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The third in a seven-part series in the run up to this summer’s selection, taking a look at the 2013 incumbents and their chances of being selected again.
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ALUN-WYN JONES
2013 tour: A survivor from the 2009 tour, Jones carried on as he was, which is being one of the best locks Wales have ever had. Started all three tests and captained the big win in the third.
Since then: That’s generally the sort of thing that gives you a bit of confidence. Has piled up another 40 international caps and took up the captaincy from Warburton for a second time this year when put in charge of Wales. Had a bit of a wobble against Scotland, but came back strongly in his most recent outings.
Touring chances: 95%. The competition in the second row is fierce, so there exists a universe in which Alun Wyn doesn’t play for the Lions, but it’s not the one we live in.
PAUL O’CONNELL
2013 tour: Not just a pretty face, O’Connell was a nailed on starter for the Tests in 2013 after having captained the 2009 tour and continued a stellar career for Munster and Ireland. Played the first test before a broken arm sidelined him for the rest of the tour.
Since then: O’Connell took over from O’Driscoll as permanent Ireland captain and won the six nations twice, being the cornerstone of Ireland’s rise through the rankings under Joel Schmidt. O’Connell retired from internationals after the 2015 World Cup. He was lined up for a move to Toulon, because that is just what former internationals do, but instead announced his retirement from all rugby in early 2016 due to injury. Now he can be found as a six nations pundit that’s a notable improvement on Jonothan Davies.
Touring chances: 0%. Commentating is probably an easier gig. Hope he gets brought in as a motivational speaker.
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GEOFF PARLING
2013 tour: One of Stuart Lancaster’s early picks for his new-look England team in 2012, ‘Generous’ Geoff Parling cemented his place the following year and earned a Lions call up on the basis that someone from England’s second row had to go, and 21-year old Joe Launchbury was considered too raw. Parling probably expected to be a midweek player, but strong performances against the club sides and an injury to Paul O’Connell saw him start the second and third tests. A try saving tap-tackle on Jesse Mogg in the third test remains his career highlight.
Since then: A few injuries led to several other locks being considered for England, such as Attwood, Kruis and Lawes, and most recently Itoje. Somewhat unfortunately for Parling, they are all better than him. There just isn’t room for a solid lineout specialist in an England pack any more, and Parling found himself mostly out of favour from 2014 on. Seeking shelter from Leicester’s ever growing injury list, Parling was one of several players to defect to Exeter in 2015. His last appearances for England were in the ill fated 2015 world cup, and has not been considered in any of Eddie Jones’ England squads.
Touring chances: 1%. Parling is really just a good club forward now. A severe fire would be needed at the next annual general meeting of european second rows.
RICHIE GRAY
2013 tour: Having played for Scotland and Glasgow for a few years, by 2013 the senior Gray had completed a season in the Premiership. Being fast-tracked through a standard career meant he was heading into the top 14 aged 23, which is 10 years earlier than most internationals. The fusion-powered giraffe was a largely uncontroversial midweek player for the Lions, making five appearances including the final 13 minutes of the test series, as a sub.
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Since then: Playing as a regular for Castres and now Toulouse in the meat grinder that is the top 14, Gray has perhaps not grasped the potential that might be expected of someone who broke into internationals at the age of 20. But he remains a fine athlete and mainstay for club and country.
Touring chances: 15%. He’s not gone anywhere (in a manner of speaking. Technically, he’s gone to France) but everyone else has caught him up. Most notably his brother Jonny has become Scotland’s best lock, and there won’t be room for both Grays.
IAN EVANS
2013 tour: One of several Wales players whose outstanding form in 2012-13 carried them to back to back Six Nations titles. Evans was most likely picked over Joe Launchbury thanks to coming out on top of the England pack physically in that year’s famous Cardiff match. Also one of the last of the now largely unfashionable ‘enforcer’ style locks, Evans played in four tour matches and no tests.
Since then: Evans lost his place in the Wales side for the 2014 Six Nations when he copped a ban for stamping on Mike McCarthy in a European cup game. Luke Charteris was preferred over him from then on. In the summer of that year, Evans cemented his place as an ex-Wales international by signing for Bristol. This season, and the grand old age of 32, he started coaching, currently for Treorchy in Welsh village rugby.
Touring chances: 0%. Ieuan Evans is roughly as likely a selection.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
7 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
72 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
19 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
7 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
19 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
19 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
19 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
2 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
19 Go to comments