Lions 2013 Props - Where Are They Now?

The first in a seven-part series leading up to this summer’s Lions tour  to New Zealand, taking a look at the 2013 incumbents and their chances of being selected again.

CIAN HEALY
2013 tour: Healy was tipped by many to be the starting loosehead, but fell to injury 36 minutes into the tour against the Western Force.

Since then: Healy’s injury record has played against him. Since bursting onto the scene in the early part of the decade a mixed bag of international appearances and absences has seen him lose his place as Leinster’s first choice loosehead, and by extension, Ireland’s.

Touring chances: 40%. A test spot may well be beyond him, but he’ll be in the mix for a midweek spot, mainly in competiton with England’s Joe Marler. A strong Leinster showing in Europe could help given that first choice Jack McGrath has already booked a seat.

GETHIN JENKINS

2013 tour If anyone was going to play the first Test in 2013 ahead of Healy, it’d be Jenkins. The Wales veteran has been one of the finest front rowers the professional game has seen, with an ability to play both sides of the scrum and revolutionary breakdown and carrying skill for a prop forward. He got injured and didn’t play any games.

Since then: The 36 year old has broken his country’s caps record and retired gracefully been phased out of the national team but has been in the media claiming he still aims for a Lions place.

Touring chances 5%? It’s not as silly as it sounds, Jenkins remains a legend of modern Welsh rugby and has played a huge part of his career under Gatland. He could be seen as a much needed old hand on tour. But if you were Joe Marler or Rob Evans you’d be steaming to lose your place to him.

MAKO VUNIPOLA

2013 tour: 22-year old Vunipola was not starting matches for England in 2013 and was something of a controversial selection. Primarily brought in as a ‘finisher’, before that word was cool, Mako was the beneficiary of injuries to Healy and Jenkins and ended up starting the second Test. With the Lion’s superior scrummage successfully negated, Mako returned to his bench role for the third.

Since then: Mako turned into the best loosehead in Europe. You may have noticed. Having been initially a piledriver carrier and little else, he’s established himself as England’s first choice by gaining a working scrum and handling that no prop deserves. Winning endless trophies with Saracens helps too.

Touring chances: 99% If Gatland liked what he saw in 2013 it’s hard to see him changing his mind on Vunipola now. He’s there barring injury.

ALEX CORBISIERO

2013 tour: After having impressed in the six nations in 2012 and 2013, including an infamous smashing of the Irish scrum in 2012, Corbs was called up when Healy got injured and made it count. He started the first and third test, asserted the visitor’s dominance up front and bagged a 5th minute try in the win at Sydney. He went home as one of the players of the tour.

Since then: 24-year old Corbisiero immediately signed for title-chasing Northampton alongside fellow Lions hero George North, and all preparations made for his domination of world rugby, promptly disappeared off the face of the planet. After an horrible injury plagued few years with Northampton, he announced his intention to have a year out in January 2016. He currently has his own podcast.

Touring chances 0%. In the event of a severe concussion causing Gatland to forget what year it is, I’m fairly sure Corbs would turn it down. Decent shot at flying out as a pundit, mind.

RYAN GRANT

2013 tour: Called up as a replacement for Gethin Jenkins, Grant was mainly expected to be tour match filler. For the most part that is exactly what he did, with two tour games and his one test appearance being as an unused substitute.

Since then: Despite early promise, a stalled international career has not continued. Grant has made over 100 appearances for the Glasgow Warriors, but has been an increasingly less relevant part of their success as Gordon Reid has become their go-to loosehead.

Touring chances: 0.05%. In the event that a Scottish prop is required this time, we’re pretty screwed it’ll be Gordon Reid.

ADAM JONES

2013 tour: The 3-time grand slam winner started all three tests and was one of the players of the summer, the cornerstone of the Lions’ winning scrum. By most accounts the peak of a wonderful career.

Since then: Realistically, Jones’ time as an international player was likely coming to an end anyway, but public falling out with your nation’s eligibility rules doesn’t help either. Seeing the writing on the wall, after a controversial move to Cardiff in 2014, Jones retired from internationals the following winter. For the last two seasons he’s made appearances in the Premiership for Harlequins, but it’s not going to be enough to get back in the good books.

Touring chances: 0.5%. There’s been precedent for retired players before, including those not even as good as Jones was, but for many reasons, it’s not happening. If any Ospreys fans would like to rant about why in the comments be my guest. Or just, y’know, scream at the wall.

DAN COLE

2013 tour: A few years into his England career, Cole was taken on tour as Adam Jones’ understudy. Three appearances off the bench in three tests, along with an appearance of some form in all 10 tour matches, makes for an admirable microcosm of his career.

Since then: Dan Cole continues to play every game. It’s not just a case of keeping his first choice spot either, in a world of rotation and resting he has been racking up the caps. It’s hard to grasp anything he does exceptionally well, aside from not get injured, but maybe that’s a bigger deal than we give it credit for, considering what’s happened to half this list.

Touring chances: 80%. Cole is the only prop in Europe who has remained a first choice international for four years. He gets a lot of hate, but he’s clearly a solid scrummager and has also scored three tries in the last year, so must be doing something in the loose. I’d expect him to perform exactly the same role as four years ago. Dan Cole is a fixed point in time and space.

MATT STEVENS

2013 tour: The ‘bolter’ of front row picks last time, 32 year old and post-test-retirement Stevens was picked out of club rugby under the basis that he could scrummage on both sides and was difficult to shift. His responsibilities off the field are potentially libelous so I’ll leave it there. He played five midweek matches, mainly off the bench.

Since then: After a handful of appearances for Saracens (13 matches in 3 years) and returning to his native South Africa to play a season in the Currie Cup, Stevens ended up in Toulon from June 2015. He is, as far as I can tell, still there as a player, but doesn’t appear to be actually playing.

Touring chances: 0.01%. If he can still get a gig at Toulon then hey, anything is possible, but if we really need a doughy-faced South African tighthead it’s hard to look beyond WP Nel. And we could probably book Ali Williams if we need the other thing.

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