British and Irish Lions legend Gareth Edwards has backed Sam Warburton to lead the touring side against Australia in 2013.
One of the star players on the 1971 tour to New Zealand and 1974 tour to South Africa, Edwards is regarded as one of the greatest players ever to have worn the red jersey.
Despite a dismal November International period for Wales, the former scrum-half believes that Warburton can recapture his form and lead the Lions in Australia ahead of other candidates such as Chris Robshaw and Brian O'Driscoll.
"If Sam can recapture the form he showed 12 months ago he'd be my choice, but should England build on that win over New Zealand Chris must come under consideration," said Edwards to the Daily Mirror.
"He's playing well, he's proved his ability against the very best and beating the All Blacks will have given England a tremendous amount of confidence.
"It has shown what this England team is capable of. England are very much the ones to watch in the Six Nations.
"I'm a big fan of Robshaw. I like the way he's playing and I think he captained England particularly well. That win over New Zealand highlighted his capability, without any question.
"Equally, there's no doubt Sam at his best would be a fine leader - but it's been a tough autumn for Wales, who I thought looked somewhat jaded.
"Sam, I feel, is coming into a bit of form, but much depends on the Six Nations. Warren picks on form - not on reputation."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
APv1. Maybe I should have chosen: Nana... "99 red balloons". Has the line "everyone's a super-hero everyone's a Captain Kirk."
Posted 11:47 25th December 2012
lawynd says...
I think I've agreed with you on the Haskell suggestion before; sadly, unlike Pocock, Brussow or McCaw, he's got all of the brains and common sense of the average hair brush. Until he learns that it takes more than brawn to win a rugby match, he's not suited to the position.
Posted 14:29 24th December 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@lawynd, This is where my confusion over England's selection alters my view for the Lions. In my opinion James Haskell, whose physique makes him almost the mirror image of David Pocock, should have been wearing England's 7 shirt consistently and for a long time now. He's in incredible cardio shape, has the upper body strength to be a real poacher of the ball, and if he's going to be giving away penalties it should be at the ruck where he'll occasionally get away with it and steal England some ball possession. As for Gray and Lawes you are certainly correct that neither of them is a traditional 4 lock (grafter/enforcer) in the mold of Bakkies Botha, Nathan Hines or one of my all time favorites Simon Shaw. But the strength of Australia is in their back line and in open play. I think the Lions mid-week squad could dominate the Wallabies set piece but it will be what they can do in open play that helps them win the series. This is where I see the combination of Lawes and Gray as the best option.
Posted 11:58 24th December 2012
lawynd says...
@5lock4ward - Aha! Some points I can debate. Kelly Brown is indeed a dark horse, and think he'll be on the plane. But I suspect that Robshaw would be going as an openside (even though yes, he is really a '6.5'), so I don't believe that would be an issue. The contest on that side would be between he and Warburton, assuming the latter limps his way out there, and obviously I'm not convinced of that.
Again, if he's fit, O'Connell makes the team and led well in South Africa. The reason I personally wouldn't pick Lawes and Gray together is that they're the same player, essentially. I still believe that you need a good locking combination rather than two good individuals, and neither of them are grafters or go-to lineout options; the latter especially is something the team has to have, look at how Geoff Parling has steadied the ship for England in that regard, throwing issues notwithstanding. Obviously if you include a flanker like Tom Croft in the team or play Lawes in the back row then that's less of an issue, but Gatland doesn't seem to favour that sort of tactic.
Posted 10:12 23rd December 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@lawynd, As I mentioned I do enjoy England rugby. I suppose my generalization about people making a big deal about the AB's victory comes from other media outlets besides this site. And you are correct about a win being a win no excuses. I just think the illness of the AB's did play a role however insignificant. I'm not an AB's supporter so it's not hard for me to get over their loss as I always enjoy and upset and a well played match. As for Robshaw all credit to him for leading Harlequins and England but as you yourself mentioned in the comment about Warburton the player selected to lead them must be the best available in his position. Yet as I mentioned previously I like Kelly Brown as a dark horse option and they both play on the blind-side so this is obviously where we would disagree. I also disagree with O'Connell. I've got Lawes and Gray as the test match locking combination and while O'Connell has the experience advantage his age and run of injuries may rule out his captaincy and even his selection with the emergence of Launchbury and the form of Nathan Hines.
Posted 01:49 23rd December 2012
dillon says...
Warburton is not imo captain material. Edwards here is sporting both his Welsh and, in particular, his Cardiff colors in boosting his man.
Wales is my team and I feel that few players merit selection and, regardless of that, as few need to be going as possible, both because of their form and also because of the rancid politics that always surrounds the the Lions and its coach's selections.
Only Adam Jones, Halfpenny, Lydiate (if he can stay fit) Cuthbert and possibly Jon Davies atm look as though they might make some contribution, but I'd rather none of them go. They all need a rest, a rethink and the organization needs a new professional coaching team, not this miserable bunch of unproven amateurs that Gatland has, for some unknown reason, gathered around him.
Whoever captains the Lions is almost certain to be part of a winning team for the ride should be easy given that this seems to me to be the weakest Australian group I have seen for a long, long time. I think, at the moment, it'll end up being BOD (if he is fit and regains form) or Robshaw.
Posted 16:40 22nd December 2012
three6three6 says...
It is far too early to pick the team... let alone the captain. There are very few outstanding captains playing at the moment..... Should Paul O'Connell be playing well then he could be a contender.... I also like Robshaw and Warburton..... but neither player could be guaranteed a starting position in a Lion First XV. I think that Gatland & Co may well pick a leadership group with a Tour Captain and different playing captains in each match. After all the ONLY way to beat the Wallabies is to pick the in form players.... forget about reputations and pick in form players. What about Dylan 'I am suspended again' Hartley? He may well come into his own again.
Posted 16:02 22nd December 2012
lawynd says...
I'm sorry 5lock5ward, you usually have some decent points but that last one is utter cobblers. Not one single Englishman is getting carried away with the AB result, especially on here, yet you and others try to take away a game we (and everyone else who watched it, I hope) enjoyed by making excuses for the AB's losing.
They lost. Get over it.
As for the Lions captaincy, Robshaw is in the mix more for his leadership at Harlequins IMO than England, although his international experiences can't hurt his chances either. They are the reigning AP champions, remember?
Posted 14:02 22nd December 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@nabberuck, My first comment was meant as a joke as I already explained...but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck... I do enjoy England rugby very much. Courtney Lawes is one of my favorite players. I just don't think Robshaw is the man for the Lions captaincy. Also people keep making a big deal about England's recent victory over the All Blacks but the bulk of the AB's team was down w/ a stomach bug so while the win counts it does come with an asterisk.
Posted 01:40 22nd December 2012
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - he's good, but I don't know that we could honestly describe him as "fast as lightning"..!
Posted 11:19 21st December 2012
nabberuk says...
@5Lock4ward
Have Scotland really had better results against Australia in the last few years? I thought England won a couple of matchs against them?
Judging by your earlier comment, you seem to have a hatred for England.
Posted 10:44 21st December 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@weemanmarsh, You must forgive my attempt to be funny. On a serious note I would only point out that a year out last go 'round everyone was calling for Ryan Jones to lead the Lions. He didn't even make the initial squad, got called in as an injury replacement and left with a concussion before ever contributing to the cause. I know that Scotland had a poor Autumn tour but they have had better success against Australia in recent years than the other 3 home Unions. Thus I would suggest Kelly Brown. He's playing winning club rugby for Saracens and will lead Scotland through the 6N unless the new coach has other ideas. Even if he's not chosen which he probably won't be I do believe we'll see more Scots this time around.
Posted 01:30 21st December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
One hit wonder. If rugby were music, Warburton = Carl Douglas (Kung Fu Fighting)
Posted 23:24 20th December 2012
makemehappy says...
@leinster_goy - I'd take an uninspiring grand slam any day!
Let's be honest, we all know that he hasn't been fit. He's obviously one of the front runners and if returning to form is a likely test starter (no chance of him not going on tour if fit).
Most of the other people mentioned aren't as certain of their place. That would have been my first logical step in identifying a captain. Some people appear to have got carried away on here!
Posted 13:15 20th December 2012
lawynd says...
I suspect Gatland is aware that any Welsh picks will be highly scrutinised, and as a result I can't see Warburton even making the plane at the moment. He may single-handedly win the Grand Slam for Wales come March but that's the minimum he'll need to do to get ahead of the fit and in-form players in his position. He certainly won't be captain - I expect that honour to go to either Paul O'Connell or Chris Robshaw as things stand.
Posted 13:11 20th December 2012
Chubbylugs says...
I really think it will be Tom wood. Given that he was probably England's best player in the autumn, despite not playing the whole series. He would be England captain now imho had he not been so unlucky with injuries
I may be wrong, but wasn't dallaglio England captain when they picked Johnson as lions captain for the SA tour in 97?
Posted 12:49 20th December 2012
rustytrumpet says...
Sorry Gareth but I think you are wrong, although I too love wales, I'd prfer someone else.
Dont think it'll be bod, as other players are better, younger and faster than him in that position at the moment.
And Robshaw made some bad calls during the autumn series which possibly cost them 2 results.
Sam is not playing well at all, also to tell Priestland to keep kicking to the corner against the AB's when he was missing was not good. Then eventually calling a 13 man lineout when there was no chance of winning was also a bad call, we cant use it again now for years as people know whats coming.
I'd like to see Wales take the captaincy from Warburton so he can recapture some form, and give it to Matthew Rees.
As far as lions captains go. Its all up in the air. no front runner for me at the mo. We'll have to wait and see.
Posted 12:17 20th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
what a load of rubbish. since the taffs' fairly uninspiring grand slam, The Glorious Anointed One has been putting in consistently below-par performances, led wales to seven straight losses and has spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch. he'll be lucky to make the squad on current form. anyway, lydiate is better
Posted 10:15 20th December 2012
weemanmarsh says...
@ 5Lock4ward
That attempt to change the subject is about as impressive as Sams international season so far.
On a more serious note of course he is still in contention, there is a long way to go until the lions get on the plane. People thought Lancaster backing Robshaw was strange and that seems to be bearing fruit. Good on an old legend for being loyal, I wish ex England players were more supportive of the team.
Posted 08:28 20th December 2012
Irishzimbabwean says...
Lions captain should be a forward - must be Robshaw on present form as captain and player. Backed up with the experience on the pitch of the likes of O'Connell and O"Driscoll.
Posted 06:13 20th December 2012