Just one Irishman makes PA's Lions XV for South Africa
The British and Irish Lions’ 2021 tour of South Africa will be among world sport’s headline acts next year.
The first Test against the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg might be almost 500 days away, but selection debates have already started among rugby fans.
WATCH: RugbyPass were lucky enough to meet Welsh Rugby legends James Hook and Shane Williams.
Here, the PA news agency looks at a possible Lions starting line-up if the opening Test was this weekend.
15: Liam Williams (Wales)
Spent four months on the sidelines this season due to an ankle injury suffered at the World Cup, but Williams returned to action in Wales’ Guinness Six Nations clash against England. Created one of the greatest tries in Lions history during the drawn 2017 Test series with New Zealand and is an outstanding player.
14: Anthony Watson (England)
Like Williams, England star Watson has had his injury troubles but he is a proven world-class performer. Relishes the big stage, as he showed on the New Zealand tour three years ago, and will thrive against the world champions.
13: Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Sidelined by a knee injury for much of this season but a fully-fit Davies would be among the first names on Lions head coach Warren Gatland’s team-sheet. Lions player of the series in New Zealand, he is a masterful defensive organiser and persistent attacking threat.
12: Sam Johnson (Scotland)
Will be viewed as a bolter choice by many but Australia-born Johnson has the ability, attacking flair, distribution skills and defensive solidity to thrive in the high-octane environment of a Lions Test series. Possesses game-breaking qualities.
11: Josh Adams (Wales)
It is barely two years since Adams entered the international arena, but his statistics scream from the page. He has scored 14 tries in 24 Tests and finished top of the touchdowns charts at the World Cup earlier this season, crossing the opposition line seven times. Lethal.
10: Owen Farrell (England)
England captain Farrell is a proverbial Test match animal, a player seemingly born to excel in rugby’s high-pressure environments. A world-class goalkicker – he has amassed almost 950 international points – his ice-cool tactical acumen and ability to thrive when stakes are at their highest make him a key selection.
9: Rhys Webb (Wales)
Wales scrum-half Webb spent more than two years away from Test rugby after moving to France and being ineligible for his country under the Welsh Rugby Union’s minimum 60-cap rule for players plying their trade outside the country, but now back in the Test arena and offers class, experience and stardust.
1: Rory Sutherland (Scotland)
Excelled during this season’s truncated Six Nations after returning to the Scotland team following almost a four-year absence. Also spent 14 months recovering from a groin injury, but he has proved the bedrock of an impressive Scottish scrum.
2: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England)
Played second fiddle to Jamie George throughout his England career, but has become increasingly influential during appearances off the bench. Like Johnson, the Exeter hooker would be considered an outside shot for the Lions Test team, yet he fits the bill.
3: Kyle Sinckler (England)
England’s tighthead prop has developed into a world-class operator, with consistency underpinning his international performances. One of the very best front-row forwards out there, and he will relish the battle.
4: Maro Itoje (England, captain)
Like Sinckler, Itoje’s displays illustrate a player at the top of his game. No obvious weaknesses, and an individual who has already shone in a Lions shirt during the epic series against New Zealand. Rich captaincy material, too, and he could be handed the Lions reins.
5: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
The Wales skipper is one Test match appearance away from equalling rugby’s world record held by New Zealand World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw. A veteran of three Lions Test series in 2009, 2013 and 2017, he continues to set standards few players can aspire to.
6: CJ Stander (Ireland)
Ireland’s South Africa-born flanker or number eight provides a significant physical presence. His adaptability across the back row was not lost on Gatland during the 2017 Lions tour and he will want the 29-year-old in full confrontational mode.
7: Justin Tipuric (Wales)
The Wales openside flanker might have turned 30, but he continues to deliver one top-drawer display after another. Makes the game appear ridiculously easy at times and is a force in attack, defence and at the breakdown. A master.
8: Tom Curry (England)
Curry might be only 21 but he wasted no time establishing himself at the forefront of an England team that reached the World Cup final earlier this season. England boss Eddie Jones sparked furious debate after picking the flanker at number eight, yet he is so good, you just want him in the team, almost irrespective of shirt number.
Replacements:
Jamie George (England), Ellis Genge (England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), James Ryan (Ireland), Josh Navidi (Wales), Ben Youngs (England), George Ford (England), Jordan Larmour (Ireland).
Comments on RugbyPass
NZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
22 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
22 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
22 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
22 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
22 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
22 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to comments