How Luke Cowan-Dickie rates his chances of Lions Test role
Luke Cowan-Dickie believes he has done everything within his power to play a role when the British and Irish Lions’ Test series against South Africa begins on Saturday.
On an afternoon that saw Alun Wyn Jones complete a comeback from a dislocated shoulder acclaimed by Warren Gatland as a “miracle” and Marcus Smith dazzle in the final quarter, it was Cowan-Dickie who shone the brightest against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium.
The confrontational England hooker carried the fight to the Lions’ final opponents before they face the Springboks by running with intent, plundering turnovers and chop tackling at will.
On top of his impact on both sides of the ball, his set-piece work was pinpoint and he took on the responsibility of looking for work early on at a time when the Stormers were causing problems.
Jamie George and Ken Owens are also competing for the hooking duties against the world champions and while Cowan-Dickie is in a strong position to edge his rivals, he sees a successful Lions series as the overwhelming objective.
“I’ve done what I could have done, from the previous games and against the Stormers, to put my best foot forward. But if it’s not enough I’ll have to take it on the chin,” said Cowan-Dickie, who touched down in the first-half.
“I didn’t have the most game time at the start because of coming into camp a bit late with the Exeter players, so to get another start here was massive for me. I’m trying to play as many minutes as I can on the tour and see how it goes.
“I think I have been playing reasonably OK. It has been going well for me so far. The main thing is that the set-piece is going well, the line-outs have been going well.
“I think I did put a foot closer forward to potentially getting into the 23. But if I don’t get into the 23, all I want is for the boys to win.
“It’s exciting and it was good to get over the line, but there were 22 other guys who were outstanding. I’m just excited to see what next week brings.
“It would be amazing to get a Test under my belt, but for me it’s about winning the Test series.
“The coach is going to pick the best 23 and if I’m not involved in that, as long as we go out and do the job, I’ll be just as happy.”
The number of hookers in South Africa has swollen to four after Ronan Kelleher was called up by Gatland as additional cover in the event of injury.
Cowan-Dickie insists the quartet have worked well together, despite each of them targeting the number two jersey at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
“Competition is always good for training. You’re improving each day when you have got competition on the training field,” he said.
“We try and train as best we can, we try to improve as players and we try to put our best foot forward.
“When the team is picked, you do whatever you can to help that guy who has been chosen to prepare for the game. It’s just brilliant we are working well together as a four.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
51 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
51 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
51 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
51 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
51 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
51 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
51 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments