Gatland waits for missing faces to complete his pride of Lions

Topics:
Sport
More Topics

Sat, Dec 1, 2012, 00:00

First published: Sat, Dec 1, 2012, 00:00

James might go as a prop who can pack down on both sides, while Gethin Jenkins and his Toulon team-mate Andrew Sheridan could miss out in part due to French club commitments, leaving room for Corbisiero.

Hookers (3)

Dylan Hartley (England)
Richardt Strauss (Ireland)
Richard Hibbard (Wales)

Hartley is not picked for his cuddly personality, obviously, and in a particularly fluid position, two Irish hookers in Strauss and Rory Best is not beyond the bounds, with Tom Youngs another strong candidate.

Lock (4)

Luke Charteris (Wales)
Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
Courtney Lawes (England)
Richie Gray (Scotland).

If Donnacha Ryan’s career graph keeps on the upward incline of the last year he’ll be hard to resist, though it’s perhaps hard to see no English lock, and Geoff Parling is another strong contender. Paul O’Connell is omitted on the premise that he has ruled himself out, but if back to his best come June he’ll assuredly go.

Flanker (5)

Sam Warburton (Wales)
Justin Tipuric (Wales)
Seán O’Brien (Ireland)
Tom Wood (England)
Stephen Ferris (Ireland)

The most competitive area by far, though with injury clouds or form issues hanging over a host of them. Ferris is picked on trust in that injury-prone body but, again, if at his best, could not be resisted. Dan Lydiate, out till March/April, won’t have time on his side, while Tom Croft could re-emerge in the New Year, Chris Robshaw could undoubtedly force his way in and a lock/backrow utility bolter could be Aaron Shingler. Ross Rennie is one of Scotland’s stronger contenders.

No Eight (2)

Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Ben Morgan (England)

Morgan could add more to his game, but they’ll want one big ball-carrying number eight. Like Scotland, David Denton flatters to deceive, and Toby Faletau is but a shadow of the World Cup and Slam star.

Possible First Test team:Kearney; Bowe, Davies, Roberts, Cuthbert; Sexton, Youngs; Healy, Hartley, A Jones; Gray, A-W Jones; O’Brien, Warburton (capt), Heaslip. Replacements:Corbisiero, Strauss, Cole, Lawes,
Ferris, Phillips, Farrell, Halfpenny.

On the road 2013 tour fixtures

Saturday, June 1st

Barbarians v Lions
Hong Kong Stadium

Wednesday June 5th

Western Force v Lions
Patersons Stadium

Saturday, June 8th

Queensland Reds v Lions
Suncorp Stadium

Tuesday, June 11th

Comb NSW-Queensland Country v Lions
Hunter Stadium

Saturday, June 15th

NSW Waratahs v Lions
Sydney Football Stadium

Tuesday, June 18th

ACT Brumbies v Lions
Canberra Stadium

Saturday, June 22nd

Australia v Lions
Suncorp Stadium

Tuesday, June 25th