Who will be the stand out player for the Lions?

There has been lots of talk about who people don't like who has been picked. What about looking at the positives from who has? So my question is this - who will be the (let's say top 3) stand out players for the Lions?

I'm going for Halfpenny, Alun Wyn Jones and Cian Healy

Fire away!

Looking at the squad, possibly Gray, but if Tipuric or Warburton have stormers against the tough Aussie backrowers they could easily stand out.

Sean O'Brien, Manu Tulagi and Ben Youngs

rodders wrote:Sean O'Brien, Manu Tulagi and Ben Youngs

Not agreeing with you necessarily, but if those 3 stand out we could be doing rather well as it would indicate front foot ball and a lot of ground being made ball in hand.

If however it is Lydiate, Faletau and Farrell we could be doing a lot of defending and kicking.

I'd say given the series and the opposition I think the players who may do best is Manu, Maitland and Vunipola.

Free, hard running players will go down a storm in AUS.

fa0019 wrote:I'd say given the series and the opposition I think the players who may do best is Manu, Maitland and Vunipola.

Free, hard running players will go down a storm in AUS.

So basically anyone who isnt from the NH Fa?

It could be anyone really, there are usually a few surprise performers. I look forward to seeing George North in action.

By the way and this may have been discussed a million times already but did anyone notice his dad run on the pitch and hug him after he scored his try v France in the 6N?

Others:

Healy
Sexton
1/2p
POC and Drico

I also hope Dan Cole starts.

...and of course I look forward to SOB steam rolling Genia and Cooper.

Tom Croft. He's made for hard ground and running rugby. Add to that he's only played half a season, is in form and has developed his game nicely and it should be a good tour for him.

I have a sneaking suspicion that POC is going to roll back the years and really turn it on as well.

I actually realised that once I made my selections but it wasn't a conscious selection.

Manu is very destructive with the right platform... we've all seen that.

Maitland... I still don't understand how he never got capped by NZ... I think he will be the starting RW for the lions.

Vunipola... not sure if he will test.... probably 3rd at the moment on the ladder but I think he will have a lot going for him... he is a surprise choice and will hit the ground running, he could sneak a test spot as we often see young chaps do. I think Healy has it all to lose at the moment. He has a young buck and a old veteran snapping at his heels.

O'Brien could also do a lot of damage on tour.... outside of the wings I reckon he could end up top try scorer.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tom Croft. He's made for hard ground and running rugby. Add to that he's only played half a season, is in form and has developed his game nicely and it should be a good tour for him.

I have a sneaking suspicion that POC is going to roll back the years and really turn it on as well.

I have been guilty of giving Croft no credit on various occasions in the past and maybe not rated him too highly. However, despite Robshaw's bizarre omission I do think Croft is a good addition to this Lions squad.

He has obvious strengths, an extra option in the line out and a good pacey ball carrier. He brings something different so a good man to have to start or bring off the bench if tactics require it. He also has an exceptional attitude to the game and his teams.

BOD

I would imagine that age and the likelihood of this being a final Lions your will focus some of the senior squad members. Paul O'Connell, Brian O'Driscoll, Gethin Jenkins Adam Jones, Mike Phillips and Jamie Heaslip have all been at the top of their game for a decade, won numerous prizes and accolades but have only come close to winning a Lions tour. All those players inspire their team mates regularly. They are the lads others turn too.

If these blokes give it their all, their very best, for their final tour they could well inspire the squad to achieve more than the sum of their parts. To lay down a magnificent marker for the Lions.

I don't think individual brilliance is as rewarding as collective inspiration.

I just hope BOD is fit and available for all 3 tests... would rather that then him be standout for 1 or 2.

Bit of crystal ball gazing here as we're only focusing on the test squad and we still don't know who will be playing. SOB for example can stand out with his pilfering and carrying up but will he start. Tipuric's speed and linking play could be vital but will he start? Warburton as captain will start you'd think but who will be playing around him and will players like Healy make life easier for him? I think though the backrow will be the key to the lions success and if these players stand out it will go a long way to the lions fortunes.

If the Lions are to win Warburton is going to have to have an outstanding tour thats for certain. He is going to be up against it regardless of the backrow AUS turn out.

I expect Warburton will be outstanding. His tackling is ridiculously good and has obvious strengths at the ruck. I unlike lots am quite happy with him as captain. Think he will do a good job.

Hogg, Hibbard, Warburton & BOD

GunsGerms wrote:I expect Warburton will be outstanding. His tackling is ridiculously good and has obvious strengths at the ruck. I unlike lots am quite happy with him as captain. Think he will do a good job.

As a player he'll certanly be outstanding, as a captain i'm going to wait and see. I think being a lions captain is different to being a captain for your nation. - THats not to say he won't be a outstanding captain, just that's a pretty big unknown for me.

Guns

The question with regard to Warburton is really where do you play him. Tipuric ended the 6Ns as Wales starting 7 and was their best player (bar Steve Walsh ) in the England game, plus is the only outright 'fetcher' in the squad - I think most of us want to see him (Tips) in the 7 jersey for the Lions test team, so Warburton would have to play at 6. OK, he did well there against England in tandem with Tipuric, but is he better than any of the specialist 6s in the squad?

It's not so much a question of whether Warbs is a good captain (did well in the RWC), but whether he actually forms part of the strongest notional Lions XV to play Australia.

Can't see him being troubled until the first test.... although the Baa baas match will be a concern. They won't have that much more time then the Baa Baa's themselves and the quality of the team could even exceed that of the Lions.

That match will be as big as a test match in terms of importance... sets the tone for the whole tour.

I went to the Lions vs. Argentina match in 05 and whilst we were all optimistic at the time regardless of the draw the writing was on the wall from that match.

If Hogg plays I think he'll be brilliant. He won't get past Halfpenny though who's defence is brilliant and who'll most likely be the kicker.

dummy_half wrote:Guns

The question with regard to Warburton is really where do you play him. Tipuric ended the 6Ns as Wales starting 7 and was their best player (bar Steve Walsh ) in the England game, plus is the only outright 'fetcher' in the squad - I think most of us want to see him (Tips) in the 7 jersey for the Lions test team, so Warburton would have to play at 6. OK, he did well there against England in tandem with Tipuric, but is he better than any of the specialist 6s in the squad?

It's not so much a question of whether Warbs is a good captain (did well in the RWC), but whether he actually forms part of the strongest notional Lions XV to play Australia.

To be honest I cant see Warburton and Tipuric both starting.

fa0019 wrote:Can't see him being troubled until the first test.... although the Baa baas match will be a concern. They won't have that much more time then the Baa Baa's themselves and the quality of the team could even exceed that of the Lions.

That match will be as big as a test match in terms of importance... sets the tone for the whole tour.

I went to the Lions vs. Argentina match in 05 and whilst we were all optimistic at the time regardless of the draw the writing was on the wall from that match.

Yeah it wasnt great was it. Felt a little flat after that match.

I can see an all Wales back row starting. Not my choice but I think Gatland has that game against England fresh in his mind. To me Warburton is the one you could leave out but Tipuric is the one that must start.

GunsGerms wrote:

dummy_half wrote:Guns

The question with regard to Warburton is really where do you play him. Tipuric ended the 6Ns as Wales starting 7 and was their best player (bar Steve Walsh ) in the England game, plus is the only outright 'fetcher' in the squad - I think most of us want to see him (Tips) in the 7 jersey for the Lions test team, so Warburton would have to play at 6. OK, he did well there against England in tandem with Tipuric, but is he better than any of the specialist 6s in the squad?

It's not so much a question of whether Warbs is a good captain (did well in the RWC), but whether he actually forms part of the strongest notional Lions XV to play Australia.

To be honest I cant see Warburton and Tipuric both starting.

Which means Warburton at 7 ahead of a player that:
1 - Kept him out of that position for Wales in much of the 6Ns
2 - Would appear to be better suited to the challenge of competing against Australia's back row.

Not saying you are wrong, just that having a captain who is not an absolute shoo-in first choice makes a bit of a rod for Gatland's back.

BTW, if he's genuinely match fit I'd have made POC captain again - the sort of monster player that other guys respect and will rally round.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I can see an all Wales back row starting. Not my choice but I think Gatland has that game against England fresh in his mind. To me Warburton is the one you could leave out but Tipuric is the one that must start.

If the first game was a test I might agree, in fact if the first game was a test I'd expect 14 Welsh men plus Sexton to start. But there's 6 or 7 games before the first test. A lot of room to breakdown preconceptions within the management.

Bowe - Ben Youngs - SOB

I understand that but as Warburton is captain he will start no matter what happens in the warm up matches. If you want sob to start then Warburton is going to start. Tipuric is the best option at 7 so a sacrifice has to be made somewhere. I just think the captaincy issue makes warm up form irrelevant. Combinations with Warburton will ultimately count. Not my choice but like I said will be Gatland's.

Does anyone else think it would have been good to pick a tour captain (e.g. Warburton) - someone who's role it is to get everyone together, make sure all nations are gelling, being the go between with the players and management, etc., and then after the warm up games (which will have different captains as Warburton will obviously not play them all) pick a captain for each test depending on form, injury, etc. That way if Warburton struggles to lead his side but POC or BOD shines through then they can justifiably be elevated to captain for the test side.

It just seems silly to me to pick a captain for the tests now 6 weeks (?) before they play, and then risk either having to demote someone who lacks form or is outplayed by someone else, or persevere with him to save face.

For me i'm going to have a guess that Tom Youngs could be one of the stand out players with his carrying.

Its going to be very difficult to test Warburton's leadership outside of the 1st atch with the Baa baas. Other than that the lions will walk the other pre test dirt tracker matches and leadership issues won't apply.

AUS don't have teams such as NZ Maori or N. Transvaal to cause problems for the Lions.. the 2nd XV Brumbies won't suffice I'm afraid.

Any leadership issues will only become apparent in the first test.. perhaps too late for Gatland and co. Its fingers crossed time.

Also, isn't it true that no wallaby test players will be allowed to play in the warmup games? So, they'll be weakened franchises?

The weakest conference in SR minus their best players to prepare against the 2nd best team in the world in a 3 match series... in their backyard. Not ideal.

Almost impossible to say given all the variables, but I would say

Lydiate will reveal to the rugby world just how good a specialist 6 can be
Hogg will reveal to the rugby world that a FB can both defend and attack in equal measures
Jon Davies will reveal that he is a top class centre and elevate him to bordering world class
Warburton will up a gear at 7 and become the stand out player
Tom Youngs running game and accuracy will see him one of the featured players of the tour

Cant wait for some exciting combos

Centres
Davies
Tualagi

Back Three
Hogg
Bowe
North

dummy_half wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

dummy_half wrote:Guns

The question with regard to Warburton is really where do you play him. Tipuric ended the 6Ns as Wales starting 7 and was their best player (bar Steve Walsh ) in the England game, plus is the only outright 'fetcher' in the squad - I think most of us want to see him (Tips) in the 7 jersey for the Lions test team, so Warburton would have to play at 6. OK, he did well there against England in tandem with Tipuric, but is he better than any of the specialist 6s in the squad?

It's not so much a question of whether Warbs is a good captain (did well in the RWC), but whether he actually forms part of the strongest notional Lions XV to play Australia.

To be honest I cant see Warburton and Tipuric both starting.

Which means Warburton at 7 ahead of a player that:
1 - Kept him out of that position for Wales in much of the 6Ns
2 - Would appear to be better suited to the challenge of competing against Australia's back row.

Not saying you are wrong, just that having a captain who is not an absolute shoo-in first choice makes a bit of a rod for Gatland's back.

BTW, if he's genuinely match fit I'd have made POC captain again - the sort of monster player that other guys respect and will rally round.

I think anyone with ambitions of playing Blindside has a lot to do to shift the Warburton and Tipuric partnership that was so sublime for Wales this March.

No 7&1/2 wrote:If Hogg plays I think he'll be brilliant. He won't get past Halfpenny though who's defence is brilliant and who'll most likely be the kicker.

Yep. I can see Stuart Hogg tearing it up midweek but still not displacing Halfpenny in the Test side.

Griff wrote:Does anyone else think it would have been good to pick a tour captain (e.g. Warburton) - someone who's role it is to get everyone together, make sure all nations are gelling, being the go between with the players and management, etc., and then after the warm up games (which will have different captains as Warburton will obviously not play them all) pick a captain for each test depending on form, injury, etc. That way if Warburton struggles to lead his side but POC or BOD shines through then they can justifiably be elevated to captain for the test side.

It just seems silly to me to pick a captain for the tests now 6 weeks (?) before they play, and then risk either having to demote someone who lacks form or is outplayed by someone else, or persevere with him to save face.

Griff,I reckon too much is being made of the captaincy role.Once matches start POC,BOD,Sexton,AWJ,Adam Jones will supliment the nominal captain.It would be a fool who when surrounded by experience ignores advice and guidance from senior pros.

Halfpenny,Heaslip and Hibbard will shine.The Killer H's rather than the Killer B's!

For me, I reckon Sean O'Brien and Tom Youngs will have excellent tours.

I think the hard ground will see some of the big ball carriers who also have a turn of pace flourish. I think both of them will tear it up to be honest.

Faletau too, but to a lesser degree. I also think Maitland will justify his selection with a few glimpses of magic.

maestegmafia wrote:

dummy_half wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

dummy_half wrote:Guns

The question with regard to Warburton is really where do you play him. Tipuric ended the 6Ns as Wales starting 7 and was their best player (bar Steve Walsh ) in the England game, plus is the only outright 'fetcher' in the squad - I think most of us want to see him (Tips) in the 7 jersey for the Lions test team, so Warburton would have to play at 6. OK, he did well there against England in tandem with Tipuric, but is he better than any of the specialist 6s in the squad?

It's not so much a question of whether Warbs is a good captain (did well in the RWC), but whether he actually forms part of the strongest notional Lions XV to play Australia.

To be honest I cant see Warburton and Tipuric both starting.

Which means Warburton at 7 ahead of a player that:
1 - Kept him out of that position for Wales in much of the 6Ns
2 - Would appear to be better suited to the challenge of competing against Australia's back row.

Not saying you are wrong, just that having a captain who is not an absolute shoo-in first choice makes a bit of a rod for Gatland's back.

BTW, if he's genuinely match fit I'd have made POC captain again - the sort of monster player that other guys respect and will rally round.

I think anyone with ambitions of playing Blindside has a lot to do to shift the Warburton and Tipuric partnership that was so sublime for Wales this March.

it was only really the england match they shone, kind of hyping them a bit saying it was the whole of march

Danny Care

I hope Lydiate has a good tour, same as Stevens and Hartley etc as I feel people will over evaluate their performances and magnify any mistakes made, to try and knock Gatland selecting them.

Same goes for captain Sam.

Stuart William Hogg, Sean Kevin O'Brien and Benjamin Ryder Youngs.

Just to satisfy the masses

England - B Youngs
Ireland - Healy, SOB and Sexton
Wales - Warburton (he needs it anyway), Faletau
Scotland - Gray, Hogg, Maitland (a limited but quality choice of Scots! )

SOB is started 8 tonight for Leinster. We'll see how he gets on there.

No ones mentioned it but if the Lions win I'm guessing Farrell. He'll kick the goals, keep the ball in front of the Lions and uphold the 10 man tradition. 10's always figure well in big wins over SH sides and Farrell will be the first choice 10- Gatlands already hinted at that.

After much consideration on the matter, I have to say:


Matt Stevens.

In an era of svelte athletes his immense girth will stand out like a giant roundabout.

rodders wrote:Sean O'Brien, Manu Tulagi and Ben Youngs

Standing out, literally!

Taylorman wrote:No ones mentioned it but if the Lions win I'm guessing Farrell. He'll kick the goals, keep the ball in front of the Lions and uphold the 10 man tradition. 10's always figure well in big wins over SH sides and Farrell will be the first choice 10- Gatlands already hinted at that.

He probably wont start if 1/2p is picked. You never know though. Its widely assumed Sexton will start ahead of him.