A British & Irish Lions XV based on Autumn Nations Cup

Adam Kyriacou
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After a month of rugby in the Autumn Nations Cup, James While has sat down to pick a British & Irish Lions starting XV if the first Test was tomorrow.

The last weekend of the former competition shows that the Home Unions find themselves in various stages of development, with England on top of Europe, Ireland putting in a strong showing against an improved Scotland while Wales finally got a win on the board.

2021 will be a pivotal year for rugby with the Lions touring South Africa, looking to avenge their 2009 series defeat. Whilst we realise that there’s a clutch of players to return from injury or poor form, here’s a punt at what the starting XV may be, based only upon the players and game time shown in the Autumn Nations Cup.

British & Irish Lions starting XV for first Test

15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland): With electric returns, surety under the high ball and pace to burn, Hogg will look to put two previously frustrating Lions tours behind him and will be one of the attacking forces that will thrive in the series, especially with two Tests played at altitude. Whilst not quite yet in top gear, he comfortably sees off the challenges of Elliot Daly (England) and Liam Williams (Wales).

14 Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland): There’ll be a lot of wing options for Warren Gatland, with Anthony Watson (England) and also Keith Earls (Ireland) both having memorable finishes to the Autumn Nations Cup. However, the big Scot, Van der Merwe, offers a work rate, physicality and appetite that might yet just see him take the nod. An excellent tournament from a rapidly improving player.

13 Henry Slade (England): Slade may not quite have the freedom with England that he enjoys with Exeter, but no other centre offers the all-round package of silky running, vibrant defence and footballing skills that the Chief brings to the midfield. Jonathan Davies (Wales) showed glimpses of his class towards the end of the tournament with Chris Farrell (Ireland) offering the most metres of carry per round in both of the games he played.

12 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland): They breed them big in South Africa and the physical presence of the towering Irishman might just be what Gatland needs in the inside centre berth, although it’s worth noting Henshaw is equally at home in either midfield shirt. Every time he started, he provided a focal point for Ireland’s attack and just sees off the robust claims of his countryman, Bundee Aki (Ireland) and the emerging cameos shown by Wales’ Johnny Williams.

11 Jonny May (England): England have kicked, clawed and mauled their way to a title, but in the gloom of their conservatism, May has been a shining light of attacking intent. He really is the complete footballer, with a phenomenal aerial game to augment his powerful runs and whilst Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales) may yet be a bolter, May takes the shirt.

10 Owen Farrell (England): With a few unavailablities such as Finn Russell in this position, Farrell’s spiky, aggressive play sees him take the fly-half berth in a position where solidity will be crucial. It’s disappointing that no challenger has emerged and whilst the England 10 may have his critics, right now he’s the best available option to Gatland, seeing off the challenges of his England team-mate George Ford and the aging feet of Johnny Sexton (Ireland).

9 Conor Murray (Ireland): In contrast to fly-half, the nine jersey sees a lot of quality performers all challenging for one berth. Wales in particular could be miffed that neither of Rhys Webb or Gareth Davies took our vote, whilst both England’s Ben Youngs and Scotland’s Ali Price have both had their moments. But Murray is an all court half-back, with a kicking game and sniping presence that offers still the best all-round package available. It might be a safe choice, but it is also the best choice.

8 Billy Vunipola (England): Our point remains about picking the best balanced and toughest trio of back-rowers we could find and Big Billy, a player often criticised on Planet Rugby, offers sheer artillery no other player can match. With the flankers named below, he offers brawn to match their skills, as Caelan Doris and CJ Stander (both Ireland) wait in the wings.

7 Tom Curry (England): Along with an English second-row, the easiest choice we had to make. The Autumn Nations Cup Player of the Tournament is a relentless, tackling and jackaling machine, spreading a cloak of pressure over every side he plays against. He gains selection with ease. Justin Tipuric (Wales) offers support lines galore, but questions remain over his defence, whilst Ben Earl (England) and Peter O’Mahony (Ireland) both emerged from the autumn well in credit, with O’Mahony adapting well to a move to the openside of the scrum.

6 Taulupe Faletau (Wales): We make no apologies picking the Wales eight out of position as we want the ugliest nastiest scariest back-row that we can name. The old maestro has timed his run into form with the excellence he always shows in attack. Whilst others might offer slightly more power in carry, nobody beats the first man with footwork quite like Taulupe. His all-round athleticism and lineout work (in a relatively short back-row trio) sees him retain a shirt he’s worn with pride on the last two Lions tours, but don’t write off the challenges of Jack Willis (England) and a similar move from CJ Stander (Ireland) quite yet.

5 Maro Itoje (England, captain): Magnificent Maro is playing rugby at another level right now. He’s like a cloak on the pitch, enveloping everything in front of him and seemingly all over the pitch, with a work rate and effectiveness that no other European forward can get near to. His jackal and tackle count are always strong, but his nuisance value is the best of the lot. Peerless, a shoo-in as skipper, and he takes the nod over the improving Scott Cummings (Scotland) and Lions great, Alun Wyn Jones (Wales).

4 James Ryan (Ireland): A difficult pick, but despite an average autumn by his standards, the big Leinsterman just shades our vote for his lineout excellence and work rate around the pitch, which gave him the edge over Joe Launchbury (England) and Jonny Gray (Scotland). His combination with Itoje will give the Lions at least parity in the engine room in a country where towering locks are worshipped like demi-gods.

3 Will Stuart (England): Have Planet Rugby lost their marbles, we hear you say? No – as tradition demands, this is our bolter. Make no mistake about it, the Bath tighthead is quickly becoming the most formidable scrummager in the game and the boost he gave England against France in his 40 minutes on the pitch was arguably the momentum that took them home. Every loosehead that’s faced him rave about his power, technique and aggression and, we’re being bold here, calling the Bath brick ahead of his team-mate Kyle Sinckler and Ireland’s much-improved powerhouse, Andrew Porter.

2 Jamie George (England): With four tries in his last four games, George showed a 97 percent completion at lineout this season to go with his rumbustious presence in the loose. His game is one of accuracy, precision and passion, with his leadership improving every week. Stuart McInally (Scotland) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (England) will provide admirable support, but at the moment, Jinx is the man in possession.

1 Mako Vunipola (England): There’s a queue of quality at loosehead with challenges from Rory Sutherland (Scotland) and Cian Healy (Ireland) and both of Vunipola’s England colleagues, the abrasive Ellis Genge and the experienced rock that is Joe Marler, who showed his worth in a cameo against France. But Vunipola on form has another dimension in pass, tackle and carry that makes him the fourth back-row in any side he plays. He’s our choice right now, but we’d certainly want one of Sutherland or Marler on the bench in case the Springboks get their rumble on at scrum-time.

by James While

 

British and Irish Lions