Lions watch - ESPN team of this week's contenders...

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Lions Watch: Team of the Week
ESPN Staff
September 3, 2012
Wasps' Christian Wade proves elusive, Wasps v Harlequins, Aviva Premiership, Twickenham, London, England, September 1, 2012
Fleet-footed Wasps winger Christian Wade lit up Twickenham with a two-try display against Quins on Saturday © PA Photos
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Players/Officials: Steffon Armitage | Brad Barritt | Mike Brown | Lee Dickson | Dylan Hartley | Joe Launchbury | Tim Payne | Nick Robinson | Aaron Shingler | Tim Visser | Christian Wade | Scott Williams
Tournaments/Tours: British & Irish Lions tour 2013 | Aviva Premiership | RaboDirect PRO12

With the start of the Aviva Premiership and RaboDirect PRO12 campaigns, the countdown to the eagerly-awaited British & Irish Lions tour to Australia is well and truly on.

As we all tick off the days until the team depart Down Under, ESPNscrum will cast an eye across the action - including the Top 14 battle - and pinpoint those players eligible for the elite tourists who are pushing their selection claims with strong performances.

There is a lot of rugby to be played until the squad board the plane for Hong Kong and plenty of time for hopes to rise and fall with many international stars yet to return to the domestic fray but the excitement is already building.

15. Mike Brown (Harlequins)

The Harlequins fullback scored a second-half brace to secure a thrilling victory over Wasps at Twickenham, coming to their aid as he did so many times last season as they wrapped up a maiden Premiership title.

14. Christian Wade (Wasps)

The flying Wasps winger made a mark on the London Double Header with two superb tries against Harlequins, the second of which conjured memories of the great Jason Robinson's try for the Lions against Australia in 2001. Pushed all the way by a in-form Sarries signing Chris Ashton.

13. Brad Barritt (Saracens)

The England international drops in at outside centre for the purposes of this selection after a typical busy display punctuated with a try as his side swept aside London Irish.

12. Scott Williams (Scarlets)

It will take a big effort for the Scarlets centre to displace Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies in the Wales midfield, but he hit the ground running with a try in his region's opening-day hammering of Leinster.

11. Tim Visser (Edinburgh)

Edinburgh came out on the wrong end of the result against Munster at Murrayfield, but their newly-minted Scotland wing kicked-off his season in fine style with a hat-trick of tries.

10. Nicky Robinson (Wasps)

Nick Evans stole the limelight at Twickenham with his second-half heroics, but it was Robinson who lit the touchpaper in the first, with his strong passing game and awareness allowing Wasps to put Wade and Tom Varndell into space out wide.

9. Lee Dickson (Northampton)

The Saints and England scrum-half played a key role in his side's Premiership victory over Gloucester with his quick-thinking and slick hands playing a part in two crucial scores.

1. Tim Payne (Wasps)

The veteran loose-head got in on the scoring act as Wasps rediscovered some form against Quins at Twickenham - could the 33-year-old force his way into the international mix?

2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton)

As far as the Lions go, hooker is one position that is wide open. Hartley made a good start to the season with a try against Gloucester and will hope to prove that he's in the right form and frame of mind to tour come June.

3. Dan Cole (Leicester)

Rock-solid at the set-piece and a devil at the breakdown, Cole was in fine form against London Welsh in the Tigers' opener. Showed his new, rounded game.

4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)

Just 21, Launchbury should be in with a shout of England selection sooner rather than later. Able to play in the second and back-rows, he was superb in an all-action opening against Harlequins.

5. Geoff Parling (Leicester)

Dominant at the lineout against London Welsh. A real technician in that department and carried very well, taking his try in good style. Has arrived at club level, now to nail down that England spot for good.

6. Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)

Shingler only has two Wales caps to his name but a blistering start to the season in Scarlets colours could soon see that change.

7. Steffon Armitage (Toulon)

Armitage may not be on England's radar at the moment, but he continues to shine in the Top 14 in France where his efforts have helped propel Toulon to the top of the league - most recently with a try in their win against Mont de Marsan at the weekend.

8. Thomas Waldrom (Leicester)

England's Kiwi-born No.8 bagged a brace against Premiership newcomers London Welsh and displayed the kind of dynamic ball-carrying that made his name.

Some "interesting" choices in there that wouldn't have been on my list!

No Comment

For goodness sake. To even suggest that Payne is now in with a shout of possibly 'forcing his way into the international mix' is ludicrous. England have much better, younger and more talented props coming through than him.

They almost lost all credibility with that one comment.

A few other 'odd' choices there too.

Interesting choices...

Wade, Hartley, Launchbury, Visser, Brown and Cole have a chance...

PAYNE!!!!!????? Was the author on drugs...

This is not a Lions watch.

This is merely Team of the Week.

The Lions will take more than form into account.

Good job there is plenty of rugby to be played and some good players to return before the selection happens for real...!

Wade, Cole and possibly Visser are the only ones i'd consider at the moment.

I said it before but Shingler is definitely in the mix as a blindside. Very good player, very athletic too.

maestegmafia wrote:I said it before but Shingler is definitely in the mix as a blindside. Very good player, very athletic too.

He'd have to do something very special to get in at blindside though, we have plenty of good options there Ferris, Croft, SOB, Haskell, Wood, Denton, Lydiate to name but a few.

I'm English but I'm going to say there's a fair bit of English bias in there...

Also Payne may have scored a try but the Wasps scrum wasn't exactly their strong point was it? Payne's scrummaging gave away a penalty against JJ at the end!

I think Payne must have been tongue in cheek.

He's nowhere near Mullan, Marler and Corbs in England alone...

ChequeredJersey wrote:Also Payne may have scored a try but the Wasps scrum wasn't exactly their strong point was it? Payne's scrummaging gave away a penalty against JJ at the end!

In fairness that should have been a penalty to Wasps

belovedfrosties wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:I said it before but Shingler is definitely in the mix as a blindside. Very good player, very athletic too.

He'd have to do something very special to get in at blindside though, we have plenty of good options there Ferris, Croft, SOB, Haskell, Wood, Denton, Lydiate to name but a few.

I think he'll be in the squad. If his form continues as it has...! He looks better every game. He will push Lydiate very hard for Wales this year I am sure.

gowales wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Also Payne may have scored a try but the Wasps scrum wasn't exactly their strong point was it? Payne's scrummaging gave away a penalty against JJ at the end!

In fairness that should have been a penalty to Wasps

Apparently every scrum with JJ in should be a penalty.... care to explain why? I'm watching it right now and I can't see how you'd think that, JJ goes straight through Payne whose technique is directly;y to fault for the scrum penalty. Launchbury wasn't bound either. And Marler owns the Wasps replacement TH

I was pretty sure that Quins hit early

maestegmafia wrote:

belovedfrosties wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:I said it before but Shingler is definitely in the mix as a blindside. Very good player, very athletic too.

He'd have to do something very special to get in at blindside though, we have plenty of good options there Ferris, Croft, SOB, Haskell, Wood, Denton, Lydiate to name but a few.

I think he'll be in the squad. If his form continues as it has...! He looks better every game. He will push Lydiate very hard for Wales this year I am sure.

Push Lydiate and Jones? Hard enough to keep out the players above plus Robshaw, POM, Brown?

Looks to me like they move on set, but I am biased

JC on a bike - surely it's too early for these threads?

Asbo stirring things up already or maybe he's highlighting that Macvisser will be the only Scot in the squad

Mind you there's no Irish in that team either. I heard Downey played well for Munster ...

12 Englishmen, 2 Welshmen, 1 Scot, 0 Irishmen ... sounds like the start of a joke!

Too many Welsh. Looks like Gatland's bias is taking root already.

The latest team

British & Irish Lions 2013

Lions Watch: Team of the Week
ESPN Staff
September 10, 2012

Could Bath's Kyle Eastmond dance his way onto a Lions tour next summer? © Getty Images
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Features: Lions Watch: Team of the Week - September 3
Tournaments/Tours: British & Irish Lions tour 2013 | Aviva Premiership | RaboDirect PRO12
With the Aviva Premiership, RaboDirect PRO12 and Top 14 campaigns all underway, the countdown to the eagerly-awaited British & Irish Lions tour to Australia is well and truly on.

As we all tick off the days until the team depart Down Under, ESPNscrum will cast an eye across the action and pinpoint those players eligible for the elite tourists who are pushing their selection claims with strong performances. Lions coach Warren Gatland has revealed that he is prepared to cast the selection net beyond international rugby so expect competition to be fierce.

There is a lot of rugby to be played until the squad board the plane for Hong Kong and plenty of time for hopes to rise and fall with many international stars yet to return to the domestic fray but the excitement is already building.

15. Mike Brown (Harlequins)

The Quins fullback delivered an eye-catching display in his side's Aviva Premiership mauling of London Welsh. Solid under the high ball and full of confidence and running with ball in hand, he looks destined for another strong season.

14. Kyle Eastmond (Bath)

The former England rugby league international may have taken his time to find his feet at The Rec but had no trouble dancing through the Wasps defence on his way to an outstanding try. That kind of game-breaking form could see him become the latest dual code international in the coming months and beyond that - who knows?

13. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)

Tigers boss Richard Cockerill thinks Tuilagi will become the best outside centre in the world within the next 12 months with a two-try showing - the first arguably an early contender for try of the season - against Worcester at Welford Road the latest reminder of what a special talent he already is.

12. Matt Banahan (Bath)

The strong-running centre created the initial opening and then finished off Bath's opening try against Wasps at The Rec. But the former England international ended the game in a knee brace having limped off in the closing stages.

11. Chris Ashton (Saracens)

Those who thought Ashton may have had a little trouble settling in at Sarries following his high-profile switch from Northampton need not worry with the England international winger bagging his third try of the season in just his second outing for his new club.

10. Freddie Burns (Gloucester)

The Cherry and Whites' playmaker kicked 25 points and created the try which swung the match against London Irish. Currently in the England Saxons ranks, he faces some stiff competition if he is to step up to the Test side but he's going the right way about it.

9. Karl Dickson (Harlequins)

Handed the chance to impress in the Quins' No.9 shirt with Danny Care relegated to the bench, Dickson grabbed the opportunity with both hands by pulling the strings in his side's dominant win against London Welsh - in front of England coach Stuart Lancaster.

1. Tom Court (Ulster)

The Ireland international loose-head made a significant impact off the bench as Ulster over-hauled Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium. With a little help from Kiwi John Afoa they soon had their rivals going in reverse.

2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)

The Saints skipper produced a Man of the Match performance and made it two tries in as many games as his side maintained their unbeaten start to the season. He may have had his differences with Gatland in the past but he could benefit from the 'clean slate' promised by the Lions boss.

3. Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys)

Ospreys' tight-head Adam Jones is thought by many to be a banker for next summer's Lions tour as long as he regains his fitness but it is his team-mate Jarvis who has been a stand out performer for the Welsh region in their opening PRO12 clashes.

4. Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)

A Leicester whirlwind hit Worcester early on in their Premiership clash on Saturday with second row Kitchener playing his part with some lung-busting running. On his first start of the season, he was not lacking endurance either with the England Saxons international popping up for a crucial try in the closing stages.

5. George Robson (Harlequins)

Quins may have battered London Welsh into submission in their Premiership clash but it was lock Robson who set the tone with a try after just three minutes with his impressive industry also rewarded with another try. England's mid-week skipper on their recent tour to South Africa - could he be in line for higher honours?

6. Stephen Ferris (Ulster)

Ireland's international contingent are set to feature more prominently here as they get back in the saddle with their respective provinces with flanker Ferris leading the way. He appeared off the bench in Ulster's narrow victory over Ospreys, helping to turn the tide with some thunderous tackles.

7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

The Quins captain has a lot to live up to following an outstanding 2011-12 season and has set about it the right way with his tireless work-rate a key factor in his side's Premiership victory over London Welsh. Already mentioned as a potential Lions captain, expect him to feature here often if he keeps this up.

8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester)

The England international opened his try-scoring account for the Cherry and Whites with his side's opening score in their victory over London Irish. It was a superb individual effort combining pace and strength but his influence stretched beyond that as Gloucester ended a run of seven straight Premiership defeats.

Interesting Maesteg

Lots of English in there!?
2 comments...

1) Personally i think Wade is better than Eastmond at the moment. He just has to work a little on his defensive naivity...and he will be truly world class.,.

2) Im not a fan whatsoever of Robson...and Launchbury is a far better player.

Bananaman? you are havin a giraffe

TJ wrote:Bananaman? you are havin a giraffe

Usually I'd agree but if it is purely based on the weekend's games, he had a stormer

Yeah Banahan did exactly what you want from him at 12 this weekend...BUT even if he keeps that form for the season not for the lions i wouldnt have thought.

He'll do well to get back to the England squad...

Saints have two interesting 12 options (probably more for England than the Lions): Waldouck and Burrell. Either could kick on.

Banahan's injury looked nasty, but hopefully it is just a tweak. He did play well, and seeing as he appears to be fully focussed on 12 he can't be discounted yet for the Lions squad even though he'll never be many people's favourite.

Bananaman cannot cut it at the top level -been seen many times - he simply does not have the pace and skill to be an international back.

I'd have given Madigan the 10 berth over Burns.

Makes you wonder if ESPN even saw any of the Pro 12 matches.

They probably looked at the Ulster game report and said oh yer man, Ferris, he played for the Lions before, stick him in. Better put a Welshman in as well to keep them happy, pick someone from Ospreys, they're bound to have won.

Pot Hale wrote:I'd have given Madigan the 10 berth over Burns.

Makes you wonder if ESPN even saw any of the Pro 12 matches.

They probably looked at the Ulster game report and said oh yer man, Ferris, he played for the Lions before, stick him in. Better put a Welshman in as well to keep them happy, pick someone from Ospreys, they're bound to have won.

Probably not. I've heard they draw straws and the loser has to 'watch' all the PRO12 games; then they just ignore that person.

Ferris put in a few trademark big hits and along with Court had a big impact for Ulster from the bench but they only played 20 mins or so. What a load of nonsence, as per usual, by ESPN .

TJ wrote:Bananaman cannot cut it at the top level -been seen many times - he simply does not have the pace and skill to be an international back.

Whilst i agree as a winger...im not sure i agree about 12. I want to see him get a full season in that spot. He could be very good...his game is about using his strength in close and offloading.
And check out Ashtons last try v italy in the 6n...Banahan actually shows he has some impressive acceleration in the start of the move.

Im not talking him up for the Lions...Roberts etc are far better and proven Lions performers already.

But maybe a possibility for England...we have a big ? over our 12's at the moment.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

TJ wrote:Bananaman cannot cut it at the top level -been seen many times - he simply does not have the pace and skill to be an international back.

Whilst i agree as a winger...im not sure i agree about 12. I want to see him get a full season in that spot. He could be very good...his game is about using his strength in close and offloading.
And check out Ashtons last try v italy in the 6n...Banahan actually shows he has some impressive acceleration in the start of the move.

Im not talking him up for the Lions...Roberts etc are far better and proven Lions performers already.

But maybe a possibility for England...we have had a big ? over our 12's at the moment for approximately 8 years.

fixed that for you

NOT that I'm advocating Banahan at 12 for England in any way, shape or form

Yes thats true CJ....

Whats the options...
Barritt
Turner Hall
Allen
Twelvetrees
Waldouck
Fitzpatrick (though hes not even starting for us)
Banahan - Converted winger.

Its not inspiring is it.

If Manu plays 13, 12 has got to be someone like 36 or Allen, surely?

Longer term, there's Mills and Casson etc

I am a huge Lydiate fan and would be first name on any team sheet I was picking but Shingler could be good bet as a bolter.

The back row is a massive dilema though.

I personally would go for Ferris.

But i could genuinely see arguements for Lydiate, Croft...hell even Ally Hogg is playing rampaging stuff for us at the moment...back to his very best...

Its just wide open...and i think will depend on the set up of the rest of the pack...

Falcon,

Yh agree I honestly couldn't pick what back rowers will tour let alone start. I know what mine would be if all on form and of course if I was picking and that would be

Lydiate
Heaslip
Warburton

But I can see arguments for a lot of others to and there are going to be some disappointed back row players left behnind.

The craxy thing is at the moment i dont even have a back row i would be edging at...

6- Probably Ferris...but despite being one of his biggest critics...Croft has won me over. Add in Lydiate, Haskell, even Wood who i rate seriously highly...should be looking at the England tour.

7 - Warburton is maybe the obvious one...but Rennie has really put his marker down...and even Robshaw cant be discounted for what he gives to a team.

8 - Heaslip looks possibly the first choice...but a good season by Faletau could see him challenge. And if Morgan can get seriously fit...he could be an awesome weapon for the Lions...

Ive missed many out like Denton etc aswell...tough task for Gats...

You missed SOB, possibly the player with the best form, there too! And Kelly Brown

I'm sorry but i think that Lydiate is quite possibly the most over-rated player in the NH at the moment, i know that im going to get slaughtered for it but i just don't see why everyone rates him so highly.

I dont think you'll get slaughtered mate...ive seen many others say the same on here.
I think he's a very good player at what he does...but not my starting choice for Lions.

Yeah i said i missed out a few...dont know how i missed SOB though...

Lydiate is fine for me, but I do think he is overrated and I think that other players do the same but add more

Thank God! For me, Ferris, Croft, Wood and Haskell all offer more, be it by doing the same as Lydiate but better (Ferris and Haskell) or by being different but more effective (Croft and Wood).

ChequeredJersey wrote:Longer term, there's Mills and Casson etc

Casson is busy getting the Rory Clegg treatment at Quins, so I think we can discount him for a few years.

Yeah I hope we let him play a bit more. He's only 22 though

Conrad Smith didn't play Super Rugby till hr was 22