Sunday 19 March 2017

Lions and Six Nations team of 2017

The six nations is over, that's right, it's not injury time anymore, it has definitely finished.
Here is my team of the tournament and Lions picks.

1 - Loosehead Prop: Rob Evans (Wales)
Zander Fagerson showed great promise for the future for Scotland, who missed WP Nel who was one of the players of the tournament last year. Joe Marler was good for England, especially considering his broken leg just a month before the tournament. However, Rob Evans was brilliant in the loose, making key yards, but also showcasing some great passing.

2 - Hooker: Ken Owens (Wales)
Owens has a peerless throw, only once being picked in the tournament. He also demonstrated good work in the loose. Rory Best and Dylan Hartley are likely to accompany him on the plane to New Zealand.

3 - Tighthead Prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Furlong has been dominant in the scrum. There have been better plays in the loose, but none have been better in the scrum. 

4 - Second row: Joe Launchbury (England)
England's lock positions are stocked with talent, which means it requires a good performance each game, to maintain your place. Launchbury has been colossal in his performances, making 85 tackles, more than anyone else in the championship and providing key go forward ball.

5 - Second row: Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales)
Wales' new captain hasn't been able to match his predecessors in terms of on field success, but he has lead by example and maintained his own high standards. He is likely to be picked to start for the Lions being a firm favourite of Warren Gatland's, and a leader on the field.

6 - Blindside flanker: CJ Stander (Ireland)
The back row positions especially 7. is one of the most hotly contested for Lions and in the Six nations team of 2017. Which is why, I have picked Stander at 6. However, Stander offers a key threat in the loose he's had 104 carries and beaten 14 defenders, although not as threatening as the likes of Warburton or Watson at the breakdown, his presence with ball in hand often puts his team on the front foot.

7 - Openside flanker: Justin Tipuric (Wales)
Gourdon has been a fantastic find for the French with his great work rate, Hamish Watson was key for the Scottish at the breakdown, but Justin Tipuric has a phenomenal work rate and made the second most amount of tackles (84) and his great dynamism is key in the flanker position.

8 - Number Eight: Louis Picamoles (France) / Lions - Billy Vunipola (England)
If only Picamoles could be a Lion, he is imperious in his strong running and carrying. He provided France with a key platform to attack again and again. No team was able to fully cope with his power and strength. Billy Vunipola would be my Lions starter, but he had very little time in the tournament to make an impact.

9 - Scrumhalf: Rhys Webb (Wales) / Lions - Connor Murray
A tough call, as it could easily have been Connor Murray, who had a good tournament, but missed half of the Wales game and all of the England game, Murray would be my Lions starter. Webb brings a bit more zip than Murray, and was key in providing Welsh momentum. Baptiste Serin looks like Lionel Messi, as well as looking like a great prospect for the future.
10- Fly-half: Jonny Sexton (Ireland)
Against Scotland, Ireland missed Jonny Sexton, Paddy Jackson played well, but Sexton brings a different level. As Brian O'Driscoll can attest to, the Lions will be targeted by New Zealand players, Sexton, who was peppered with cheap shots and late hits by England, is able to roll with the punches and keep his composure. George Ford was obviously also key to England, but Sexton's defence especially is the level above.

11 - Elliott Daly (England)
The try Elliot Daly scored against Wales will be remembered by England fans for a while. He made the most clean breaks of any England player, but Daly provides more than just speed. He has good all round footballing ability. He has the ability to kick penalties, as well as the nous, for example getting a touch on the ball before it went into touch on the full from an England kick to ensure key territory wasn't lost. For me he would be a certainty in the Lions squad as his versatility, he can play wing, centre or full back, mean he is ideal to cover the first XI.

12 - Inside centre: Owen Farrell (England)
Farrell is always competitive, he has an aggressive streak, which drives his game, and he thrives on competition. He was good with the boot, but outstanding alongside George Ford, in providing England with an attacking platform, which Daly and Joseph were able to thrive off of. Alex Dunbar deserves a notable mention as he was key in winning turnovers for Scotland.

13 - Outside centre: Gael Fickou (France) / Huw Jones (Scotland)
Outside centre was a tricky position to pick, Jonathan Joseph scored a hat-trick against Scotland but was anonymous in the other games, Garry Ringrose showed greater potential and promise, but Gael Fickou showed electric pace and skill, and Huw Jones provided Scotland with a potency in attack, breaking the gain line and scoring key tries, he would have been an outsider for the Lions, but injury may well dampen any selection hopes.

14 - Wing: George North (Wales)
North combines strength with speed and agility. He has struggled in recent tournaments with concussions, but this year North was close to his best, especially against Ireland and Italy.

15 - Full-back: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Scotland have become an attacking force, something which a few years ago appeared unlikely. A key part of that has been Stuart Hogg, he is an exciting player with ball in hand, but also has a good boot on him and, as he displayed against Italy, has the requisite defence for a full-back. He was the stand out full back in the tournament.

My Lions Squad:
Props: Marler, Evans, Furlong, McGrath, Healy
Hookers: Hartley, Owens, Best
Second Rows: Launchbury, Wyn-Jones, J. Gray, Itoje
Back Rows: Vunipola, Stander, O'Mahoney, Heaslip, Watson, Warburton, Tipuric
Scrum halves: Murray, Webb, Youngs
Fly halves: Sexton, Ford
Inside centre: Farrell, Henshaw, S. Williams 
Outside centre: H. Jones, Payne, Joseph
Wings: North, Daly, L. Williams, Nowell/Seymour
Full back: Hogg, Halfpenny, Brown