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'I'm not holding my breath': What Jack Conan said 15 days ago when asked about his Lions chances
Leading Irish club Leinster had four players chosen in Warren Gatland’s 2021 Lions tour squad – but two of the faces – Jack Conan and Andrew Porter – weren’t names that had been tripping off tongue in the speculation leading into the announcement.
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James Ryan was a huge casualty, as was Johnny Sexton and to a lesser extent Garry Ringrose given that the Lions had lost George North to injury some weeks ago and Manu Tuilagi hasn’t played since September.
Porter, though, was a huge winner, getting chosen to travel at tighthead with England’s Kyle Sinckler, a 2017 Lions tourist, omitted. Back row, however, was the most competitive area for Lions selection and the little fancied Conan had figured in pratically none of the pre-squad announcement speculation.
His Guinness Six Nations selection to face England in March as the Ireland No8 was the first start he had for his country since a September 2019 World Cup warm-up versus Wales, injury and some iffy form counting against him in the interim 18 months.
However, he excelled against the English and was also to the fore in Leinster’s Guinness PRO14 final win over Munster and their Heineken European Champions Cup quarter-final victory at Exeter prior to last Sunday’s semi-final exit versus La Rochelle.
BREAKING: The full 37-man @lionsofficial squad#Lions #LionsRugby #Lions2021 https://t.co/030gVt2jXj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 6, 2021
Conan won’t be long overcoming that disappointment in France, though, after he became one of eight Ireland players chosen by Gatland for the Lions, a call-up that the back-rower wasn’t contemplating on April 21 when asked would he dare dream of a tour call-up.
“It’s very much focusing on the here and now,” said the 28-year-old, who has 20 Test caps. “It’s not something I am worrying about or thinking too much about. At the end of the day, it would be fantastic to go but I am not holding my breath, it’s not something I am losing too much sleep over. I am just worrying about Leinster and the next game. It’s difficult enough to get into that Leinster back row. That’s the only place that my thoughts are going to at the moment.
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“It’s great to be back,” he added, describing his return to form following a frustrating period. “It’s good to be able to contribute and add value to the (Leinster) jersey and be back with your mates. It is never the same when you are not able to go out and get into the trenches with them and put your body on the line.
“I have been loving it the last while. It has been an absolute joy regardless of results, it has just been good to be back playing with your mates. Wearing the Leinster jersey it doesn’t get any more special than that.”
'I let it affect me to the point of instead of putting myself forward to contribute I’d nearly sink into the background at times'
How @leinsterrugby No8 @JackConan1 went from nervy 22-year-old to one of European rugby's apex predators, w/ @heagneyl ???https://t.co/RX1FWLFCF3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 25, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments