5 Bolters and 5 Potential Shock Omissions for The Lions Tour 2021

By Tom Lea

LOOKING ahead to the Lions Tour to South Africa in the summer, talk has naturally turned to who Warren Gatland will pick in his squad.

While there are still doubts about whether the tour will actually go ahead, and even more doubts as to where it will be played, a number of players are using the ongoing Six Nations to put their names at the forefront of Gatland’s mind as he bids to take down the World Champions in the summer.

Naturally, if the former All Black chooses to take some of these bolters, then there are also going to be some big-name casualties come squad selection day with a two-time tourist and potential captain as the biggest name to have his place called into doubt.

Bolters

5. Zander Fagerson- Prior to his red card against the Welsh in Round Two which changed the complexion of the game completely, Fagerson was delivering another authoritative performance to back up a solid start to his tournament at Twickenham.

With the Boks being notoriously strong at the set piece with Tendai Mtawirara still lurking around their squad and fans with long memories may still have nightmares about him dismantling the Lions scrum on their last tour in 2009.

The Scot would have to fight his way past Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler to earn a place in the matchday squad, but it seems increasingly likely that Gatland might gamble on him as another option in the front row.

4. Jonny Hill- While the second row is probably the second most difficult area of the squad to break into at the moment, such is the strength in depth including Maro Itoje, Alun-Wyn Jones, Courtney Lawes, Jonny Gray, James Ryan and more, Hill is clearly doing enough in the England camp to impress the coaches.

The Exeter man’s performances have been strong enough in a poor England side that his name is now mentioned alongside those lofty luminaries in the engine room with regards to this summers tour, keeping Lawes out the starting XV for the opening clash with Scotland and impressing enough to force Eddie Jones to pick the Saint on the flank against the Italians.

If Hill continues to impress for the remainder of the tournament and when he then returns to Exeter, expect his name to be in the mix when it comes to the squad announcement.

3. Aaron Wainwright- We all know how Gatland feels about the Dragon after he was his starting number six at the 2019 World Cup and ever since then, Wainwright’s name has been circling around discussions concerning this summer’s tour.

The main obstacle for the Welshman is the depth across the back row, and even his versatility doesn’t help him too much with many others including Tom Curry, CJ Stander and Josh Navidi also able to fill multiple positions.

Forcing his way into Wayne Pivac’s side will be the first obstacle once Navidi has returned to fitness for the remainder of the Six Nations but if he can keep Navidi out the Welsh side then there is no reason why the man from Newport can’t be on the plane to South Africa.

2. Garry Ringrose- The Leinster man has muscled his way into Andy Farrell’s side for the first two rounds of the Six Nations, making the fifth most metres out of everyone in the competition and throwing his name into contention for a spot in the Centres against the Springboks.

Known more for his dancing feet than his brute force, Ringrose would offer a different option to the likes of compatriots Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw as well as others who may be in Gatland’s thoughts such as Manu Tuilagi.

It’s also worth noting that despite his relatively small stature in comparison to some of the other names mentioned, Ringrose has a fierce reputation at being one of the best defenders in the outside centre channel in world rugby, something that is sure to play into Gatland’s thoughts.

1. Louis Rees-Zammit- The standout name on this list as the Gloucester wing has shot from relative obscurity 18 months ago to now be keeping George North out of the Wales side in his preferred position on the wing.

The youngster has scored three tries in two appearances so far in the Six Nations, including a phenomenal match-winning effort, as part of a brace, at Murrayfield in Round Two to sit proudly at the top of the try scoring charts.

The Welsh flier has shot to prominence at exactly the right time when you consider the injury for Jacob Stockdale, the suspension of team-mate Josh Adams and the individual struggles which have befallen a number of other options for the back three.

 

Omissions

5. Billy Vunipola- As the competition rises for places in the back row, someone’s place has got to come into question. For Vunipola, he has been devoid of first-team rugby since the Autumn Nations Cup after choosing not to leave Saracens on loan.

This has shown in his performances so far with the Englishman struggling to make much of an impact in the tournament, compounded by an avoidable yellow card against the Scots for a lazy high tackle late in the first half.

Time is running out for Big Billy to secure his spot on the plane and the pressure is increasing from all comers, including Wainwright, Jamie Ritchie and Josh van der Flier to name but a few.

4. Mako Vunipola- A veteran of two tours, the older Vunipola is also in danger of missing out on this year’s tour for similar reasons to those highlighted above.

Pressure is mounting for places in the front row as well as the back row and Vunipola is looking more and more vulnerable as the tour ticks closer. Rory Sutherland is many people’s tip for the number one jersey heading into the tests and there are several others putting their names into contention.

Wyn Jones has delivered strong performances to start the Six Nations and Gatland knows him from his time in charge of the Welsh set-up whilst Ellis Genge will be looking to make an impact with whatever minutes he can get.

3. Jonathan Davies- Man of the Series on the last two Lions tours, the Welsh centre now faces a race against time to regain his fitness and prove to Gatland that he deserves a spot on the plane down to South Africa.

While he is inline to return from injury for the Triple Crown clash with England on February 27^th, Davies needs to hit the ground running after the increase of people calling for Scotland’s Chris Harris and England’s Henry Slade to make the squad.

While Davies would probably be taken if he is available, fitness and form will both play a huge factor in determining whether or not Gatland can call on Foxy and see if he can make it 3 Man of The Series awards from 3 tours.

2. George North- Once considered the golden boy of Welsh rugby and the heir apparent to Shane Williams, George North’s stock has slipped gradually in the last few years due to a combination of injuries and a loss of form.

Reduced to a bit-part role against New Zealand four years ago before injury brought his tour to a premature end, North has now lost his place in the Welsh side to a combination of Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit.

Unless North is taken predominantly as an option to wear the number 13 jersey, it is becoming increasingly likely that the Welshman will miss out on selection for this year’s tour.

1. Owen Farrell- A year ago it would have seemed ludicrous to call Farrell’s place in the Lions starting line-up into doubt, let alone his place in the squad. Fast forward 12 months though and that is exactly the selection dilemma facing Warren Gatland as he prepares to take on the World Champions.

Following Saracens relegation from the Premiership, the England skipper has been devoid of top-level rugby in the run-up to the Six Nations and it has shown with his performances so far.

In the face of a fantastic Scottish wave at Twickenham, England looked decidedly rudderless with Farrell at 10 and even against whipping boys Italy, it was still largely down to moments of brilliance from Anthony Watson and Jonny May that they secured the victory.

Farrell needs to find some form and soon, or Gatland may be forced to leave him behind!