With all expectations being that the Lions forwards will, for the most part, have their way with the Wallaby pack, the eyes of fortune then turn their way towards the halfbacks. The men who would steer the ship to glory have in recent times been more navigator than magician, and once again there is a limited amount of outright class available to get the job done. Less so, perhaps, at scrumhalf than flyhalf, but both positions have their problems.
Interestingly there are five scrumhalves currently plying their trades in the professional ranks who have prior Lions experience, but of those you would bet on only Mike Phillips returning to the fold this time around. Tomas O’Leary is out after having back surgery, Mike Blair has stepped back from international rugby, Dwayne Peel has been in and out of his Sale side in recent months, and there is currently no timetable on Chris Cusiter’s return from a shoulder injury suffered in September. If we’re honest none of those were likely to contend for one of the three scrumhalf spots anyway, though Cusiter could find himself as a non-travelling reserve if he does manage to recover form and fitness.
On his day Phillips is world class and despite his languid passing game he can create space for his backs by being a constant threat around the fringes with his size and strength. Unfortunately he has rarely of late achieved anything close to his best with any sort of consistency, to the extent that Welsh caretaker Rob Howley has publicly admitted that Phillips is living on reputation rather than performance. Given that there are realistically no viable Welsh alternatives, a decidedly unappetizing Irish nominee in Conor Murray, and a thoroughly confused Greig Laidlaw in the north, it’s fair to assume that the best options lie across the Severn Bridge.
England have always had a few capable scrumhalves milling about, but rarely have they had two as stylishly competitive as Ben Youngs and Danny Care. Both are quick on the ball, nippy around the fringes, and not short on confidence with the mouth. Care has the better pass, but Youngs has a little more to him and has a real x-factor that can change a game in an instant. To have started, and won, a test match against the All Blacks at the age of 23 is no small feat, and when push comes to shove you’d have to think that he is now very much in the frame to start the first test in Brisbane. Surely there is plenty of rugby to be played between now and then, but it would be a surprise if the three scrumhalves named to tour were not Phillips, Care, and Youngs.
The test flyhalf, barring injury, will be Jonathan Sexton. Three Heineken Cup victories in four years says it all about his competitiveness and ability to perform under pressure. He’s not going to make many line breaks or snap drop goals, but his decision making, kicking both tactically and for goal, and defense are all top notch. The question is who are to be his deputies?
After the World Cup you would have been forgiven for having Rhys Priestland as a top contender, but a disturbingly steep dip in form followed by a serious achilles injury has now ruled him out. Wales will now feature James Hook and Dan Biggar at flyhalf for the Six Nations and either could make the tour on ability, but their composure will be hotly under the microscope. Biggar is a similar sort to Sexton, but Hook offers not only previous Lions experience but a running and passing game that only one other candidate can lay claim to.
If anyone is to become a “bolter” selection it is Freddie Burns of Gloucester. After winning his first cap in that New Zealand test he has been elevated to the senior English bracket and his footballing qualities are probably the best in show, but he is unproven at test level and still developing physically. All indications are that he is a sure-bet for Lions honours at some point, but this one may yet prove too soon. Meanwhile despite being some sixteen months younger, Owen Farrell is already a physical specimen as a flyhalf, no doubt genetics having something to do with it. The Saracens star is already a test goal kicker and has matured at an incredible rate, having made great strides in the past twelve months, such that England incumbent Toby Flood is now on the outside looking in. The elder of Leicester’s flyhalf duo has had spurts of real quality on the international stage and yet after 53 caps has failed to convince anyone outside of Welford Road that he is up to snuff in Lions terms.
One name being not-so-quietly shuffled about in the media, and indeed mentioned by Warren Gatland himself, is that of Jonny Wilkinson. The World Cup winning legend has retired from England duty but has led his club to the top of both the French Top 14, where he is also the leading points scorer, and their Heineken Cup pool. With two tours already under his belt and unrivalled respect around the rugby world, the Lions could do worse than to look to the great man to go on one last journey, if only to lead the midweek side and act as a beacon of professionalism for the younger lights to look up to.
Pack Your Bags
9 – Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs, Danny Care
10 – Jonathan Sexton, Owen Farrell
There Or Thereabouts
9 – Chris Cusiter, Greig Laidlaw, Lee Dickson
10 – Freddie Burns, James Hook, Dan Biggar, Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood
