Lions Forwards - Midterm reports
With seven games played and the first of three severely tough examinations out of the way, we saw fit to go through each of the 22 forwards in coach Gatland’s original Lions 41-man squad and rate how each have done on tour to date, school report style!
The old adage in rugby goes: forwards win rugby games, backs decide by how much. Never has that particular phrase been more in evidence than in the Lions’ first Test defeat to the All Blacks.
Rieko Ioane may have stolen the headlines with two tries in just his third Test cap, but the win had all its origins at the breakdown, where an intensely physical New Zealand pack pulverised Warren Gatland’s men.
Talk around the respective packs of the Lions and the All Blacks seemed to intensify as we got nearer to the Eden Park clash, with many pointing to it as a possible area of strength for the tourists.
That view was made a mockery of, as led by the outstanding Kieran Read, simply the best player on the pitch last week, the likes of Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Sam Cane smashed into anything and everything in red.
And ably assisted to a degree by the refereeing of Jaco Peyper, who lets a lot go in the physical stakes, they battered the Lions into submission and sealed the result as a consequence.
Each player gets a Tour Grade, with the 15 that started the first Test also receiving a secondary Test Grade. Enjoy…
Name: Mako Vunipola
Position: Loosehead prop
Report: In Gatland’s good books after a string of strong performances, Vunipola was the unanimous choice to start the first Test and keeps his place for the second. Though behind Joe Marler for England during the Six Nations after a knee injury, Vunipola enjoyed a good finish to the season with European champions Saracens and provides exceptional hands for a prop. Has also been part of a solid scrum alongside classmate Tadgh Furlong which had the upper hand in games against the Crusaders and Moari All Blacks. Failed to stand out in the first Test and while his tour report card reads well, he has some catching up to do when it matters.
Tour Grade: A
Test Grade: C
Name: Jack McGrath
Position: Loosehead prop
Report: Though he came into camp penciled in as most people’s premium choice in his specialist subject of loosehead prop, McGrath has slipped behind classmate Vunipola. Still regarded as a strong member of the group, McGrath provides outstanding work-rate and scrummaging ability when introduced from the bench. Came onto the pitch in Eden Park to try and help an already battered pack. Will hope for a better situation in Wellington.
Tour Grade: B
Name: Joe Marler
Position: Loosehead prop
Report: Marler came into camp with a reputation for being a bit of a trouble maker on the pitch, a loose cannon, and already behind classmates Vunipola and McGrath in the opinions of most. So far on tour, he hasn’t stood out and blotted his copy book badly with a ridiculous no-arms tackle against the Chiefs. Firmly out of the Test equation as things stand.
Tour Grade: C-
Name: Jamie George
Position: Hooker
Report: One of the weakest areas of the current group is hooker, and George came into camp in a wide-open race to be top of his particular field against Ireland skipper Rory Best and Wales’ Ken Owens. While he hasn’t shown all of his capabilities- we haven’t see many rampaging runs and carries- he has been solid in the set-piece at scrum time and, crucially, in the lineout. Has forged a strong front row relationship with Sarries teammate Vunipola and Tadgh Furlong. Again though, couldn’t come to the fore in his first exam.
Tour Grade: B+
Test Grade: C
Name: Ken Owens
Position: Hooker
Report: After a strong Six Nations, Scarlet Owens came into camp aware the race for hooker was wide open. Hasn’t really shined on tour to date but still made the 23-man squad for the first Test. Came on and his first involvement was to have his throw stolen by Whitelock. Gatland has kept faith with him on the bench for the second clash.
Tour Grade: B
Name: Rory Best
Position: Hooker
Report: Came into camp with super pedigree and a huge deal of experience, but as was the case four years ago in 2013, things just haven’t fallen for him. A couple of missed and crooked throws at lineout time and one major one in particular in the dying stages of a game against the Blues (though probably not his fault if closely watched), have cast him in a negative light. Has led well though, been strong at the breakdown and scrummaged extremely strongly against the Chiefs. Gassed out of it for 80 minutes against the Hurricanes on Tuesday due to Gatland’s refusal to use any of the ‘Geography Six’ he called up. As such Best is still out of the Test equation.
Tour Grade: C
Name: Tadgh Furlong
Position: Tighthead prop
Report: This time last year he was barely involved against the Springboks on tour with Ireland. Now he is central to the Lions. A magnificent November against Saturday’s opposition, New Zealand, backed up by an equally impressive Six Nations meant that though he was late to the party, big things were expected. Phenomenal work rate for a prop, rock solid scrum, and underrated hands. One of the first names on the teamsheet but for the first time since his name has been in lights, he squeaked a bit scrum-wise in the first Test. Needs to show up better in the tight and loose.
Tour Grade: A
Test Grade: B
Name: Kyle Sinckler
Position: Tighthead prop
Report: A surprise choice for camp, Sinckler was one of the early eye-catchers with seriously deceptive pace for a tighthead and great hands. His showings have been such that he has moved above compatriot Dan Cole in the pecking order. For what was expected though, a brilliant tour so far.
Tour Grade: A
Name: Dan Cole
Position: Tighthead prop
Report: Came into camp with Lions experience from four years ago and successive Six Nations titles to his CV. Lacks the mobility and hands of Furlong or Sinckler, Cole’s bread and butter is the scrum. And when Angus Gardner repeatedly penalised him in that area against the Highlanders, his Test chances eroded. Could yet find himself back in the Test frame depending on how Sinckler fares. Like Best, was forced to play 80 minutes on Tuesday, which for a tighthead in todays came, is just outrageous.
Tour Grade: C
Name: Alun-Wyn Jones
Position: Second-row
Report: In terms of pedigree and experience, there doesn’t come much better than Jones. Two previous Lions tours and appearances in each of the last six Tests. The combination of Sarries and England pair George Kruis and Maro Itoje threatened to force him out of the first Test but Gatland picked him. His own performance in that game seemed surely to have cost him for the second, but his international boss has once more shown faith. Perhaps fortunate to start the first, he’s the luckiest boy in the squad for the second. Needs a monumental showing after a largely average tour to date and horrendous first Test.
Tour Grade: C
Test Grade: D
Name: George Kruis
Position: Second-row
Report: Having missed the majority of the season and entire Six Nations window through injury, there was real concern Kruis would miss the tour. Once he made it though, he thrived under forwards coach Steve Borthwick, who he is used to from the England set-up. Hugely physical, hardworking and a lineout specialist, his Test place was never in doubt, which is saying something when you look at the competition he had. Along with Jones though, he was the worst player on the pitch in Auckland, and unlike his second-row colleague has been ruthlessly cut as such. His performance drop was a huge shock after a superb tour to date.
Tour Grade: A
Test Grade: D
Name: Maro Itoje
Position: Second-row
Report: The youngest member of the class, Itoje joined camp off the back of two superlative seasons with Saracens and England. On tour, he has displayed his power, pace, hands, work-rate and passion. Cheap penalties need to be cut out of his game, but was mightily unlucky not to start the first Test. Proved the wrong call by Gatland and is in from the start for the second.
Tour Grade: A
Name: Iain Henderson
Position: Second-row
Report: What a mixed tour Henderson has had. Probably the outsider of the five locks in the class to make the Test set-up, he started with an extremely poor showing against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians. But he has improved with each performance, so much so that after his display against the Highlanders and impact off the bench against the Chiefs, he was considered by some to be unlucky not to be involved in the 23 for the first Test. After his bullish display against the Hurricanes, most predicted he would be entrusted to provide explosive bench cover for the second Test. Gatland hasn’t seen it that way and he is missing again.
Tour Grade: B
Name: Courtney Lawes
Position: Second-row
Report: A bit like classmate Henderson, Lawes struggled somewhat at the beginning of the tour, failing to impose himself in his start against the Blues. Suffered a sickening head knock against the Highlanders, but came back with a vengeance against the Chiefs where he was utterly superb and one of the best players on the pitch. Another very unlucky not to be involved in the first Test, he has forced his way into the 23 for the second after another physically dominant display against the Hurricanes, something the Lions badly need.
Tour Grade: B+
Name: Peter O’Mahony
Position: Flanker
Report: Well, well, well. From the Ireland bench in March, to Lions Test skipper against the All Blacks in June. Incredible. And he deserved it. Outstanding against a fully-loaded Crusaders, he excelled at lineout time and the breakdown. He led brilliantly against the Maori All Blacks, as the Munster skipper can. Hands down the best back-row lineout forward in the world. His spring is incomprehensible. Kept a tour skipper out of the starting Test team for the first time since 1930, and with Jones having also started, his leadership skills must have shone through to get the captaincy. A week on and he’ll be in the stand in a suit and tie. He was the go-to man at the lineout against the All Blacks until his replacing after picking up a shoulder knock, producing a trademark steal to go with numerous clean balls. The score was 13-8 when he went off. It’s a funny old game.
Tour Grade: A+
Test Grade: B
Name: Sean O’Brien
Position: Flanker
Report: When fit, there’s few better than O’Brien. A wrecking ball of muscle, a machine with ball in hand. Strong at the breakdown and pace to burn. Gatland called his displays on tour ahead of the first Test ‘outstanding’. Like international colleague O’Mahony, he kept a tour skipper out of the starting team for the first time in 87 years. Finished off one of the greatest Lions scores of all time, and while he didn’t perform badly, needs to impact the breakdown more in Wellington.
Tour Grade: A
Test Grade: B
Name: Taulupe Faletau
Position: No 8
Report: On form, a student who just oozes class on the pitch. On tour, he forged a lovely balance alongside O’Mahony and O’Brien at the back of the class. Made former All Black Zinzan Brooke well and truly eat his words about him. If you haven’t seen it yet, find the clip of Brooke backtracking, never has a man stuttered and stumbled so much. Faletau is fantastic off restarts, always makes ground, provides another lineout option, and is one of the silkiest back-rows around. Was an absolute certainty to start the first and remains in team for the second. Like O’Brien, needs to have a bigger say on Saturday.
Tour Grade: A+
Test Grade: B
Name: Sam Warburton
Positon: Flanker
Report: Tour skipper, he will have been bitterly disappointed to miss out on Test selection. A knee injury before the series and ankle knock during curtailed his opportunities to show what he can do. In his two starts to date he has gone missing for large parts of the games. A clever try against the Highlanders was not enough to mask a decidedly absent performance. Made the bench for the first Test and impressed Gatland after his introduction enough to earn a starting place for the second. Like Jones, he needs a big one.
Tour Grade: B-
Name: CJ Stander
Position: No 8/flanker
Report: Among those tipped to start in the Tests before the tour began, Stander just hasn’t been able to force his way into the reckoning. Still looked to be carrying a knock on his ankle at the beginning of the tour and so appeared to be playing with the proverbial handbrake on a bit. His displays have largely been strong though and after reaching somewhere near his peak against the Chiefs, he was unlucky not to be the bench impact for the first Test. Another 80-minute shift against the Hurricanes has seen him promoted to the 23 for Wellington. All will be hoping he has enough in the tank to cause damage.
Tour Grade: B
Name: Justin Tipuric
Position: Flanker
Report: Like classmate Stander in some respects, Tipuric has failed thus far to properly impose himself in the games he has had to date. An openside flanker with the pace of a centre and outstanding vision when at the top of his game, he proved too good to leave out of the Wales team during the Six Nations as Warburton swapped to blindside. The impact he can provide make it likely we will see him off the bench in Test three.
Tour Grade: B-
Name: James Haskell
Position: Flanker
Report: A late call-up to the class after Billy Vunipola’s unfortunate injury withdrawal, Haskell was always on the backfoot with regards to a Test place. A fine mid-week player with great energy and strength, but won’t challenge for the Test team unless there is an injury crisis.
Tour Grade: C
Name: Ross Moriarty
Positon: Flanker/No 8
Report: A back injury meant Moriarty had to pull out of the tour, which was a great shame as he was one of only three players, alongside classmates Faletau and Sinckler to come out of the very first game on tour against the Provincial Barbarians with some credit. Had he stayed fit, he could have made a push for the Test squad with his brute strength and pace the perfect amalgamation to cause destruction, but that sadly won’t happen now. This won’t be the last we see of him on the highest stage.
Tour Grade: B
Comments on RugbyPass
I think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
5 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
5 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
5 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
32 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to commentsThis is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?
35 Go to commentsWow, didn’t realise there was such apathy to URC in SA, or by Champions Cup teams. Just read Nick’s article on Crusaders, are Sharks a similar circumstance? I think SA rugby has been far more balanced than NZs, no?
2 Go to commentsBut here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.
32 Go to commentsIt could be coincidental or prescient that the All Blacks most dominant period under Steve Hansen was when the Crusaders had their least successful period under Todd Blackadder and then the positions reversed when Razor took over the Crusaders.
32 Go to commentsDefinitely sound read everybodyexpects immediate results these days, I don't think any team would travel well at all having lost three of the most important game changers in the game,compiled with the massive injury list they are now carrying, good to see a different more in depth perspective of a coaches history.
3 Go to commentsSinckler is a really big loss for English rugby.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause
32 Go to commentsNo way. If you are trying to picture New Zealand rugby with an All Blacks mindset, there have been two factors instrumental to the decline of NZ rugby to date. Those are the horror that the Blues have become and, probably more so, the fixture that the Crusaders became. I don’t think it was healthy to have one team so dominant for so long, both for lack of proper representation of players from outside that environment and on the over reliance on players from within it. If you are another international side, like Ireland for example, sure. You can copy paste something succinct from one level to the next and experience a huge increase in standards, but ultimately you will not be maximizing it, which is what you need to perform to the level the ABs do. Added to that is the apathy that develops in the whole game as a result of one sides dominance. NZ, Super, and Championship rugby should all experience a boom as a result of things balancing out. That said, there is a lot of bad news happening in NZ rugby recently, and I’m not sure the game can be handled well enough here to postpone the always-there feeling of inevitable decline of rugby.
32 Go to commentsNo SA supporter miss Super Rugby - a product that is experiencing significant head wind in ANZ - the competition from rival codes are intense, match attendance figures are at a historical low and the negativity of commentators such as Kirwan and Wilson have accelerated the downward spiral in NZ. After the next RWC in 2027 sponsors will follow Qantas and start leaving in droves.
2 Go to commentsLike others, I am not seeing the connection between this edition of the Crusaders and the All Blacks future prospects under Razor. I think the analysis of the Crusaders attack recently is helpful because Razor and his coaching team used to be able to slot new guys in to their systems and see them succeed. Several of Razor’s coaches are still there so it would be surprising if the current attack and set piece has been overhauled to a great extent - but based on that analysis, it may have been. Whether it is too many new guys due to injuries or retirement or a failure of current Crusaders systems is the main question to be answered imo. It doesn’t seem relevant for the ABs.
32 Go to commentsharry potter is set in stone. he creates stability and finishes well. exactly what schmidt likes. he’s the ben smith of australian rugby. i think it could quite easily be potter toole and kellaway for the foreseeable future.
5 Go to commentsThis is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to comments