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Lions Watch: O'Mahony makes most of late call-up, Test hooker spot up for grabs
Peter O’Mahony, Elliot Daly and Finn Russell were among the players to shine as British and Irish Lions hopefuls grasped their last opportunity to impress Warren Gatland on the international stage on Saturday.
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Ireland denied England a Six Nations Grand Slam and the world record for consecutive victories as they claimed a 13-9 triumph in Dublin, with O’Mahony particularly impressive given his late call-up.
Daly staked his claim for selection despite England’s defeat, but team-mates Dylan Hartley and Jonathan Joseph struggled to do likewise.
For Scotland, Finn Russell was the pick of the bunch as they thumped Italy 29-0 in Vern Cotter’s last match at the helm, while the battle for Test hooker is wide open.
Gatland announces his squad on April 19.
Good Week
Peter O’Mahony – The Munster flanker was not even supposed to be part of Ireland’s starting XV on Saturday, called up as a late replacement for Jamie Heaslip, who picked up an ankle injury in the warm-up. But O’Mahony fully justified his inclusion with a superb all-round display, showing tremendous heart and enthusiasm in making a team-high 12 tackles. He faces fierce competition for a place in the Lions back row, but he put himself firmly in contention with his performance against England.
Man of the Match. @peterom6 #BraveAndFaithful #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/5y14SaWmKI
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 18, 2017
Elliot Daly – Daly has put his hand up for Lions selection more than most during this year’s championship and he managed to stand out in an England team that failed to fire in Dublin. His versatility will be a huge asset when Gatland comes to select his squad and his defensive work against Ireland further demonstrated an ability to cope under pressure. A welcome return to action following his early head injury against Scotland.
Finn Russell – Scotland’s man of the match in their convincing victory over Italy, fly-half Russell is another whose position could cause Gatland a headache as he considers his options. Up against the likes of Jonathan Sexton, George Ford and Dan Biggar for a place, his 11 points this weekend – including a first-half try – will have done his chances of selection no harm.
Bad Week
Dylan Hartley – Eddie Jones has persisted with his skipper, but the hooker has looked some way short of his best form for the duration of the tournament. Arguably outshone by Jamie George from the bench in the early matches of the championship, Hartley measured up unfavourably to opposite number Rory Best, who put in a captain’s display to lead his side to a memorable victory.
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Ken Owens – With rivals for the number two jersey Hartley and Best going head to head in Dublin, the onus was arguably on Owens to catch the eye with a standout performance in France. On his 50th cap, the Scarlets hooker fell short of the form he has displayed over the course of the tournament, but Lions coach Gatland will be well aware of Owens’ talents.
Jonathan Joseph – Dropped for England’s clash with Italy on matchday three, Joseph was one of the players of the weekend last time out as England ran riot against Scotland. However, the centre was unable to maintain that level of performance against Ireland, whose robust defensive display denied Joseph the time, space and possession to make something happen.
Comments on RugbyPass
It 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.
25 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 🤐
13 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….
25 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….
13 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….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
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