Rucking Hell: [Lions Special] Cheating Lady Luck

Warren Gatland was right all along.

As the dust settles on the Premiership final and Rory Best faces the media before boarding the plane to Hong Kong, the Kiwi coach will think back to his comments in 2011 with the tiniest feeling of self-appreciation.

Prior to England’s 6 Nations clash with Wales, experienced sledger, Warren Gatland, launched a personal attack on Northampton hooker, Dylan Hartley, criticising his performances as well as his temperament and character. Wales would, Gatland said, look to exploit Hartley’s many publicised weaknesses.

Hartley responded to Gatland’s criticism and England went on to win that game comfortably.

Since then, Hartley has done his best to win Gatland over, and whilst his performances have been average, losing his once certain England starting spot and being ignored by almost all sofa/pub-Lions selectors, the Kiwi coach saw a hard edge to Hartley’s game that would have intimated the Australians.

An interesting aside: in 2011, England beat Wales 26-19 in Cardiff. Of that Wales team, six have been selected for this year’s Lions, compared to just two from England.

Whilst the rest of the all-knowing rugby public openly criticised Gatland for his selection of Hartley over Ulsterman Rory Best, the Lions coach clearly had good reason and will be disappointed that Hartley won’t be on the tour.

There is absolutely no doubt that both Wayne Barnes and the RFU got the decision right, regarding the red card and subsequent ban. Had the RFU ban been more lenient, I would hope that Gatland would still have made the tough choice of dropping Hartley.

So, Gatland got it right and two and a half seasons later, Hartley eventually imploded. The more you analyse and re-watch the two minutes surrounding the foul-mouthed outburst, the greater the disbelief is that Hartley could have been so appallingly irrational and irresponsible. Long have the Northampton coaches ignored criticism of their hooker, burdening him with the responsibility of captain and repeated public displays of their faith.

Whilst Hartley continues to get banned for gauging, biting and punching, Mallinder & co. have stood by their man, claiming after every ban that Hartley is the England captain in waiting.

England’s starting hooker and a firm pencilled name on the Lions touring party at the start of the season, Hartley’s performances have been mediocre and his selection to the Lions was seen as the biggest shock of all.

Many will feel that Hartley’s ban is simply correcting the one mistake Gatland made in his original tour selection and I for one am incredibly glad that the only pre-tour change in the squad was thoroughly deserved, and not forced by injury.

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Whilst Gatland may take some small solace in the fact that Hartley has proved him somewhat of a fortune teller, he will be even happier – delighted in fact – that not one member of his touring party has picked up an injury, despite the gruelling end of season run-in created by a play-off culture.

In fact, not only has no one picked up an injury, but those who were lacking form, fitness and match time have been able to return to full strength. Tom Croft has gone from looking horribly out of shape and out of his depth against Wales in Cardiff, to scoring one of the tries of his career, winning the Premiership final and boarding the plane as the front runner for a starting test spot.

Dan Lydiate has proved his fitness, leading the hapless Dragons to a remarkable win over Munster, whilst Brian O’Driscoll, Richie Gray and Richard Hibbard have all returned to fitness.

All reports coming from the departing Lions party is that optimism is running high. This may not be the most talented touring party since the last tour win of 1997, but they just might be the luckiest. 

Rucking Hell!: Wilko right for the Lions - at least for now

Anyone who listens to me ramble away about rugby knows that a few days ago, I touted Jonny Wilkinson for a spot in Warren Gatland's Lions squad. The next day, Gatland announced that Wilkinson was still in the frame for the tour next June.

When I named Jonny Wilkinson in my Lions squad, it was done with a wry smile and very little conviction. Having long since retired from the international game, Wilkinson has found a new home in Toulon where the climate and winning ways have prolonged his once injury-blighted career but removed him from the public spotlight. It has always been thought that Jonny's days on the big, international stage were over. Warren Gatland appears to have a different idea.

There are three (good) reasons why Gatland has publicly given Wilkinson a shot at making the tour...

1. On the Pitch

According to universal speculation, Jonny Sexton is currently in the driving seat for the Lions fly-half jersey. Having led Leinster to incredible European and domestic success, it is probably just reward that the Irish pivot starts as favourite for the shirt. Behind Sexton however, there is not much else to get excited about. Welsh fly-half Rhys Priestland has done his very best to prove to the world and his coaches that the World Cup was in fact a flash-in-the-pan. Owen Farrell is brave and composed, but away from the kicking tee, fails to offer anything in attack and Laidlaw is a scrum-half doing his best to fill a horrible void in Scottish rugby. Toby Flood is still not the player he once was and whilst he struggles to find form, the young pretender, George Ford, remains untested and probably undersized.

Whilst the competition is currently uninspiring, the rest of the Lions' squad appears to fit Jonny's style. Looking at the possible Lions midfield, you can assume that Manu Tuilagi (110kg), Jamie Roberts (110kg), Jonathan Davies (104kg), Brian O'Driscoll and AN Other will make up the travelling party. With so much size and quality in midfield, both the Test and midweek fly-half's role will be to distribute to a destructive centre pairing. Aside from that, their responsibilities will be kicking and tackling - both of which are skills that Wilkinson has in abundance.

Come June, there is a very good likelihood that Wilkinson will not be in the Lions squad. At the moment, however, there are some very good reasons why he should be.

2. The Tom Prydie Experiment

Warren Gatland likes to play mind games - Dylan Hartley knows all about them. It's not just the opposition that the New Zealander likes to wind-up. In 2010, Warren Gatland named 17 year old Tom Prydie on the wing for Wales to face Italy despite the youngster having played just seven minutes for the Ospreys. Having never even spoken to the winger, his shock inclusion acted as the proverbial kick up the backside for wingers across Wales. At the time, the Wales squad was (Shane Williams aside) short of quality on the wing. By ignoring the wealth of average wingers and plucking Prydie out of anonymity and childhood, Gatland attempted to spark Welsh speedsters into actions.

Whether or not this experiment worked, there is evidence that suggests that Gatland's mind games do have their rewards. Wales currently have one of the world's premier wingers, George North, and one of Europe's most improved wingers, Alex Cuthbert, as well as former B&I Lion, Leigh Halfpenny.

It is more than likely that the Wilkinson suggestion was, like the Tom Prydie experiment, a challenge to all the British and Irish fly-halves to stake their claim for the tour. By suggesting that Wilko was currently a top-three British fly-half, despite having retired, was a clear indication that Priestland, Farrell, Flood and co. desperately need to find some form or be left at home.

3. The Wilko Effect

There is evidence that the Australians fear Jonny Wilkinson. The 2007 World Cup quarter-final goes some way to prove this. As does this...

Rucking Hell!: Uncapped Lions Wildcards

With one year to go and the Summer internationals approaching, keen eyes are already looking towards the 2013 Lions Tour to Australia. Having not won a test series since 1997 and growing pressure regarding the future of the team, this Lions Tour looks set to be incredibly special.

Experts are already giving their opinions on the selection of the squad with some players having already booked their flights to Australia in Warren Gatland's squad. Others are still fighting for the last remaining places. Whilst many commentators will be pretty confident about their selections, here are a few uncapped wildcards that, with some good performances for club and country over the next 12 months, could see them sneaking onto the tour.

Tim Visser (Scotland)

Having finally gained his Scottish citizenship, this giant Dutchman looks set to start for Scotland this summer and it is hard to see him losing his place in the next twelve months. Blessed with great size and an eye for the try line, Visser could be a necessary piece in Andy Robinson's armoury. In recent years, Wales have proven that giant wingers work and Gatland has shown a susceptibility for going big on the flank. Tom Prydie (6ft4) proved this, having been given four Wales caps despite failing to feature with the Ospreys. If Gatland is the Lions coach, do not be surprised to see Visser on the plane. With Tommy Bowe injured and Shane Williams now (probably) retired for good, the Lions are going to need reinforcements and Visser looks like making the step to the international stage shouldn't be a problem.

Ashley Beck (Wales)

Anyone who saw the RaboDirect final last Sunday would probably have been distracted by Shane Williams, scoring two quite remarkable tries and stealing the trophy from Leinster's grasp. A moment that instigated the Ospreys comeback was a try from young Welsh centre Ashley Beck. Whilst the Ospreys back row created a half break through great offloading, it was Beck that hit a beautiful line, fended off Jonny Sexton and finished under the posts. Ospreys fans will tell you that Beck has been doing this all year. He is a fast and strong centre, but most importantly, he is a genuine 12. He can pass! Don't underestimate how important this is - Roberts, Barritt, Morrison cannot! Beck has an ability to break tackles and make offloads, much like Sonny Bill Williams does for the All Blacks - just on a much lesser scale. Gatland has made no secret of his admiration of Gavin Henson. A genuine 12 who could run and pass and the Kiwi coach gave Henson all the support he could to get him playing international rugby again. In Beck, Gatland may have a second chance to start a playmaking centre. There is a lack of quality at inside centre in Britain as well. Morrison has never done anything ever, Darcy is a means to get the ball to BOD and Barritt can hit things that run at him. With Roberts injured this summer, Beck has a genuine chance to challenge for the Wales 12 jersey. Don't be surprised if he succeeds and definitely don't be surprised if he's the Lions fourth centre come next June.

Henry Thomas (England)


It is a fact, Australia cannot scrummage. This is definitely a part of the game that the Lions should exploit and with Dan Cole and Adam Jones, they have the building blocks to terrorise the Australian set piece. But whilst Cole and Jones set about giving Robbie Deans nightmares, someone has to cement to scrum for the mid-weekers. If any Irish tight head goes, I will personally renounce my British citizenship, move to Wagga Wagga and learn the didgeridoo. The Scottish scrum has been in decline for a few years since the last Lions Tour and Euan Murray's run of injuries, which means that a new tight head prop needs to be found. In Thomas, Sale Sharks have an improving scrummager and willing carrier. It's rare to see a tight head prop with the ability and desire to carry the ball like Thomas. Equally, his scrummaging is improving at professional level and was evidently a strong part of his game in last years Under 20 World Championship. Steve Diamond appears to be a big supporter of Thomas, giving him a lot of playing time this season. Expect Thomas to cement the Sale 3 jersey next year. Even now, the rookie Thomas is a league better than rival tight heads Stevens and Wilson and I would expect to see him included in England's 6 Nations squad next year. Thomas is a real prospect that, injury permitting, is making a really strong push for a Lions wildcard.

Rhodri Jones (Wales)


Rhodri Jones will start at tight head this weekend for Wales against the BaBas, having made his name at loose-head for the Scarlets this season. At 6ft 3 and 120kgs, Jones is massive physical specimen that Gatland has been fast tracking into the Wales squad all season. The Wales management are very keen to see Jones develop as a tight-head and this weekend is the first step in his international grooming as Adam Jones' replacement. With Matt Stevens' international career surely now over and Paul James resigned to a permanent spot on the Wales bench, there are no genuine props left in Britain that can cover both sides of the scrum. If the last Lions Tour is anything to go by, Gatland will take five props. That means two tight heads, two loose heads and someone that can cover both sides of the scrum. In 2009 it was Phil Vickery and in 2013, the position is currently wide open for candidates. This weekend will be Jones' first test - if he passes, he will be in pole position to contest for that fifth spot in the Lions' squad.

Scott Spurling (England)


When we say 'wildcard', there is an element of possibility behind the selection of these players. Visser, Beck, Jones and Thomas have all proved themselves at club level and all look set to take the next step to the international stage in the next 12 months. TCI favourite, Scott Spurling, has spent the season as fourth choice hooker for Saracens and with Brits and Jamie George hanging around next season, his opportunities seem limited. He has been picked for the Under 20s World Champs this summer which may finally give him some deserved recognition. Here's our thinking; Best, Rees, Ford and Hartley are all good players - but they're all so boring. They're willing carriers, strong defenders and can all throw the ball into the line out with some degree of accuracy. However, watch this video and say that Spurling, at just 18 years old, isn't the future of English rugby. I'd want him on my Lions Tour!