The six players who could benefit from George North getting ruled of Lions tour selection
Warren Gatland has hit a roadblock ahead of his announcement of the British and Irish Lions squad next week after George North revealed he had ruptured his ACL in an injury sustained while on Rainbow Cup duty for Ospreys.
After reinventing himself as an outside centre this year under Wayne Pivac, the Welshman was in a very good position to make his third tour having previously been chosen on the wing for the respective 2013 and 2017 trips to Australia and New Zealand.
With North ruled out of July’s tour to South Africa, it has opened the door to players who would have been considered to be in the periphery of Gatland’s selection race.
While nothing is certain, Jonathan Davies and Robbie Henshaw are more or less guaranteed a place in Gatland’s squad, with Owen Farrell also likely to be deployed as a centre. But there is now some new hope for players in the midfield in light of this North injury.
RugbyPass runs the rule over six players whose prospects of tour selection have potentially been boosted by the Welsh midfielder being ruled out with ACL damage.
Terribly sad news coming out of Wales… https://t.co/gdc3ZoG9T8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 28, 2021
GARRY RINGROSE (Ireland)
Before North picked up this injury, the Ireland midfielder was already in a good position to be part of the 36-man squad but his prospects now seem much better. Made a return to playing last weekend for Leinster after injury with Ireland in the round four Six Nations win over Scotland in March.
ELLIOT DALY (England)
In terms of versatility, the English back is the best option to replace North. He can cover the entire back three and outside centre and that could be valuable in a 36-man squad. Like many of his compatriots, his Lions hopes were dented by England’s poor Six Nations campaign but he will feel his chances of inclusion have been boosted.
CHRIS HARRIS (Scotland)
Scotland’s No13 emerged as a candidate to be reckoned with after a succession of imperious defensive performances during the recent Six Nations. He may not pose the same attacking threat as North, but his defensive credentials would be unmatched.
HENRY SLADE (England)
Another England player who fell down the pecking order because of the Six Nations having been in many people’s Lions squads ahead of North at the beginning of the year.
CAMERON REDPATH (Scotland)
By far the most inexperienced player on this list with only one cap to his name, but he threw his hat into the ring with his February debut against England in the first round of the Six Nations. The tour may have come slightly too early for him, but North’s injury will provide some hope.
MANU TUILAGI (England)
As a like-for-like replacement, he provides even more power in midfield than what North would have offered. Gatland knows what he would get from the Sale centre, but he has been out of action since September with an achilles injury. Although expected to be fit for the tour, he would still be considered a risky option given his layoff.
"That speaks volumes of the bloke that he is"
– How Sale won their Manu battle https://t.co/aRLC2Xw81k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 20, 2021
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.
17 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?
5 Go to comments