete and one of the most dangerous runners in World Rugby.

 Sean Maitland – XXXX – I mean, he's a decent enough winger, but what has he done to stand out over other candidates?  A bit of Kiwi bias sneaking in perhaps…I’d rather see Wade in there.

Alex Cuthbert – HAHN – Power and pace within his huge frame, will be a force down under.

Tommy Bowe – CARLTON – I'm a massive fan of Bowe but is he ready after being rushed back from a knee injury?  I'm doubtful but would love to be proven wrong.

Full Backs

Leigh Halfpenny – HAHN – The player of the Six Nations has developed into a top player and his starting prospects are as well formed as his biceps

Stuart Hogg – HAHN – Electric pace and an eye for a gap make him just too good to leave at home.

Rob Kearney – CARLTON – Great 4 years ago, but what has he produced over the last year to merit a place?

 

Overall, 7.5/10 Gats.  No 3^rd choice fly half?  Avoiding one of the players of this year’s Six Nations (Chris Robshaw) in favour of a bloke who hasn’t played for a year?  Both big mistakes in my book but, although I have a few other relatively minor quibbles, the squad is pretty much as we expected – I picked 27 out of the 37 Lions in my squad.  The trick now, is to put rivalries aside for a couple of months and support these blokes – as Lions. 

What do you think of the Lions squad?

Post Six Nations Lions XV - Full Back

Phew. Got there in the end.  Last, but not least, is the full back slot for the Lions.  The man at the back of the park, tearing it up on the hard pitches down under.  Actually, I can’t keep a straight face when saying that – one of my big gripes with anyone talking about the Lions keeps referring to the “fast, hard pitches” in Australia.  It’s their winter for crying out loud! Sure, Brisbane may still be pretty hot, but Australia is a tropical country and elsewhere the land is treated to copious amounts of monsoon-esque rain throughout June and July – take a look at when Scotland played a test there last year at around the same time...does that look like ideal running rugby weather to you?!

 

The Lions will likely be subjected to the entire spectrum of conditions down under, and that means selecting someone both reliable and exciting at full back.  Take a look below at RuckedOver’s final selection in the Lions squad...

Full back

As I’ve said above, we can’t just assume that the Lions will be playing on bone-dry pitches in perma-tan-level sunshine, so we need somebody who is reliable under the highball but still has that ability to run the ball back with interest and make the opposition think twice about kicking deep.  This is man is going to seem a little lonely on the selection front as I’m only picking one bloke here – with Leigh Halfpenny on the right wing providing cover (seeing as I’m only picking a 35 man squad).  But, for me, there was one player who stood head and shoulders above the rest as an attacking force...

TEST STARTER: STUART HOGG. I think this guy is good enough to push the player of the Six Nations, Leigh Halfpenny, out to the right wing.  With electric pace, surprising strength and dazzling footwork, the Scottish youngster is an exceptional counter attacker and strike runner who will bring real bite to the Lions attack, both when joining the line when his team are in possession and when running any loose kicks back at the opposition defence.  He’s also pretty tidy under the high ball and will be helped by the ever-reliable Halfpenny at the back as well, but it’s his ability to constantly make half breaks and slide through tackles that really mark him as a stand out player.  His form throughout the Six Nations was excellent, and I have no hesitation handing him a starting spot.

Who does the exciting Glasgow full back beat to a Lions spot?  Well, Rob Kearney is certainly illustrious enough competition, but I don’t think he’s really performed at the level he’s capable of for the last year, and is well behind several other contenders on current form.  One of those contenders is Mike Brown, but the man from Harlequins was shunted out onto the wing in the Six Nations and didn’t look all that comfortable, denied of the chance to shine in his best position on the international scene.  The man in possession of that England shirt, Alex Goode, has had an impressive season himself but doubts remain over whether or not he has the necessary ‘zip’ to be an attacking threat from the back, despite being a fine distributor.  Delon Armitage’s name has also been banded around but, despite his obvious natural talent, you can’t ignore the fact that he’s about as popular as a fart in an elevator.

Who would you pick at 15 for the Lions?

And so that’s it.  My Lions squad is selected – I can’t wait to see how it stacks up next to Gatland’s tomorrow.

RuckedOver’s Lions Squad (Starters in bold):  Healy, G Jenkins, Vunipola, Hibbard, T Youngs, Best, A Jones, Cole, Ross, A W Jones, N Hines, G Parling, P O’Connell, Robshaw, K Brown, Croft, Warburton, Tipuric, O’Brien, Faletau, B Youngs, Phillips, Care, Sexton, Farrell, Wilkinson, North, Zebo, Tuilagi, Roberts, O’Driscoll, J Davies, Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Wade, Hogg

That’s a squad of 35 with 13 (6) Welshmen, 12 (4) Englishmen, 8 (4) Irishmen and 2 (1) Scotsmen  - I think that’s a pretty fair reflection on the Six Nations and where the teams are at.

Predicted Warren Gatland Selection:  Healy, Jenkins, Vunipola, Best, T Youngs, Hibbard, A Jones, Cole, Ross, R Gray, I Evans, A W Jones, P O’Connell, D Ryan, Lydiate, Brown, Croft, Warburton, Tipuric, Faletau, Heaslip, Phillips, B Youngs, Laidlaw, Sexton, Farrell, North, Zebo, Roberts, Tuilagi, O’Driscoll, J Davies, Cuthbert, Gilroy, Halfpenny, Hogg, Kearney

Post Six Nations Lions XV - Right Wing

Today has been a day of doing right-index-finger workouts and stretching in preparation for a day of hammering the refresh button on the BBC Rugby Union website from about 9am onwards.  We are that close to discovering who will be selected as the crème-de-la-crème of Home Nations rugby to take on those hooligans in the Southern Hemisphere this summer.  Whilst I prepare tonight's high carb meal in preparation of tomorrow's 'finger-fest' (steady on), take a look at who RuckedOver would stick in the Lions 14 shirt.

Right Wing

I'm starting to sound like a broken record – and not for the first time, as anyone unfortunate enough to be subjected to a retelling of one of the 7 stories I have on rotation will tell you – but the key with any unit within a team, the back 3 included, is balance.  I have a human wrecking ball on the left wing, so that means I want someone with a dash of intelligence on the right – a bit of brain to complement all the brawn.  That means someone who's quick and has good feet, sure, but I want a right winger who's solid under the high ball, hits smart lines in the middle and can finish when given half a sniff of an opportunity.  For me, that puts one man in the driving seat – even if he hasn't played there for a little while.

TEST STARTER:  LEIGH HALFPENNY.  Say what?  Halfpenny on the right wing?  You betcha.  It's impossible to leave the Player of the Six Nations out of the team but, ironically, I think there is a better out-and-out attacking 15 available – and that's why I've pushed the Welshman out onto the right wing, where he started his career and still, to date, played the majority of his international rugby.  We all know about Halfpenny's howitzer boot – he was the deadliest place kicker in the Six Nations – but what often gets overlooked is the fact he is a superb finisher and a gifted runner.  Because of the way Wales like to play, we mainly see him using his boot to great effect as opposed to taking men on or hitting support lines, but he is very quick, has great feet and is a bundle of muscle with biceps the size of Brisbane.  A phenomenal defender as well, he'll have no trouble dealing with the dangerous Digby Ione and, given space on the wing, we'll hopefully get to see a display of running like we saw in his outstanding solo try for the Cardiff Blues against Toulon.  A fullback on the wing also has its benefits in terms of positional play and kick returns, and that's something I think the Lions would find invaluable against a talented Wallaby backline.

BENCHER:  ALEX CUTHBERT.  Despite constantly looking as though he has just come off a big night on the tiles, the Cardiff man is incredibly unlucky not to be starting after a really strong Six Nations.  I have to admit that prior to this year, I had my doubts about him – I sort of had him pinned as a giant (and very fast) headless chicken – but he proved me utterly wrong, scoring 4 very well taken tries.  He hits some great lines off his wing and the pace he showed for his 2 scores against England was sensational – couple that in with some strong club form and surprisingly quick feet, and you have a definite tourist.  The only reason he doesn't make my starting team is because he's a little too similar to George North (not a bad thing by itself) and I'd personally like a little more guile on at least one of my wings.  I've also got concerns about his defence (his missed tackle rate was the second worst – behind Chris Ashton – in the tournament), but with his raw power and speed, I think he would be a great impact substitution when the game begins to open up.

DIRT TRACKER:  CHRISTIAN WADE.  Sorry, I just couldn't help it.  Part of the magic of Lions tours is that you generally find there's at least one 'bolter' who gets on the tour and makes a name for himself – and 'bolt' is quite an appropriate phrase when describing Christian Wade.  Despite not being capped, the lightning winger has terrified defences in the Premiership and Amlin Cup this year, scoring 16 tries, including a couple of stunning efforts against Leinster in front of Warren Gatland.  The Wasps winger is simply phenomenal to watch – with scorching speed, searing acceleration and mesmerising footwork – and in space, is arguably the most dangerous runner in the Northern Hemisphere.  Sure, people can point at his pocket-sized frame as being a potential concern (despite the fact he's a solid tackler), as well as the fact that, under pressure, his decision making is questionable, but that ability to petrify any defence in the world and get the crowd on their feet is a value that I would love to see present on this Lions tour.  Perhaps it's a bit of a romantic notion and a bit risky but, who knows, Gatland may just unearth a real gem on the international stage.

These are the guys filling my number 14 shirts, but there are some pretty big names being left behind who I wouldn't be too upset at seeing on the plane.  Firstly, the superb Tommy Bowe is a Lions veteran and a smooth operator, but after a nasty knee injury – which he came back from sooner than expected – he hasn't quite looked up to his usual standards and I think he needs the summer off.  Chris Ashton had a really difficult 6 Nations but has looked very decent in a Sarries shirt – there is no denying his qualities as a finisher but his defensive frailties have been all too obvious for some time now, and so I think he stays at home despite his additional tour value as 'banter fodder'.  Craig Gilroy is another unlucky character, having impressed in his breakthrough season – the young Ulsterman is a good finisher and superbly-balanced runner, but he doesn't have Wade's X-Factor.  Still, he'd do a good job if selected.  Elsewhere, Keith Earls, Andrew Trimble, Dave Strettle and Sean Maitland have all had their moments but not done it with the degree of consistency required to get on the plane to Australia.

Who would you select on the right wing for the Lions?

Post Six Nations Lions XV - Outside Centre

Well, this time tomorrow all the guessing will be over – 'Gats' will have announced his squad and a whole new chain on of debate, incredulous moaning and allegations of bias will ensue.  Something for us all to look forward to.  It also means I have to fit my last three positions of my Lions XV into one day – but better late than never, and so joint RuckedOver in looking at the contenders for the outside centre berth…

Outside Centre

 I mentioned the importance of balance in my previous post on the inside centre position and, seeing as I've gone for the not insignificantly sized Manu Tuilagi there, I'm looking for a 13 with the skill set to help create space for both Tuilagi and the other backs outside of him.  I need footwork, vision and experience for that job – and there's only one man who can possibly fit that description…

TEST STARTER:  BRIAN O'DRISCOLL.  Yes, the squishy-faced Irish legend is a dead cert to go on his FOURTH Lions tour, with his first being the last time the Lions were in Australia, in 2001 – and he made quite an impact there, as well.  He may not quite have the out-and-out pace that he had back then, but the veteran centre's rugby brain is razor sharp and his footwork, handling, strength and defensive ability are all utterly world class.  4 years ago we saw how he thrives on playing alongside powerhouse centres (then playing alongside Jamie Roberts – another Lions tourist), so the idea of O'Driscoll and Tuilagi playing in the same side is pretty exciting – or terrifying, if you're an Aussie.  His form during the Six Nations was good enough – he had an outstanding game involving a moment of genius against Wales in Cardiff before ending with a moment of stupidity against Italy, stamping on Simone Favaro to earn himself a yellow card at a key moment.  But it is the former moment, rather than the latter, that remains standard BOD, and the experience he brings to a side will be of real benefit to the squad – so much so, that I think he's probably guaranteed a Test Spot.  And because of that, I'm making him my Captain as well.

DIRT TRACKER:  JONATHAN DAVIES.  I really rate Jonathan Davies – that was the sentence I told my old man when the Welsh centre had the ball, a split second before he hurled the ball wildly into touch against Ireland.  I felt stupid, but not nearly as much as poor JD did, I'm sure.  Davies didn't have his best Six Nations, but his class for club and country before that is undeniable.  An incredibly intelligent centre who hits great lines, he has good feet and surprising speed, an eye for a gap and a low centre of gravity that makes him hard to put down.  In many ways, he is physically almost the complete outside centre and, despite the howlers at the beginning of the Championship, he is usually a more than capable handler of the ball – I've seen him throw some lovely passes and offloads before.  His form hasn't quite been up to his usual standards, so he doesn't get a Test spot right now, but if he starts setting the world alight in the warm up games then I think he'll be hard to ignore.

So who misses out?  Well Matt Scott had a very decent Six Nations by all accounts, but he had a lot of ground to make up to work his way into Lions contention and I'm not sure he's done quite enough, whilst Scott Williams is always a handful but didn't get enough game time during the Six Nations.  Other than those 2, there isn't really anyone else putting their hands up for selection, unless Gatland went well and truly leftfield and selected someone like Henry Trinder or Jonathan Joseph – and I'm yet to be convinced by either.

Who would you pick at 13 for the Lions?

Post Six Nations Lions XV - Inside Centre

That’s it – no more matches to impress Mr Gatland.  The only hope potential players on the peripheral of selection have now is to use other methods to appease him – perhaps by sending him flowers in the post, treating him to an expensive brunch or even taking him out to the local owl sanctuary.  With that in mind, Warran Gatland will be having a very busy Monday I’m sure – almost as busy as me, as I have to try and find time to write 3 more of these before the squad is announced on Tuesday.  So, here’s RuckedOver’s take on the inside centre spot for the Lions...

Inside Centre

The role of the 12 varies between sides, with some preferring a human bulldozer and others going for a second distributor.  The key aspect is to have balance in the midfield attack between your centres and your full back – with one taking the role of a ball player, one as a strike runner, and one as a blockbusting basher to get your side over the gain line.  Think of great sides like New Zealand in 2011 and England in 2003 – they’ve all had guys able to fill those roles but in varying positions, and that’s what I’ve tried to do with my Lions selection.  Keeping in mind who I want in my 13 and 15 shirts, I’ve gone for a 12 that can slam down Quade Cooper’s channel and get the men in red surging forward.  And for that particular objective, there’s one man who particular who looms very large indeed...

TEST STARTER: MANU TUILAGI. OK, yes, he’s a 13 by trade, but ignore the number on his back.  I’d have him at 12 defensively and 13 in attack, but either way, that 10 channel is going to be his attack zone – and there’s nobody better equipped for that job.  I don’t care for the lazy (and invalid) argument that he’s 1 dimensional – when you are biologically similar to an angry rhinoceros you don’t need to be able to thread subtle grubbers through the eye of a needle – and the fact is that he does have a solid passing game, but when your primary job is to make yardage on the carry and break tackles then there’s not too much opportunity for 20 metre slings across the park, although he’s demonstrated a deft offloading ability out of contact.  Going into the Wales v England game, Tuilagi had beaten more defenders than the rest of the centres on the park put together, and even after the humbling administered to his side and a poor performance on his part, the Samoan-born wrecking ball had still made the most metres (over 3 times as many as Jamie Roberts) despite the fact he had played 2 less games.  Put simply, Tuilagi is the best centre in the Home Nations at smashing through tacklers and getting over the gain line, putting his side on the front foot.  Coupled with his deceptively quick feet and acceleration, I can see the hulking figure of the English 12 dominating the dreams of whoever will be filling that green and gold 10 Jersey come June. 

DIRT TRACKER:  JAMIE ROBERTS.  I have to firstly say I dislike Jamie Roberts intensely, in the nicest possible way.  It’s simply not fair that someone can be physically superior enough to be an international rugby player, intelligent enough to be a doctor (at the same time), a thoroughly nice chap by all accounts and – let’s face it – not particularly offensive on the eye (according to my other half).  In my opinion that’s just plain greedy.  This is also a pretty difficult one to pick – Roberts hasn’t actually produced a standout display like we know he is capable of on the international scene for some time.  During the Six Nations, he was largely anonymous with ineffectual carries and uncharacteristic handling errors – but we finally saw the Cardiff powerhouse show glimmers of how to unleash the fury at the Millennium Stadium against English.  It was, in some moments, a throwback to his colossal performances against South Africa for the Lions four years ago where it consistently seemed as if he had half the opposition backline clinging on to him as he surged relentlessly forward.  And it’s that experience and ability, rather than his out and out form, that gets Roberts onto the plane.  He’s a big-game player and if he can start to bring out some power-packed displays in the warm up games then he may well push for a starting spot. 

Who are the unlucky ones?  Luke Marshall has leapt onto the scene with some impressive displays for Ulster and Ireland, but I think this Lions tour has probably come a season too early for him – and the same can be said of England’s Billy Twelvetrees, despite the fact he’s not first pick for his country.  Brad Barritt, the man who keeps Twelvetrees out of the national side, is a strong presence himself and a phenomenal defender, but for me he doesn’t quite have that spark in attack that I’d like my 12 to have. 

Who would you select at 12 for the Lions?

Post Six Nations Lions XV - Left Wing

Warren Gatland is starting to unnerve me slightly.  Is it just me or does he seem to be at every single game being played that involves a semi-decent side from the UK and Ireland?  I’ve concluded that he must be using body doubles - so if you’re a grumpy, chunky, grey haired Kiwi with an unreliable pair of ankles, I suspect there are employment opportunities for you.  But, with only 4 days until the Lions squad announcement, I really need to get my skates on, so here’s RuckedOver’s selection for the left wing spot.

Left Wing

The number 11 is probably the only thing Jonah Lomu and Shane Williams have in common – unless they are both avid collectors of Pokemon cards or something similar that we don’t know about yet.  But, despite all the differences, that one similarity should tell you one thing – your left winger is your ‘wow’ man.  Jason Robinson in 2001 wore the number 11 jersey, and he etched himself into history with an unceremonial skinning of Chris Latham.  With my Lions side, I want my left winger to have that sort of “crowd on their feet” factor on the kick return, but also have the brains to work hard for the ball and to get involved as much as possible off the 10s shoulder – especially if the Lions have an aggressive fly half like Johnny Sexton playing flat to the gainline.  So who are the maestros fighting it out for that magical 11 shirt? 

TEST STARTER: GEORGE NORTH.  The word ‘specimen’ is often overused these days, but I personally think it was developed specifically for George North.  How someone that tall (6 foot 4) and heavy (nearly 18 stone) can be that quick and nimble on his feet is downright unfair.  I am none of the above and I deserve to be at least one (although I could probably make 18 stone with a few takeaway pizzas).  But what sets this guy apart – for me – is his rugby brain.  He is rock solid in defence and great under the high ball, but he also knows what lines to hit off the 10 and where to exploit weak spots in the opposition defence.  He may not have been in stunning form in the 6 Nations but he still made the most metres out of the Welsh back 3 – despite scoring only 1 try to Cuthbert’s four – and he just has that raw talent that has the potential to break apart tight games.  I think the fly half’s shoulder will be a key area for the Lions to attack in Australia and, through the eyes of an Aussie, I can think of no-one worse to face on an inside line or outside arch than the ‘Welsh Lomu’ himself. Plus it seems that his dad is good value (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21403912)

DIRT TRACKER:  SIMON ZEBO.  Why Zebo?  Well, why not?  I want my left winger to be able provide a spark, to make things happen when nothing is on, and Zebo is one of those rare players with that ability.  He may lack North’s size and power, but his footwork and speed is dazzling and his cultured left boot is a valuable asset to any side.  Plus, any true fan of northern hemisphere rugby would have to accept that, after his ridiculous piece of skill against Wales in the Six Nations, he pretty much has to be selected in order to show all those smug Super Rugby fans that the Europeans can entertain a bit as well.  Not only does he tick the boxes for his physical ability and skill levels, but he also has a superb mental attitude, displaying utter commitment on the pitch and, by all accounts, being a positive influence away from it.  He has a way to go before he makes my Test side but, like when Zebo has the ball, anything is possible.

Who misses out then?  Well, for me, the obvious candidate is Tim Visser.  Still relatively new to international rugby, the flying Dutch/Scotsman has a great strike rate, and he showcased his finishing ability on occasion during the Six Nations – but I know I’m not alone in thinking that he looked like a bit of a headless chicken when under pressure.  The Aussie wingers are all quick, strong and smart players – and my view is that Visser doesn’t have the rugby-grey-matter to deal with them just yet...it may be one international season too soon for him.  Out of the other candidates, you’d have to be a real risk taker to pick one – Eli Walker was looking great for the Ospreys but didn’t see any international action, whilst Tom Varndell remains both the best finisher in England and the wettest blanket in defence (although I think he’s earned himself at least another shot at an England jersey), so they don’t get a look in.

Who would you pick in your Lions’ 11 jersey?

Heineken Cup Semi Final Review - Clermont Auvergne 16 - 10 Munster

It’s not the dog in the fight, it’s the fight in the dog.  If ever there’s a motto to remember when you’re odds on favourites to get hammered, then this is the one.  Of course, in most situations, it makes sod-all difference – the ‘brave’ team still gets a royal spanking, and any pats on the back seem condescending in all honesty.  But there are a couple of occasions when such a statement may just ring true – where, despite being outclassed in almost every department, you can still go toe-to-toe through grit, aggression, determination and an unwavering will to win.  And any Munster team, no matter if it is a ‘transitional’ side, will always have that quality – the Clermont Auvergne faithful found this out the hard way as they suffered an underwear-destroying last 30 minutes against an opposition largely written off as no-hopers.

But this underdog pack had a fair bit of bite about it - the opening 5 minutes were dominated by the big red machine, slowing down the hosts’ ball and piling into them at the breakdown.  The lineout looked like an area of strength too, and it was from a ferocious driving maul that the visitors were awarded a penalty after the ‘usual suspects’ Jamie Cudmore and Nathan Hines conspired to bring it down illegally.  Ronan O’Gara stepped up and hit a flawless penalty to give Munster a surprise lead.  Was this the start of something special?

The hosts answered that question emphatically three minutes later.  Wingers Napolioni Nalaga and Sitiveni Sivivatu were starting to get their hands on the ball and barrelling through tackles with brute force, with centres Regan King and Wesley Fofana keeping the move flowing with a couple of delightful offloads and, after stretching the men in red from left to right, Nalaga ignored a 5 man overlap and stepped through a couple of defenders to score under the posts.  Morgan Parra added the extras, and 2 minutes later he added another 3 after Clermont’s offloading game had caused havoc amongst the visitor’s defence.  Keen to prove that they are not just a team of flash pretty boys, the host’s pack then smashed the Munster forwards back 15 metres with a lineout drive to earn another 3 points for Parra.

Munster were in danger of being overwhelmed, but to their credit they launched an aggressive fight back.  Simon Zebo was looking sharp on the counter and solid under the high ball, whilst Casey Lualala was making some inroads with clever footwork.  But time after time, the visitors were stopped dead by a wall of white that was starting to display a physical dominance that the Irish province themselves would have been proud of.  To make things worse, the set piece was also starting to creak, with neither the lineout nor the scrum providing clean ball.  Fofana was now starting to purr and twice the French international scythed through the red defence, leading a surge of Clermont dominance that was to become the norm for the rest of the half, with Parra finding plenty of joy bringing in his big runners into play around the fringes.  But, try as they might, they couldn’t take the final step over the tryline as they were consistently let down by poor handling or indiscipline – usually by the angelic Jamie Cudmore.  This Munster team were showing the type of bloody-mindedness that has etched the names of previous sides into legend – as the whistle for halftime came, they were on the ropes, but they certainly were not on the canvas at only 13-3 down.

They came out swinging after the break as well, after a trademark, eye-of-the-needle kick from O’Gara pushed them into striking distance of Clermont’s line, but the pack couldn’t get the momentum they needed - despite a decent bust by Dave Kilcoyne - and a shocking pass from Conor Murray literally threw the opportunity away.  Instead it was the hosts who got the points after they applied their own pressure in the Munster 22 and forced another penalty, simply slotted by Parra once again. But Munster simply would not wilt and came back ever harder than before, charging towards the Clermont line with relish – and there was a brief glimmer of an opportunity when Zebo skipped past Sivivatu to put Lualala into space, but the Kiwi centre could only find Brock James with his offload.

Other than that, it seemed that Clermont were dealing with the Munster attacks with ease – but then Ronan O’Gara stepped up.  The 36 year old has had a difficult year, maligned for his international displays, but with a red shirt on he is a different animal – and after a series of pin point kicks had probed the touchline, he plonked one behind the hosts’ defensive line and it bounced up beautifully into the hands of the onrushing Dennis Hurley, who touched the ball down on the right.  O’Gara underlined his class with a superb conversion, and suddenly Munster had dragged themselves back within a score through a frankly unnerving level of determination.

The nerves were starting to jangle, and the aesthetics were draining out of the game as the home side tightened up in the pressure cooker atmosphere that was building in Montpellier.  The scrum was still a source of comfort for the hosts though and it earned Parra another crack at goal, but the French 9 shanked his attempt under the stress.  But that minor set back could now halt the belief was now surging through the men in red, and for a split second it seemed that the unthinkable had happened – a Lualala kick through bounced awkwardly and the onrushing Felix Jones was centimetres away from regathering.  On such small margins are Heineken Cup semi finals won and lost – but in the last quarter, there were a collection of such margins.  A Conor Muray dropped ball with an overlap in sight of the tryline, a skin-tight forward pass call by Nigel Owens with a wave of red surging upfield – these small factors all fell in favour of the hosts who, by now, were clinging on for dear life.

The final whistle went and Clermont had the victory 16-10 – and an audible sigh of relief could be heard from the vociferous crowd – but even Ebenezer Scrooge on a particularly miserable day would struggle to feel anything except respect for this Munster side.  Clermont are a stunning team – and this is their year – with guys like Fofana, Hines, Kayser, Nalaga, Parra and Sivivatu all stepping up.  But seeing the eyes of Paul O’Connell (tear-less, unlike several of his team mates) after the game told you one thing - this underdog will be back next year.  And I bet they’ll still pack one hell of a bite.

 

Clermont Auvergne Player Ratings

Byrne – 6 – A solid presence under the high ball but didn’t see him making too many inroads with the ball in hand.  Some decent kicks under pressure though

Sivivatu – 8 – Still an utterly class act.  He was decent in defence, but whenever he got his hands on the ball the home side looked dangerous.  So much speed, so much power.

King – 6 – Was shown up a couple of times by Lualala but also displayed his wonderful handling ability with a couple of deft offloads.

Fofana – 7 – Such a wonderful player to watch.  He glides through defences, and although he wasn’t as prominent in the second half, dealt with the ‘extra’ attention paid by the Munster backline very well.

Nalaga – 8 – When your wingers can double up as power-packed fringe runners, you’re always going to be pretty hard to stop.  A couple of wobbly moments in defence couldn’t take away from an otherwise effective display of footwork and strength.  He took his try superbly after I thought he had butchered an overlap.

 James – 6 – Didn’t look as smooth as he has done previously, but then again he is only just coming back from injury.  Got the men outside purring in the first half, got stuck into his defensive duties in the second.

Parra – 7 – Some wonderful kicking in the first half was complimented by some sharp decision making, but his influenced waned as the visiting pack began to dominate.

Domingo – 7 – A strong display in the scrum but we didn’t get to see any of the barrelling runs that he has become renowned for.

Kayser – 8 – This guy is a real unsung hero of both Clermont and French rugby.  The hooker is accurate in the set piece and insanely powerful around the park, and he put everything into halting the Munster resurgence after an impressive attacking display in the first half.

Zirakashvili – 6 – A good showing in the scrum but showed naivety at times with carrying away from his support – he needs to either get out of the way or learn to pass.

Cudmore – 7 – Gave away a couple of penalties as usual, but was a key reason that the home side were dominant early on, clattering into his opponents with a rage that even surprised Paul O’Connell.  A shame he went off injured.

Hines – 7 – One moronic offload aside, a strong display from the ex-Scottish international.  Put in a monumental shift in defence and was a reliable source of lineout ball as well.

Bonnaire – 9 – Another unsung hero.  The flanker was absolutely everywhere and prevented  a couple of scores for Munster by putting his body on the line in defence time and time again.  An inspiration to his side when they were under pressure – man of the match.

Bardy – 7 – Some impressive carries caught the eye but looked shell shocked at the Munster resurgence before a facial injury forced him to depart early.

Chouly – 6 – Some strong runs early on impressed but then seemed to fade out of the game.  Didn’t see enough of him at the coal face.

Subs

Debaty – 7 – A couple of huge carries helped Clermont gain field position at crucial times, and maintained the scrum dominance as well.

Paulo – Not enough time to have an impact

Ric – Not enough time to have an impact

Pierre – 5 – Solid in the set piece but failed to disrupt the Minster pack as perhaps the coaches would have hoped

Lapandry – 6 – Lively with the ball in hand but struggled to stem the increasing momentum of the red wave in the second half.

Nakaitaci - Not enough time to have an impact.

 

Munster Player Ratings

Jones – 7 – Almost invisible early on but really came into own later with some purposeful bursts from deep, and was inches away from getting a winning touch down for his side.

Earls – 6 – Didn’t get as involved as he would have liked but always looks assured when he’s in possession.

Laulala – 8 – Caused no end of problems for the Clermont defence with some delightful running and a couple of deft kicks that led to try scoring opportunities.

Downey – 6 – Solid, but not the impact he would have liked.  After  a dominating performance against Harlequins, he would have wanted to flatten James and Fofana on a regular basis – it didn’t happen, unfortunately.

Zebo – 7 – Showed his class with a couple of fine recoveries from dangerous kicks but didn’t get the space he would have liked to show off his running abilities

O'Gara – 8 – A masterful performance with the boot in the second half.  When he started to get the ball, he knew exactly what to do with it.  Phenomenal kick through for Munster’s try.

Murray – 6 – A real hot and cold display, characterised by some superb defence at times as well as some poor handling errors at key moments.

Kilcoyne – 6 – The big man may have been second best in the scrum but a couple of his carries got the hosts on the back foot.

Sherry – 5 – Struggled occasionally with his throwing and couldn’t impose himself with any real venom in the loose.  Solid defensive effort though.

Botha – 5 – Another to show his worth in defence but it couldn’t mask the fact that he was bested considerably in the scrum.

D Ryan – 7 – A real workhorse performance once again, getting through a mountain of work on the clear-out and refusing to take a backwards step.

O'Connell – 8 – A quiet first half was eclipsed by a stunning display in the second half where he seemed to be everywhere, surging forward with the ball in hand and taking cross field kicks out wide.  An inspirational figure once again.

P O'Mahony – 8 – Like O’Connell, brings raw aggression and nastiness to proceedings and began to physically impose himself in the last 30.

O'Donnell – 8 – This lad showed he has an unbelievable engine on him and his prowess on the carry was a real thorn in Clermont’s side, even when they were dominating in the first half.

Coughlan – 6 – A brave bit quiet performance from the big number 8, with no real charges of note to get the red army surging forward.

Subs

Varley – 6 – Contributed to an increased energy and vigour from the visitors in the last 30 but made a critical overthrow at a key moment late in the game.

Hurley – 8 – What an impact sub.  Scored one try and posed a constant menace to the home side with some deft footwork. Raised the bar when he came on.

Heineken Cup Semi Final Preview - Saracens v Toulon

No matter what you think of Sarries, they're now a pretty successful club. Some people don't like it but I've started to come around – the cheerleaders, the fan marches, even the ear-bleedingly bad songs all add to the personality of the club and create a welcoming atmosphere for new fans. Of course they're backed by Nigel Wray, which helps, but it's great to see a club thinking about its long term aspirations to be successful, which is what it’s doing when it gets itself its own ground and brings through quality young players like Will Fraser and Ben Spencer.  And when you have Wray’ wallet paying the expenses, is fair to say that Sarries are quite well off.

But there’s quite well off, and then there’s ridiculous – otherwise known as Toulon.  I made the point in my last Toulon preview that their team looks like the dream team from an EA Sports rugby game in 2008, and I have now come to the conclusion that their wealthy owner, Mourad Boudjellal, is merely a puppet for his young son’s whims – with orders such as “I like that player – buy him” forming the crux of their recruitment policy.  The experience and savvy of this Toulon side is second to none, but I’ve yet to be blown away by them.  They look vulnerable against teams who move their pack around the park with speed, because of their high average age, and they only got on top of Leicester when Tom Croft went off and Toby Flood was sinbinned, forcing a tighter game strategy.  Place that on top of the fact that they don’t always travel well – see their abysmal away display at Montpellier in the group stages – and you will see that whilst money is great, it isn’t everything.

But to write off this Toulon side would be madness.  What stood out in their quarter final is that they have men for every occasion, and one is always bound to stand up and be counted – against Leicester, Jonny Wilkinson put in a kicking masterclass whilst Bakkies Botha ruthlessly clawed his pack back into the position of total dominance.  It turns out you can buy that sort of experience.  But as the cheesey motto goes, something special is happening at Saracens.  This is a side renowned for their pragmatic, territory based approach, but we have seen them score some stunning tries over the last few weeks – and if they play with a wider game plan, I’m sure they can cause the visitors no end of trouble, with wingers Dave Strettle and Chris Ashton bang in form and big centre Joel Tomkins becoming more of an influence in every game.

Whatever happens, you can guarantee it will be a cracking occasion – Sarries know how to throw a party, even if the ERC have c*cked up royally with venue selection and ticket prices.  But as Nigel Wray will know – the best measure of success is silverware.  And Sarries can get one step closer to the big one on Sunday afternoon.

 

Saracens Team News

Saracens recall Brown at open-side with Will Fraser ruled out through injury. Ashton takes over from Chris Wyles, who drops to the bench, as does Charlie Hodgson with Owen Farrell reverting to fly-half. John Smit makes way for Brits at hooker.

Starting Line up: Alex Goode, Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Brad Barritt, David Strettle, Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Schalk Brits, Matt Stevens, Steve Borthwick, Alistair Hargreaves, Jackson Wray, Kelly Brown, Ernst Joubert.

Subs: John Smit, Rhys Gill, Carlos Nieto, Mouritz Botha, George Kruis, Neil de Kock, Charlie Hodgson, Chris Wyles

Key Player

Kelly Brown. The Scottish captain and the slug that lives above his eyes are a formidable presence around the park, but in Juan Fernandez Lobbe the flanker will have a tricky opponent. The Saracens man is renowned for his workrate and his ability to get to every breakdown to secure his side's ball and to disrupt the opposition, but Lobbe has been brought in for Steffon Armitage in a direct attempt to take Brown out the game. Lobbe also has an incredible engine on him, and so the battle of the breakdown may well come down to who can push themselves further and harder than the other. It will be a brutal day at the office.

 

Toulon Team News

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will captain Toulon, who also include fellow England internationals Delon Armitage, Andrew Sheridan and Nick Kennedy, but Steffon Armitage has to settle for a place on the replacements' bench. Argentina star Juan Fernandez Lobbe plays at open-side, with new South African recruit Danie Rossouw starting at blind-side. The cash-rich French club also include former Springboks lock Bakkies Botha, ex-All Blacks prop Carl Hayman, former Wallaby centre Matt Giteau, plus four France internationals including centre Mathieu Bastareaud.

Starting Line up: Delon Armitage, Rudi Wulf, Mathieu Bastareaud, Matt Giteau, Alexis Palisson, Jonny Wilkinson, Sébastien Tillous-Borde; Andrew Sheridan, Sebastien Bruno, Carl Hayman, Bakkies Botha, Nick Kennedy, Danie Rossouw, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Chris Masoe.

Subs: Jean-Charles Orioli, Gethin Jenkins, Davit Kubriashvili, Joe van Niekerk, Steffon Armitage, Maxime Mermoz, Frederic Michalak, Jocelino Suta.

Key Player

Bakkies Botha. The South African veteran was a destructive force – literally – against Leicester in the quarters, playing with a relentless physicality that swung the pendulum back towards the home side when the going got tough. His battle against Borthwick in the lineout will be key for the French side, but his work in the loose can also not be overlooked – if the big man hits the breakdown like we know he can, then the momentum generated by this well-oiled Saracens machine may just shudder to a halt.

 

Key Battle

Owen Farrell v Jonny Wilkinson. Who else? I picked Flood v Wilkinson last time and Wilko just about came trumps, and now he has the England 1st choice 10 to deal with. Since Farrell has broken onto the scene, the comparisons with Wilkinson have been numerous and tedious, but not all together inaccurate – in the sense that their kicking prowess off the tee and from the hand, and their brutal defence, are the premier aspects of their game. Although they are more than capable of playing attractive rugby, both sides generally like to employ safety-first game plans, getting into the right areas of the pitch, and so it may come down to which of these two men can ping the ball into the corners most effectively – and nudge the ball between the posts of course.

 

Prediction

This is a real nasty one to call and it could go either way. Both sides will be looking to play territory dominated, practical rugby, so we may see a lot of kicking in the early stages and it will come down to whoever settles down first. Although I think Will Fraser is a huge loss for the Sarries pack (with the youngster being nominated for player of the season in the Premiership), I think Kelly Brown should be able to cope with Lobbe and I haven't been overly impressed by Toulon in Europe this year, and if it wasn't for a yellow card and injury to a key player, I think we'd be seeing an all-English semi-final. I think this is the season where Sarries go that extra step – Saracens by 3.

Heineken Cup Semi Final Preview - Clermont Auvergne v Munster

Familiarity is always reassuring.  Whether it's heading back to the family home, meeting up with an old friend or hearing about another Luis Suarez biting incident, you'll always get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that you only get when you're in your comfort zone.  So, looking at the semi final lineups and seeing Munster there probably brings a little smile to most people, even if you don't support them – unless you happen to wear blue, of course.  Munster have always been – at least to me – an eminently likeable club, with hard players, an honest, bruising style of play and passionate yet gracious fans, and so nobody really begrudges them a spot in Europe's top four.  But perhaps that's because nobody expects them to go any further.

Standing between the men in red and a spot in the Heineken Cup final is a Clermont side that is almost frightening in it's ability.  With a brutally powerful pack, fired by 2 bullies in Jamie Cudmore and Nathan Hines, and a backline oozing with strength, speed and subtlety, they are capable of playing complete rugby – they thumped Montpellier in the quarter finals without getting out of second gear.  And that's what I find so unnerving about them – they always seem to be on the cusp of utterly obliterating an opponent, even if they're only winning by a narrow margin at the time.  Perhaps though, the Irish side can find solace in 2 points – firstly, although in France, the men in white are not at home, where their fortress Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin has been impregnable for almost 4 years, and secondly, Aurelien Rougerie is missing.  The ex-France captain may not have the scything speed he used to but his power and intelligence is the perfect foil for Fofana's subtlety.   In Regan King, the French side certainly lose no intelligence or distribution skill, but they do lose that raw physical edge that Rougerie brings – James Downey can have a big game for the underdogs if he can exploit this.

Another source of familiarity is the sight of Paul O'Connell on the European war path once again.  But whether or not he should be out there or not is another question, after he mistook Dave Kearney's head for a football and gave it such a leathering with his size 94 boot that the Leinsterman had to spend the night in hospital.  Now I don't think O'Connell meant to kick him in the head, but it was certainly reckless – and how he has avoided a ban is pretty remarkable. 


Nevertheless, I'm glad to see him playing again and his battle against Nathan Hines will be one of the highlights for me, seeing as they've both made my Lions squad.  And the big angry lock's first job will be to get his side believing that a win against Clermont is possible.  Great Munster sides have been characterised by their never say die attitude, by their resilience and refusal to go down without one hell of a fight – and you can guarantee that O'Connell will have his men clawing and scrapping (but hopefully not kicking) for every single inch on that pitch come Saturday.

The odds are well and truly against the men in red, but a Munster side upsetting the odds to claim a famous win?  Now that's a very familiar sight indeed.

 

Clermont Auvergne Team News

Regan King replaces injured Clermont skipper Aurelien Rougerie at centre with Brock James back at fly-half – but James has not played for over a month because of a thigh injury.  Flanker Gerhard Vosloo has also been ruled out by a hamstring problem so Portugal international Julien Bardy is drafted into the back row.

Starting Line up:  L Byrne, S Sivivatu, R King, W Fofana, N Nalaga, B James, M Parra; T Domingo, B Kayser, D Zirakashvili, J Cudmore, N Hines, J Bonnaire, J Bardy, D Chouly,

Subs: T Paulo, V Debaty, C Ric, J Pierre, A Lapandry, L Radoslavjevic , N Nakaitaci, JM Buttin

Key Player

Nathan Hines.  The big nasty lock was one of my 'wild card' picks in the second row, but I reckon we'll see why this weekend.  Abrasive and physical, he is a real stalwart of this Clermont side that has dominated pack after pack over the last three years – and he has a surprisingly soft set of hands to go with it as well.  I don't know how much of those we'll see, but he'll know if he can help out-power the Munster pack, a Heineken Cup final is there for the taking for the French team.

 

Munster Team News

Fit-again Earls replaces Denis Hurley on the wing in the only change from the quarter-final win over Harlequins.  Doug Howlett is again ruled out by a shoulder injury with Donncha O'Callaghan (knee) also unavailable.

Starting Line up: F Jones; K Earls, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O'Connell capt; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.

Subs: D Varley, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, D Hurley.

Key Player

Paul O'Connell.  Going up against fellow Lion (in my book) Nathan Hines, O'Connell has had one cracking game back after a season plagued by injury.  The Munster legend needs to prove that the Harlequins game wasn't just a fluke and that he remains the real deal – and he can start by dismantling the Clermont set piece.  If their lineout falters, then the confidence may wobble and then maybe, just maybe, we may witness something very special indeed – but the Irish stalwart will need to be at the top of his game to make that happen.

 

Key Battle

Wesley Fofana v James Downey.  Two completely different but equally important players who are probably indicative of both sides' approach to the game.  Fofana is the smoothest runner in Europe, with fantastic vision and a marvellous elusive quality about his game, whilst Downey is belligerent, hard as nails and direct.  Two different 12s you could not ask for, and who gets the upper hand here could be of critical importance.  If Downey shuts down the French maestro then maybe Munster can stop this Clermont side going forward – but that's a lot easier said than done.

 

Prediction

Munster have all the pedigree and punch you could want from a club, but facing Clermont Auvergne in a semi final is tricky enough – and that's without having to play them in France.  The French club may not be at 'home' but they will still feel as if they are in familiar territory and – most importantly – this Clermont side just oozes class.  This is their year.  I know I wrongly wrote off Munster in the quarter finals, but I think this is just a step too far, even for one of the real veterans of Europe.  Clermont by 9.