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Six players who could benefit from a postponed Lions tour
With this year’s British and Irish Lions series against the Springboks looking in jeopardy amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in South Africa, there are a number of alternatives being raised. Though no decision has yet been made, one possible option is to face the world champions a year later in 2022.
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That may overcome some obstacles surrounding the pandemic, but new problems will be created given the Test matches that are already organised for July 2022 with the World Cup only a year later.
That will also change head coach Warren Gatland’s plans, as the landscape of British and Irish rugby could change over the next 18 months, particularly as some players may have earmarked the 2021 series as their international swansong.
This rescheduling may actually help some players, though, largely those who have succumbed to injuries that have ended their hopes of flying to South Africa or will force them into a late fitness race when they return.
So these are the players that could benefit from a postponed British and Irish Lions tour:
Manu Tuilagi
Sale Sharks’ Tuilagi would have featured in many predicted Lions XVs at the beginning of the season, but a torn achilles in September ruled him out of the autumn and will keep him sidelined throughout the upcoming Six Nations.
He will face a battle to return to top condition for the trip to South Africa in July should it go ahead, so any delays in the scheduling could help him.
Dan Leavy
Leinster’s Leavy returned earlier this season after an ACL injury that had taken 18 months to recover from. An injury of this nature will inevitably take any player some time to return to full form, and any postponement will give the flanker an opportunity to conjure the displays he was producing in 2018 and put him in the Lions conversation.
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Gareth Anscombe
Ospreys fly-half Anscombe is still expected to miss the rest of this season having suffered a setback over the summer in recovering from the ACL injury he sustained in August 2019. Should the Lions be pushed back a year, the No10 picture may look very different with some players nearing the end of their careers, meaning Anscombe could impress his former coach Gatland.
Tadhg Furlong
Though Leinster’s Furlong is expected to return in time for the Six Nations from his calf injury, he is still yet to play this season. But should he show a semblance of his capabilities upon his return, he will be in the Lions squad whenever and wherever it will be.
Fraser Brown
Capable of playing hooker or in the back row, the versatility of Glasgow Warriors’ Brown makes him a desirable tourist. But he is set to miss the Six Nations with a neck injury, leaving him a limited window to impress should the tour go ahead as planned.
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Louis Rees-Zammit
While 2020 was a breakthrough year for 19-year-old Gloucester winger Rees-Zammit, where he earned his first Wales cap, a Lions tour at the end of the season may still be a stretch for him given the wealth of options in the back three. Another year, however, would put the Welshman in a much better position.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
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