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The Lions omissions that New Zealand rugby pundits just don't get

By Josh Raisey
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks hooker James Parsons has said England’s Kyle Sinckler “offers something different,” after the prop missed out on Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad to take on South Africa this year. 

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Parsons faced Sinckler four years ago when the Lions played the Blues, and listed the Bristol Bears tighthead as one of the surprise omissions from the squad on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod this week alongside Ross Karl and Bryn Hall. 

Parsons also named the Welsh duo of Jonathan Davies and Josh Navidi as surprising absences, as well as England’s Jonny May. 

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In a new series of short films, RugbyPass shares unique stories from iconic British and Irish Lions tours to South Africa in proud partnership with The Famous Grouse, the Spirit of Rugby.

“Sinckler I think he’s a point of difference,” the 34-year-old said.

“I like his skillset. I always reference him to the Charlie Faumuina type. He just got something different, he offers something different. I haven’t watched enough of him play at the moment to know what form he’s in and the reasons why but I was surprised to see him missing. 

“I think Jonathan Davies as well, with the form of Wales and just the relationship [with Gatland] as well. In the midfield there’s a lot of new blood in there, Bundee Aki, Chris Harris, but I just thought maybe with the form of Wales he’d be in. 

“Another one, Josh Navidi for me as well. He was awesome during the Six Nations. But I also think that Sam Underhill and Billy Vunipola, they are two big names as well. 

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“Maybe Jonny May as well. I know form-wise, maybe not, but he’s been around and done the business for a long time. I think the young guys are in, [Duhan] van der Merwe, [Josh] Adams and [Louis] Rees-Zammit.”

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Duhan Van Der Merwe /Getty Images

“I do like how much I think they’ve gone for a lot of form and that’s, I feel, the best case scenario for what they’re going into. They’re just backing their coaching skill to get a group together but a lot of current form as well.”

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton’s failure to make the squad was also discussed, with Hall praising the form of Dan Biggar, who was one of three fly-halves selected over the Irishman. 

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“Any time a guy of Johnny Sexton’s calibre misses out on a squad, I think obviously injuries have played a massive part around that. But I think with the form of Dan Biggar in the Six Nations, he’s probably warranted his selection and Warren Gatland knows him pretty well in the past. Finn Russell, his form for Scotland was great.” 

The selection of both Bundee Aki and Gareth Davies was also popular on the podcast, as Hall and Parsons suggested the Connacht centre can play a similar role to Ben Te’o in the 2017 tour.

 

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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