McGeechan's latest Lions despatch tips Lawrence, Doris and Rees-Zammit as bolters and outlines specific role for veteran Jones
Former Lions coach Ian McGeechan has tipped recent Test newcomers Ollie Lawrence, Caelan Doris and Louis Rees-Zammit to feature as bolters on next year’s tour to South Africa – while also outlining the specific role that should be given to veteran lock Alun Wyn Jones.
A player on the famed 1974 tour to South Africa who later went onto to coach on the 1997 and 2009 trips, McGeechan is well placed to gauge the type of player the Lions will need if they are to continue their run of success under Warren Gatland which features the 2013 series win in Australia and the tied series in New Zealand four years later.
McGeechan’s views on the upcoming tour have been an ever-evolving jigsaw puzzle in 2020 and his latest thoughts, contained in a column for the UK Telegraph, provided ample food for thought for 2021 on the back of the recent extended block of Test matches, particular his nomination of a trio of younsters as potential Lions tour bolters.
Starting off with the pressing business of who will lead the team, McGeechan now believes Maro Itoje is “the likely skipper”, adding that because so many second rows can also play back row, he would be inclined to select six locks for the tour including Welsh veteran Jones.
“He’s no longer a potential Lions starter, but he’d be my midweek captain,” wrote McGeechan in the Telegraph. “He is a born winner and Lions legend, and on such a short tour Warren will desperately need players who can lead by example, especially in training as well as on the field.”
SIR IAN McGEECHAN COLUMN: Six stars who will shine in 2021 – and the players I would be looking to pick for the Lions tour of South Africa https://t.co/d20cqAQxHN
— Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) December 27, 2020
The former Scottish player and coach added how he really rates James Ritchie, outlining how he “has the potential to be another Tom Croft”. Sticking with the Scots, he suggested the 2021 tour is “Finn’s time”, believing the Racing out-half has the ability to find space and his use of an “extraordinary range of passes and kicking to manipulate defences is unrivalled”.
Russell’s inclusion along with Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar would mean bad news for Johnny Sexton, McGeechan claiming it is “a tour too far” for the Irish veteran and he also overlooked George Ford. He would instead like a punt to be taken on Exeter’s Joe Simmonds, the recent uncapped double winner. “His game management in the high-pressure hurly burly of the Premiership and Champions Cup finals was flawless.”
However, the names of Test rookies Lawrence, Doris and Rees-Zammit as suggested bolters stood out most in McGeechan’s latest Lions despatch. About Lawrence, the 21-year-old who made his England debut in England’s Six Nations title win in Italy, McGeechan wrote: “With Manu Tuilagi constantly injured and Jamie Roberts absent stage left, the Lions desperately need a forceful ball-carrier in midfield who can take the ball up and get over the gain line early.
“Ollie Lawrence is a fledgling in Test terms but he’s the player best suited to that role, although the excellent rugby league-style lines run by Scotland’s Sam Johnson means he can also fulfil that role too, as he showed at Twickenham two years ago.”
Switching to 22-year-old Doris, McGeechan added: “Billy Vunipola is the standout No8, but I think Doris could really offer something different if a more mobile game is needed. The Irishman is a great lineout jumper and a superb athlete who operates wider out than Vunipola.
“With his great feet, good turn of pace, nice hands and sharp rugby brain, he always gets over the gainline to put his side on the front foot and is the sort of serial offloader who thrives on South Africa’s hard grounds.”
McGeechan finished with a glowing review of Rees-Zammit, the 19-year-old who made his first four appearances for Wales this autumn. “There is no substitute for pace, but this potential bolter also glides past would-be tacklers without pausing for breath. Used properly he could wreak havoc, although he is prone to worrying defensive lapses.”
'I managed one phone call in three-and-a-half months'
Ian McGeechan on technology, analysis, 75p expenses, why more Scots haven't been picked for @lionsofficial tours and how he knew Gatland was the right fit, as interviewed by @heagneyl 👨💻https://t.co/Q7hrZTI9TG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 8, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
To 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.
30 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.
2 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
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
30 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.
30 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. 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.
30 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.
30 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.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments