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'Hamish Watson is never too small': Ex-Lions skipper's ringing endorsement for the Scottish back row whose size has divided opinion
Ex-Lions skipper Sam Warburton has given a ringing endorsement to the chances of Scotland’s Hamish Watson making the upcoming tour to South Africa. There has been criticism of the back row, allegations that he would be too small to thrive against hulking type South African players.
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However, the 2021 Guinness Six Nations player of the tournament has been backed by Warburton ahead of the May 6 squad announcement by Warren Gatland, a coach the 2013 and 2017 Lions skipper knows all about from his time on tour and also as Wales captain.
“Hamish Watson is never too small,” insisted successful Lions skipper Warburton. “Josh Navidi has his critics for Wales, Justin Tipuric has probably had them over his career. I said this on Twitter recently, power trumps size every day of the week.
“I played against plenty of big guys who were slugs, but it’s that repeated power is what you need and personally, Warren Gatland would have been purring watching Hamish Watson over the Six Nations. I thought he was outstanding. As things are now, he is a Test starter and I can’t wait to see how he goes in the first few warm-up games.”
Having forged a stellar career in the back row, Warburton is understandably intrigued by what will unfold on the Lions tour in South Africa, not only with Watson but with so many others. In naming the six players he feels are bankers to start a Test, Warburton chose two back rows in Taulupe Faletau and Tom Curry but his thoughts on selection beyond that are wide-ranging going on his various comments at the midweek Canterbury jersey launch.
The two-tour captain has nominated his successor and believes four forwards and two backs are dead certs for the Lions Test team XV https://t.co/tbU83Ez10b
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 21, 2021
Asked if any Irish players had caught the eye, he said: “Josh van der Flier has been phenomenal. He has played brilliantly. I’m not much of a stats guy but he made the most metres out of any flanker in Six Nations, made the most tackles behind Justin Tipuric. Technically he is a brilliant No7, he does exactly what a No7 needs to do, but this is where it is so tricky. You have got Watson, Curry, van der Flier, Tipuric and (Josh) Navidi to fit into three and I don’t know how you are going to do that.
“I’d say (Tadhg) Beirne at six. Gatland would be more inclined to pick someone a bit heavier because I know he values that weight in the second row. If we played second rows on the light side he would flag it and say that is something we could target. He will be picked as a second row/back row. Talking of Test starters, he is not one of the front line starters for the second row so that is why the back row might come more into play. Players like himself, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes if he goes, they could find themselves at six.
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“It makes them safe picks to go because you need players who can jump into that back row as well and those players do that. Tadhg Beirne, for me, is nailed on to go on tour and he has got a great chance at being a Test starter and six will suit him as well.”
Warburton revisited the back row equation later when quizzed on the specific chances of Navidi, Tipuric and Faletau following their recent Guinness Six Nations title-winning exploits. “Tipuric, the hard ground will suit him. I imagine (Gregor) Townsend will be pushing for Tipuric. Gatland said the other coaches sent in their squads and I’m pretty sure Tipuric would have been in Gregor Townsend’s squad. There is not an attack coach in the world who wouldn’t want him in their team.
“Then every defence coach would probably pick Josh Navidi because he is so good at defence and he is actually great in attack for many different reasons. It kind of goes without notice but he will secure speedy rucks. People will take that for granted but he is so good.
“Toby is just a shoo-in, one of the classiest players I have ever played with. I remember I said in the autumn Toby would be the Lions No8 and I got a bit of heat on Twitter but I was ‘he will turn up, I guarantee he will turn up’ and lo and behold, he turned up for the Six Nations. Anybody who writes off Toby is a fool.
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“Ask any coach, nobody tells Toby what to do. There is a lot of structure in rugby but Toby is one of those players who is just so naturally gifted they just let him fit in. He knows when to drop back, when to be front line, he just gets it and he doesn’t even know he knows it.
“That is the strengths of the three (Wales players) but unfortunately I don’t think all three will go on tour. Tom Curry will go, possibly Sam Simmonds will go and then you have also got six covering out of Maro, Lawes and Beirne. All those players and the three Welsh boys essentially don’t fit. There is going to be some big, big omissions.
“If (Sam) Underhill continues playing with Bath that will have an impact because England missed him and Lawes massively. You can’t overlook them because they haven’t played Six Nations because those guys can have way too much of an impact and they are two of the most physical players you could ever have.
“The reason Lawes went on the last tour was they knew his aggressiveness would pay dividends in the wet in New Zealand and he was there in the Test squad in Wellington. Gatland likes his style and the fact he covers six as well, it makes you think that all these brilliant back rows you have got, including van der Flier, they are not all going to go and there could be a Welsh back row casualty.”
The Springboks talisman has revealed whom he feels will wear the No4 and No5 Lions shirts and who will provide their Test bench back-up https://t.co/A70uIJhXwc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 21, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
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