The Lions - 2 sides to beat the Aussies

So, returning back from skiing having watched only a few minutes of rugby in the last two weeks, all the talk has moved on from the Six Nations, (which on reflection i think was a pretty decent one) to the British & Irish Lions of 2013.

Having chatted about it in the office we realised that there are at least 2 full lions XV’s that would smash the Aussies on their day. The strength of the home nations packs are at their peak at the moment, (Irish fans may disagree). The quality of back rowers is exceptional, with the Welsh leading the way on this front. The emergence of a couple of fantastic fly halves in Rhys Priestland & Owen Farrell as well as some powerful and athletic centre and wing combos is mouth-watering.

As well as this, we saw some real front foot running rugby across the board which hopefully the right coaching team can replicate down under.

If there was a Lions test next week, i would be pretty happy to pick either of the teams below and be fairly confident.

‘A’ XV:

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Dan Cole
4. Paul O'Connell
5. Richie Gray
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau

9. Mike Phillips
10. Owen Farrell
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Rob Kearney

‘B’ XV:

1. Alex Corbisiero
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Alun Wynn Jones
6. Tom Croft
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Ben Morgan

9. Connor Murray
10. Rhys Priestland
11. Leigh Halfpenny
12. Gordon D'Arcy
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Chris Ashton
15. Ben Foden

Not to mention back up front rowers such as Mike Ross, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Dylan Hartley & Euan Murray. Locks that could go such as Donnacha Ryan, Mauritz Botha and Jim Hamilton. An outstanding third choice back row picked out of Ross Rennie, Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, David Denton, Jamie Heaslip & Stephen Ferris. Ben Youngs, Danny Care, Jonathon Sexton and Toby Flood would all feel aggrieved to not make the plane as world class half backs. Gordon D’Arcy, Fergus McFadden & Brad Barritt as well as Charlie Sharples, Max Evans and Stuart Hogg have all got reasons to suggest they could go.

This is without taking into consideration players that are likely to make serious progress in the next year and will undoubtedly trouble the selectors. Jonny May, Henry Trinder and Joe Marler are three English youngsters who given their chance could push into either of these sides. There are players pushing through across the board who could add their names to the hat. I guess my point would be that there are NO excuses for the 2013 Lions side to tour Australia and come back with anything less than 3 test victories.

The Lions haven't won a test series since Geech and Jonno's pride of 1997. Wouldn't it be great to have a 2013 living with the lions video (iTunes download more likely) that we still watched 16 years on from now...

What would your side be?


Until next week,

Andy

Who would be a manager?

This weekend saw the demise of another young manager in sport as Andre Villas Boas became the fifth Chelsea manager in as many years to clear his desk. In the same week it was effectively revealed that Stuart Lancaster will not be considered full time for the England job as John Kirwan has been told he is not experienced enough at international level. Bearing in mind that Kirwan has managed at 3 world cups and won the inaugural tournament as a player, it puts Lancaster in the unlikely category as he has a total of three tests managerial experience.

It got me thinking about how the systems that we have in place are setting up managers who are looking to build a team and play the long game for a fall. Lancaster has done everything as head coach that he could have in his short tenure. He has looked to build a team for the future by not involving some of the old guard from the start. He has taken a hard line with discipline dropping both Danny Care and Delon Armitage after their respective indiscretions, and in just a few weeks has bedded in some young players and developed what we imagine will be the core of the England side for the foreseeable future. So, the question begs, what more can he do?

Andy Robinson is another example of an international coach who is constantly being put under pressure. In my opinion this is the most exciting Scottish team for some years. Yes, they have struggled to score tries, but they have looked more likely to get wins than in previous years and have got some players who would be very unlucky not to make the Lions tour in just over a year. If Robinson gets the backing of the SRU, i genuinely think it won't be long before the Scots are looked at more seriously on the world stage again.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that professional sport like any business is about getting results, and not hitting the targets that have been set out is fundamentally a sackable offence. But the apparent lack of common sense and forward thinking in hiring decisions is what astounds me. Lancaster is developing a team and building a regime in the same way that Robinson is doing with Scotland and Warren Gatland has done with Wales over the last 4 and a half years. If he is automatically overlooked because of his lack of work experience on his CV despite having already made a distinct impact, I for one will be disappointed.

It would be a shame for rugby to stagnate in the way that football seems to be heading with the same managers rotating between different jobs at similar levels. There has got to be an incentive for less experienced managers to be given time to progress and grow with a team.

If the RFU appoint Nick Mallett to take the reigns at the end of this 6 Nations, I hope he is given at least 5 years to take the England team to not only this world cup, but the next one as well. Let’s not forget it took Sir Clive and Graham Henry two shots to perfect their team and time it right to win the RWC. Giving a manager half a season to find perfection and then maintain that perfection indefinitely is quite an ask.

What are your thoughts on Lancaster & the future of the England role?

Until the week after next (i'm skiing next week),

Andy