Owen Farrell is guaranteed to start against the Springboks, but the question remains who will be next to him
With the Lions tour to South Africa just over 12 months away, Warren Gatland’s choices at 10-12 are starting to surface.
On balance, the two best Lions-eligible flyhalves in this year’s Six Nations were George Ford and Adam Hastings, who showed poise and accuracy while having a hand in most of the big plays.
Jonathan Sexton showed in the first two games he is still a classy director of play but his Twickenham performance was nowhere near his desired standard.
A veteran of two Lions’ tours, the incumbent flyhalf will be 35-years-old when the British and Irish composite side arrives in South Africa.
Sexton’s age is definitely a risk, but the value of his experience should not rule out his chances of getting a seat on the plane.
He is a de-facto coach with invaluable amounts of knowledge to draw on, having absorbed Joe Schmidt’s teachings for years like a deep learning AI system. That is a powerful tool to have in the room, someone who can adapt quickly and solve problems.
The Lions 10-12 system that saved the New Zealand tour was heavily directed by the duo of Sexton and Farrell according to Irish flanker Sean O’Brien.
He claimed they could have won 3-0 with better coaching from their attack coach Rob Howley, who surely won’t be re-appointed next year after being dismissed from his post with Wales.
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As a leader and tactician, Sexton is worth bringing even if he fills a bench role as a closer or just provides leadership within the squad, helping adapt and influence game planning as the series progresses.
Meanwhile, England’s George Ford rectified his World Cup demons somewhat in 2020, bouncing back during the Six Nations to offer some of his best work.
He was instrumental in picking apart Ireland and Wales, solidifying the 10-12 partnership he holds with Owen Farrell in the England set-up. The appeal for the Lions is the two hold over a decade’s worth of chemistry to draw upon.
The problem for Ford is his past performances against the Springboks have been crippling, and their style of play seems to unsettle him.
In the World Cup final, he was haunted by Pieter-Steph Du Toit all night. His play suffered under the pressure the Springboks defence put him under and he was pulled after 53 minutes.
In Ford’s defence, many of the England side did not have their best night either, but it isn’t the only game against South Africa where things have unravelled for him.
On England’s tour of South Africa in 2018, their sole win of the three-match series came when Danny Cipriani was handed his first start in ten years after England blew early leads in the first two tests with Ford starting.
In the first two losses, Ford was critically involved in key periods of play where England failed to execute and gave up momentum.
England’s last two wins over South Africa have been when Owen Farrell and Danny Cipriani have worn the 10 jersey, while they’re sitting on three losses from three attempts with George Ford in the driver’s seat.
Gatland can’t have that same Ford show up again against the team that seems to fracture his mettle consistently. That would be the black mark against Ford getting the starting Lions’ 10 jersey.
Ford was brilliant against NZ but I will be surprised if we don't see England go for Farrell-Tuilagi-Slade at 10-12-13 for this match. DDA takes 90% of SA's set-piece plays down the 10 channel – see Biggar. Slade's defensive game also a big weapon for England. #ENGvRSA #RSAvENG
— Ben Smith (@bensmithrugby) October 30, 2019
Of the remaining Home Nations sides, Adam Hastings had a remarkable Six Nations showing that has not earned enough attention.
He brought as much of the upside that Finn Russell normally brings to the Scottish ranks with far less downside.
Hastings played mostly error-free rugby and picked apart sides with his ball-playing at the line and running game in tandem with Stuart Hogg.
The two worked well to construct key tries against France and Italy, while many opportunities were created against Ireland.
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Defensively, Hastings was gritty and putting up loose forward numbers, making 16 of 18 tackles against Ireland then putting on another solid outing against England in the wet, making seven of eight.
If Gatland wants a calm, composed 10 that can also fire a few shots, Hastings could be a dark horse contender.
With another year of physical development and another Six Nations campaign under the belt that shows more progression, he might be the clear number one option by the time the plane departs for South Africa.
There is no denying that the style of play that the Lions used last time in South Africa, the heavy gain line running spearheaded by Jamie Roberts on every first phase, might be the best option.
With that considered, the double-barrelled 10-12 playmaking option that was rolled out in New Zealand may be shelved in favour of a more traditional midfielder to combat Damian De Allende.
Owen Farrell is the man that must play 10 in this case. One of England’s biggest failings from the World Cup final was not getting the ball in Farrell’s hands enough in key attacking zones.
It just didn’t pan out in his favour playing outside George Ford and it was too late by the time he was moved one spot closer to the breakdown.
Farrell is one of the most physically tough 10s in the game and relishes the contact battle, offering the most resolve to fortify the channels that De Allende will run at on every set piece play.
Manu Tuilagi can play inside centre, as he did throughout the 2019 Six Nations, allowing Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Davies or Henry Slade to play at outside centre.
Former England under-20 midfielder Nick Tompkins also had an impressive Six Nations for Wales and could push into that midfield picture.
The two maverick gunslingers Danny Cipriani and Finn Russell are looking from the outside in at this stage, due to a lack of international game time, but cannot be completely ruled out.
Before his divorce from the Scotland set up Russell had proven that on his day, he is up there with the very best. His European season with Racing 92, with some of the best weapons in the world at his disposal, showed his manic ability to pull off the magical.
If the first test goes pearshaped, being able to call on Russell for a do-or-die clash is a move that could throw the cat among the pigeons.
A solid Six Nations campaign next year from Welsh flyhalf Gareth Anscombe, who has had a horror run of injuries, could also propel him into the mix. Both Anscombe and Dan Biggar bring familiarity with Gatland that may provide the Kiwi coach peace of mind.
The one man who will be guaranteed is Owen Farrell, at either 10 or 12, but the big question remains is who is best suited to line up beside him.
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to comments