1
'Maybe the Lions next': James Lowe tipped for British and Irish Lions call-up following Ireland debut
It’s been three years in the making, but New Zealand-born wing James Lowe has finally taken to the international stage in impressive fashion, scoring a try on debut for Ireland.
ADVERTISEMENT
Named to start on the left wing, Lowe bagged a maiden test try in the 81st minute of his side’s 32-9 crushing of Wales in the opening match of the Autumn Nations Cup in Dublin.
The 28-year-old did his stocks little harm as he made the step up to test rugby, earning praise from multiple quarters and a 7/10 rating in RugbyPass‘s player ratings for his efforts at the Aviva Stadium.
His appearance in the emerald green jersey caps off a 36-month journey he undertook to become eligible for Ireland after having moved to his adopted nation from New Zealand to play for Leinster in 2017.
Lowe has flourished since his transfer from the Chiefs to the Irish club juggernauts, scoring 33 tries in 49 outings as he played a key role in their PRO14 and Champions Cup success in recent seasons.
It seems a similarly fruitful spell in the Irish national side looms for the former Maori All Blacks representative, with fans and pundits taking to Twitter to voice their opinions on Lowe’s first foray in international rugby.
Some users were bold in their assessments of Lowe’s performance, going as far to suggest that the speedster could be in line for a British and Irish Lions call-up for their 2021 tour of South Africa.
ADVERTISEMENT
https://twitter.com/ByPhillipRollo/status/1327395619380498433
https://twitter.com/iamchrisforreal/status/1327402113513689088
Should Lions boss Warren Gatland select him in next year’s squad, he would join an exclusive group of players to have played both for and against the Lions.
Having featured for the Maori All Blacks in their 32-10 defeat at the hands of the Lions three years ago, it wouldn’t be unattainable for Lowe to join Riki Flutey, James Hook, Jared Payne and Elliot Daly in achieving such a feat.
With the remainder of the Autumn Nations Cup, a Six Nations campaign and the European club season still to be played between now and that squad, there is plenty of time for Lowe to state his case to tour the Republic in eight months’ time.
Elsewhere, those with Kiwi ties, however, were disappointed in New Zealand’s profligacy in allowing the Nelson-born product to escape the All Blacks’ clutches.
ADVERTISEMENT
https://twitter.com/Patman1884/status/1327327782976753670
Some users even used Lowe’s debut to criticise Ireland’s selection policy that allows the New Zealander to play for the country but blocks France-based star Simon Zebo from adding to his 35 test caps.
Don’t get me wrong James Lowe is a class act indeed.. But a NZ born playing in Ireland is all ok but an Irish born playing in France is a no go? Double standards or what? Tia x @SimonZebo
— Jack Lomas (@jlomas92) November 14, 2020
Others were simply glad to see Lowe in an Irish jersey for the first time and were excited for what the future held for the prolific try-scorer.
https://twitter.com/jdsharks/status/1327417870255611905
Sounds like the Irish jersey means a lot to him . best outside back performance over the past 3 games
— martin (@martnrossie) November 14, 2020
Anyone who says not being born here means you don’t epitomise what it means to represent Ireland, check out @JamesLowe_03. Don’t underestimate the sacrifice made, and it is especially poignant that his family weren’t able to be present. Great debut, & more to come ??? https://t.co/1sgtCgpJ8Q
— Kevin Byrne (@kevinjbyrne) November 14, 2020
It’s very clear to see how much this means to him. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the system of project players, I love to see somebody have this much pride in wearing the green jersey. Well done James…so much positive energy on the pitch.
— Kevin OCeallaigh (@koceallaigh) November 14, 2020
Congratulations JL played a blinder as usual ???
— Tony Kennedy (@TonyKB777) November 14, 2020
I have been counting the months towards his eligibility. Well worth the wait ??
— Kelly (@Kelfogarty) November 14, 2020
Congrats @JamesLowe_03 and @BillyBurns10 on 1st caps. Both fully deserved and many more to come #IREvWAL
— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) November 13, 2020
James Lowe was immense. Battering Ram.
— Wil Wardle ?????? (@wilwardle) November 14, 2020
Lowe’s next chance to play for Ireland will come next Saturday, when Andy Farrell’s side travel to London to take on England at Twickenham in the second round of the Autumn Nations Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Farcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe 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.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 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.
11 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.
61 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.
7 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
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
61 Go to comments