'We discussed 57 players. The door is never closed and it is going to be interesting': Where the Lions are with selection
Gregor Townsend says the British and Irish Lions coaches are largely in agreement on “a core group” of players for this summer’s South Africa tour. A 36-man Lions squad – to be announced on May 6 – is the likely playing contingent. Lions head coach Warren Gatland has already held an initial selection meeting with his newly announced assistants Townsend, Robin McBryde, Steve Tandy and Neil Jenkins.
“We had an initial selection meeting on Monday that lasted quite a long while,” said Townsend, the Scotland head coach and Lions attack specialist. “The number of players we discussed is a lot more than the final number we are going to select. We all sent in our thoughts prior to the meeting. We went through players in each position, being open-minded to players that could make a difference for the Lions.
“I would say there was a core group that most of us agreed on – maybe 50-60 per cent of players that we could see as being Lions this year – but then a lot of discussion around the other 40 per cent or so. Form is obviously a major component of selection, and there is still time before we announce the squad, but past form and experience also count for a lot.
“If you have played Six Nations, it is going to put you in a strong position because you have gone up against the best teams in Europe. But if you missed out on selection because of injury or because you are not in favour of a national coach, and you are playing really well, then you are going to be in the conversation.”
Recently crowned Six Nations champions Wales are expected in many quarters to provide the largest contingent from one country. While a streamlined squad of 36 potentially reduces a chance for selection bolters, players like Exeter No8 Sam Simmonds and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care could be among those vying for Gatland’s attention.
There is no English representation on the Lions coaching team chosen by Gatlandhttps://t.co/01jJk0rfEm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 13, 2021
McBryde added: “The door is not closed on anybody. We discussed 57 players Monday. The door is never closed and it is going to be interesting. The back row was the most discussed, getting the mix and balance right. To be fair, there was quite a bit to talk about everywhere. You look at the quality of players that were on those sheets (submitted by each coach), and it makes you so excited, really.”
While the captaincy will be Gatland’s call, there are few who expect him to deviate from Alun Wyn Jones, Wales’ Six Nations title-winning captain and world record Test match appearance holder. If Jones does get the vote on what would be his fourth tour, then no member of the Lions coaching staff will know him better than the defence coach and Jones’ former Ospreys boss, Steve Tandy.
“To do what he has done – the things he has won – but also the number of games he has played, tells you everything about his mindset,” Tandy said. “There is not too much that fazes him. To have the career and for how long he has played the game for is a special achievement, and it takes a special mindset to have those type of qualities.”
The Lions won't have to spend on shampoo or barbers after Gatland revealed the identity of his four bald assistantshttps://t.co/QCGCvE3ZJa
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 13, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
One that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
109 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
109 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
109 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to comments