Yahoo News British and Irish Lions 2021 squad: Telegraph rugby writers pick their front row - now choose yours
In a year's time (coronavirus permitting) Warren Gatland will announce his squad for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. We asked our rugby writers to help him out by nominating the players they would select to face the world champions.
Taking the 41-man squad from 2017 as their model, our experts are picking candidates for different positions every day this week, starting today with six props and three hookers to make up the front row. The series will continue with locks on Tuesday, the back row on Wednesday, half-backs on Thursday, centres on Friday, the back three on Saturday, and the starting XV on Sunday.
Sir Ian McGeechan
My six props: Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Wyn Jones, Kyle Sinckler, Rory Sutherland
The props need to be technically good but also adaptable and comfortable in the loose. Rory Sutherland is a potential bolter. After a few years in the international wilderness, he was immense in this year’s Six Nations, so good I would probably have him in my starting Lions XV if the first Test were tomorrow. He’s an excellent technician, which is incredibly important in South Africa.
My other looseheads? Mako Vunipola and Cian Healy have given wonderful service overs many years but injuries (Vunipola) and age (Healy) are catching up with them. I think by next year we could well see Ellis Genge (an undoubted talent although he needs discipline at crucial times) and Wyn Jones overtake them in the pecking order.
At tighthead, Tadhg Furlong has never quite rediscovered the form he found in New Zealand in 2017 but he is such a talent, and he was so good on that tour, that he is a shoo-in. Probably my starter. Kyle Sinckler, meanwhile, has become more and more critical to everything England are doing while I’d find a place Zander Fagerson, who, like Sutherland, enjoyed a brilliant season.
My three hookers: Luke Cowan Dickie, Jamie George, Ken Owens
It looks very much like a case of four into three at hooker with Jamie George, Luke Cowan Dickie, Ken Owens and Stuart McInally fighting it out. Three of them will travel, I suspect. I think George is probably in pole position at the moment. He had a great tour down in New Zealand and I think that counts for a lot. He’s very consistent, tough, a good set-piece performer. Just a very solid character. He will take some shifting.
Cowan-Dickie has made big strides as his England understudy. He has mobile, dynamic and tends to make a real impact when coming on. That would make it a straightforward fight between Owens and McInally for that last spot with Owens’ greater experience — and the fact that Warren Gatland knows him so well — probably giving him the edge.
Gavin Mairs
My six props: Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Dillon Lewis, Kyle Sinckler, Rory Sutherland, Mako Vunipola
Gatland’s Lions packs are traditionally dominated by big ball-carriers and I could see Gatland being tempted into picking all three of the English looseheads; Joe Marler for his scrummaging power and Mako Vunipola and Ellis Genge for their destructive ball-carrying and defensive work. Yet the form of Rory Sutherland this season and his technical ability should win him a place, given the context of the England scrum struggling against South Africa in the World Cup final.
Cian Healy too has been a fantastic player for Ireland and the Lions but may struggle to keep his starting place in his national side come next season.
The tighthead side is straightforward for the first two picks, with Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler the clear favourites to battle it out for the starting place in the Test team. The third choice looks to be between Zander Fagerson, who like Sutherland has impressed with Scotland this season, and Dillon Lewis. If his scrummaging continues to improve like it has been, he should edge it.
My three hookers: Jamie George, Ronan Kelleher, Ken Owens
Gatland is almost certain to retain his Test hookers from the New Zealand tour by selecting Jamie George and Ken Owens, but it is the third choice that could prove intriguing.
Luke Cowan-Dickie is a powerhouse operator, but is likely to have limited chances behind George with England. That could open the door for Scotland’s Stuart McInally but the bolter over the next 12 months could be Ireland rookie Rónan Kelleher. He was due to start for Ireland in the Six Nations before the Italy game was postponed. A big and physical specimen, he is said to also have a smart rugby brain. Given the experience of George and Owens, Gatland can afford to take a calculated gamble.
Mick Cleary
My six props: Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Rory Sutherland, Mako Vunipola
The cornerstone of any successful Lions tour to South Africa, the propping contingent, have first and foremost to be able to stand their ground. Think of the mayhem wreaked by Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira when up against Phil Vickery in the first test at King’s Park, Durban, in 2009, a savaging from which the Lions never managed to recover.
The scrummage sets the tone for any game against the Springboks as was shown by their demolition of England in the World Cup final at Yokohama. One of those briefly on duty that day, Kyle Sinckler, knocked cold after three minutes, will be expected to anchor the scrum, battling for the starting shirt once again with Tadhg Furlong.
Scottish duo, Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson get their reward for a sterling Six Nations. Mako Vunipola needs to up his game but he is eminently capable of that.
My three hookers: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Stuart McInally
It was tough to ignore the claims of the Scarlets’ Ken Owens and given his familiarity with him there is every chance that Warren Gatland will not do the same thing — especially given that the former Wales head coach appreciates the value of hard-nosed wisdom. Owens, though, will be 34 by the time the Lions head to South Africa where the grounds are hard and the air is scarce.
And, anyway, the credentials of the man vying with Owens for the third spot in the squad are first-rate. There is a real edge to Stuart McInally’s game with the Scot also a fine practitioner at the basics, the sine qua non for any hooker. The England pairing have proven to be a potent double-act for Eddie Jones, George’s solidity and leadership a sound starting point while Cowan-Dickie’s energy and unerring try-scoring instincts near the line proving a perfect foil in the latter stages.
Daniel Schofield
My six props: Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Rory Sutherland
As brutally demonstrated in the World Cup final, if South Africa smell the slightest weakness in the scrum they will pounce. Hence the tight five is the one area of the team I would not be prepared to gamble with the presence of a bolter.
Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson were probably the best scrummaging props in the Six Nations this year while I would not be surprised if Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie are starting for England in 2021. I adore Mako Vunipola but just worry about his physical state with no top-flight club rugby.
My three hookers: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Ken Owens
On another tour the likes of Ronan Kelleher and (among the props) Rhys Carre would have been in well in contention, but if any member of the front row has the slightest off day then the series could be gone. Instead I have put a premium on sound technique and experience.
Also I would make England forwards coach Matt Proudfoot an offer he could not refuse to be the scrum coach against the Springbok pack he knows better than anyone.
Tom Cary
My six props: Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Rory Sutherland
Plenty can change in 12 months but as it stands Mako Vunpola looks to be on thin ice. Superb for the Lions in New Zealand four years ago, he does have credit in the bank. But he has slipped down the England pecking order in recent times and Saracens' demotion next season may not help his cause, although it remains to be seen where he ends up playing his rugby.
Ellis Genge’s career is going in the other direction and he may be timing his Lions run right although he will need to continue on his current trajectory to stand a chance. Rory Sutherland's international comeback was one of the feelgood stories of this Six Nations. If the Lions squad were being picked today he would be in it.
On the other side of the front row the picture is much clearer; Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler are both shoo-ins, the only question being which one starts the first Test, in Johannesburg.
My three hookers: Luke Cowan Dickie, Jamie George, Ronan Kelleher
Jamie George would have to have a miserable year with form or injury not to start the first Test next summer. He is clearly in pole position. The other two hookers are not so easy to call. Ken Owens will be on a lot of lists. Warren Gatland obviously knows and likes him, which counts for a lot. But I'm a big fan of Cowan-Dickie, a serious baller with an eye for a try.
It is obviously too soon for Ronan Kelleher who has barely even been capped by Ireland. But this is not a squad for today, it is a squad for next summer, and who knows, the Leinster hooker may be Ireland's first choice by then. He certainly has the raw ingredients. I’m naming him as a bolter with the usual disclaimer that he may be nowhere near the squad in the final reckoning.
Ben Coles
My six props: Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Andrew Porter, Kyle Sinckler, Rory Sutherland, Mako Vunipola
Not to heap too much pressure on Rory Sutherland, but there hasn’t been a Scottish loosehead named in an initial Lions squad since Tom Smith back in 2001. These are very much early days in Sutherland’s career but the touches he has shown so far have generated plenty of excitement. His scrummaging technique for a young player already looks pretty well developed.
Both Leinster tightheads should tour, Furlong for obvious reasons given his billing as arguably the world’s best tighthead, with Porter an exciting prospect. They would join a three-man England contingent. Mako Vunipola has a point to make in South Africa after the way the scrum dissolved in Yokohama and the time feels right for Ellis Genge to make the leap into a top-tier player at Test level, as Kyle Sinckler has done over the pat two years.
Joe Marler might still be in the frame if he makes himself available, but there is no guarantee that will be the case at this stage. No Welsh props, although Tomas Francis might be able to press his claims if fit.
My three hookers: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Ken Owens
There might be an argument here, perhaps, for one of the two Scots to tour, Fraser Brown or Stuart McInally. But neither of their claims feel strong enough compared to the selected trio.
Ireland used Rob Herring in the Six Nations but there’s a search on there for a long-term replacement for Rory Best. Which leaves George, who started all three Tests against the All Blacks in 2017 and hasn’t slowed down, plus his England rival Luke Cowan-Dickie and Wales hooker Ken Owens.
‘LCD’ finds himself in a similar position to George four years ago, stuck behind another quality operator for his country. His form for Exeter at the start of the year was impressive. Owens can be a vital tourist, battling for the 16 shirt while also leading the midweek side. And he remains an excellent player too.
Out of all the areas in the squad, this feels like one of the strongest.
Charlie Morgan
My six props: Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Andrew Porter, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola
One of Rhys Carré, Cian Healy or Rory Sutherland, especially impressive during the 2020 Six Nations, could easily break up an English monopoly on loosehead props. Another industrious Scot, Zander Fagerson, is probably unlucky not to sneak one of the tighthead spots. Of these six props, only Genge and Porter would be heading on a maiden tour. Porter’s versatility, as a loosehead that has switched across to tighthead, might be useful on a taxing, if shorter, trip. For Vunipola, making a third Lions squad at the age of 30 – where he would be aiming for a second series win to go with a draw in 2017 – would be a fine achievement.
My three hookers: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Ken Owens
All nine of my front-row picks are powerful scrummagers who are dynamic in the looser exchanges. Cowan-Dickie, superb for Exeter Chiefs for some time, is a brilliant jackaller who could flourish under Warren Gatland. We know that South Africa have the muscle to attack the set piece for 80 minutes and use their bench accordingly with proactive replacements. Owens turns 34 next January, so is probably at risk. As others have said, his experience should be handy. A midweek skipper in the mould of Rory Best, perhaps? Rónan Kelleher, 11 years the junior of Owens, should be the next cab off the rank. He has looked accomplished and exciting for Leinster.
Kate Rowan
My six props: Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola
A theme for the selection of this Lions squad is experience and it begins with the front row. If you are going to beat the reigning World Cup champions in their own back yard, and at altitude, battle-hardened players, particularly at front row are a must.
Despite his recent travails and more murmurs regarding retiring from international rugby for a second time, Joe Marler makes the cut having had a strong Six Nations this year. From Marler’s point of view, a Lions tour alongside Alun Wyn Jones offers a good opportunity to set things straight after “grab-gate”. Marler will not be a Test starter, however.
Mako Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler and Ireland’s Tadgh Furlong pick themselves, as well as current form, they all starred in the drawn series in New Zealand. Scotland’s Zander Fagerson comes in as the third tight-head. Cian Healy will be 33 and it would be a fitting finale to his career to finish up with the Lions, particularly having gone home injured from the 2013 Tour to Australia. The Dubliner would be the perfect man to have on the Test bench to replace Mako Vunipola. It will be a battle between Furlong and Sinckler for the starting tight-head spot based on current form.
My three hookers: Jamie George, Stuart McInally, Ken Owens
Jamie George looks to be the favourite to start at hooker, Ken Owens, another veteran of the 2017 Tour returns. Scotland’s Stuart McInally edges out Luke Cowan-Dickie for the third hooker berth.
