It’s one of the hottest debate topics egg-chasing has to offer.
Given we live in something of a green goldfish bowl on these Irish shores, there’s no harm getting input from elsewhere. And so we have the HarpinOnRugby Lions Selector Panel, made up of one fan from each nation, with even the Irish panellist based abroad.
And it is that very same Irish panellist Mark Jackson who gives us his latest selection today.
This month finds one big confused selector. Having set out my agenda on picking form players, I have found in certain positions over this past month and indeed since the season started a major struggle to fill positions with injuries and more than anything else, a serious lack of form and quality play from the people we would usually consider for the test jersey come tour time Down Under. Poor performance from all the Home Nations have been prevalent so far in Autumn Series and a serious level of improvement is needed come 6 Nations and end stages of the Leinster, sorry Heineken Cup.
So trying to stick to my original criteria, this months selection might cause a stir and one or two raised eyebrows. Realistically First Class is looking sparse with no one due an upgrade from an overflowing Economy section but these seats must be filled so here goes.
15. Alex Goode (Eng) . Improving all the time and gets in ahead of a shocker of a month from Halfpenny
14. Tommy Bowe (Ire) . Showed glimpes in SA test of the talent that he possesses
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ire) . In purely because of the dearth of quality centre play in the Autumn Series
12. Jonathan Davies (Wal) . Playing solidly rather than spectacularly before injury but better than compatriot Roberts
11. Tim Visser (Sco) 2 tries against the ABs is not to be sniffed at , but gloriously underutilised by the Scots
10. Jonathan Sexton (Ire) . Again nothing spectacular but best of a bunch of underperforming 10's
9 . Mike Philips (Wal) . Not on form but when he is he's a nuisance to play against , another position underperforming across the board
8 . Jamie Heaslip (Ire) . Seriously struggling to find a number 8 worthy , oh for a fit and healthy Sean O Brien
7. Steffon Armitage (Eng). Players player of the year in France is not to be sniffed at . Playing consistenly well in a serious pack of forwards
6. Stephen Ferris ( Ire). When he plays he is a colossus , no other 6's for me
5. Donnacha Ryan (Ire). He wont be anywhere near the final squad his abrassiveness and tackling earn him a role , just holding it till another second row steps up unfortunately
4. Nathan Hines (Sco) . Aging warhorse with great close off loading game , ripping it up in France
3. Dan Cole ( Eng) Poor showing vs , Aus but still best bet for me
2. Richardt Strauss (Ire) , All round game pips Ross Ford for hooking role
1. Andrew Sheridan (Eng) May not be wanted by Stuart Lancaster but scares the living shite of every Australian prop. Another performing week in week out in Top 14
Economy class : 15. Stuart Hogg 14. Alex Cuthbert 13. Manu Tuilagi 12. Jamie Roberts 11.George North 10. Freddie Burns 9. Danny Care
8. Toby Falatau 7. Sam Warburton 6. Dave Denton 5 . Ryan Jones 4. Richie Gray 3. Adam Jones 2. Dylan Hartley 1. Cian Healy
See you next month when the final Autumn Series games will surely (hopefully) have affected this bunch of (for now) pussycats into some Lion potential
MJ
Mark Jackson (@markusjacksonus) is an Irishman living in London, a lover of this game we call Rugby along with Gaelic Football and NFL (All Hail The New York Giants), having played it for fun and money in many countries around the globe, am now earning a crust coaching, hopefully inspiring and passing along some knowledge gained to the next generation of players.
We take the four panellists’ selections and put them together to form the HoR Composite Lions XV. Mark’s choices this week have really shaken up the pack – follow this link to take a look.
Next week, we go back to our English panellist Rich Church-Keen.
