Lions Selector Panel – Epilogue Pt2

Our Welsh panellist Hywel Davies looks back over the HoR Selector project…

Well, it's been a ball. All last season I was part of the Lions Selector panel on HOR2. Four of us representing the home nations gave our predictions for the first test line up.

This was the first composite team:

Pre season
15 LEIGH HALFPENNY (WALES)
14 ALEX CUTHBERT (WALES)
13 BRIAN O’DRISCOLL (IRELAND)
12 JAMIE ROBERTS (WALES)
11 GEORGE NORTH (WALES)
10 JONATHAN SEXTON (IRELAND)
9 MIKE PHILLIPS (WALES)
1 CIAN HEALY (IRELAND)
2 RICHARD HIBBARD (WALES)
3 ADAM JONES (WALES)
4 ALUN-WYN JONES (WALES)
5 JIM HAMILTON (SCOTLAND)
6 SAM WARBURTON (WALES)
7 JUSTIN TIPURIC (WALES)
8 SEAN O’BRIEN (IRELAND)

It's interesting to note that it's only an injury to Roberts which has robbed us of total accuracy in the backs. The forwards however are a dogs dinner. 3 out of 8, and one of them out of position! The only place injuries save our blushes are at loose head.

More interesting though is what this tells us about Home Nations rugby. Big backs are in vogue, and it is mightily impressive as such that O'(AP)Driscoll has made it to the test side. (Don't all cue up to berate me for that, I will be delighted if the old man shows the Aussies a thing or two)

Having the luxury of watching the season unfold the composite team changed to being...erm...equally inaccurate:

Post season
15 LEIGH HALFPENNY (WALES)
14 ALEX CUTHBERT (WALES)
13 MANU TUILAGI (ENGLAND)
12 BRIAN O'DRISCOLL (IRELAND)
11 GEORGE NORTH (WALES)
10 JONATHAN SEXTON (IRELAND)
9 MIKE PHILLIPS (WALES)
1 CIAN HEALY (IRELAND)
2 RICHARD HIBBARD (WALES)
3 ADAM JONES (WALES)
4 ALUN-WYN JONES (WALES)
5 JIM HAMILTON (SCOTLAND)
6 SAM WARBURTON (WALES)
7 JUSTIN TIPURIC (WALES)
8 JOHNNIE BEATTIE (SCOTLAND)

However I defy anybody outside fanatical Leicester or Leinster fans to have had Croft, Youngs or Heaslip as nailed on starters. O Connell of course was just playing with us, as a cat would, with a mutilated mouse.

Whereas Gatland's backs have his name written all over them, the type of forward selected is more of a surprise. Youngs may just be there for his throwing in, but Croft and Heaslip are not what we've come to think of as Gatland's type of men. They are bold calls, a nod to the Aussies, the pitch, and even Lions of the past. Who'd have thought it?

One thing was always certain though; It will be a blast.

1st Test team:
15 Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert
13 O'Driscoll
12 Davies
11 North
10 Sexton
9 Phillips
1 Corbisiero
2 Youngs
3 Jones
4 Jones
5 O'Connell
6 Croft
8 Heaslip
7 Warburton (c)

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

Lions Selector Panel–Epilogue (WAL)

Warren G has spoken – @HywelV2 has been giving us his predictions every 4 weeks throughout the season, here’s how he sees the squad.

Well flip me with a fish fork as they almost say. Gatland is the master ambush selector and his squad has not disappointed in talking points.

I'll start by saying I'm happy with the backs. But you're a Welshman I hear you exclaim, you love outside halves, why are there only two!

The answer to that my friends is that there aren't. There is an unannounced A.N. Other in this squad. Gatland had said he would take an utility back who could cover at outside half. That is Farell. He hasn't announced his second outside half to go with Sexton yet.

This is not conspiracy theory, he said he didn't want players who would be involved in the French domestic final. He is waiting on Wilkinson. If Toulon get knocked out in the play offs there will be a "shock" announcement. Sir Johnny of 'Tdropgoal will be the 38th man. The BBC will be happy. If not it will be Biggar or Madigan; and I would suggest that either's inclusion would be the far more newsworthy event.

Turning to the forwards. This is where I lose our Warren.

He was a rough, tough hooker as a player. The sort of man you would expect to 'get' the front five instinctively. Yes he plays a formulaic game, yes he was a great coach of Wasps in the English set up where he developed "Gatlandball". If I had to put the mortgage on English forwards that fitted his style of play they would be Launchberry and Wood. Both are omitted.

We then turn to Stevens, Hartley, Parling and Croft. Nothing in Gatland's Wasps or Wales selections explains to me why these players got into his squad. They don't fit his mould. Which begs the question, is this his squad?

Brian Moore's instant reaction was that Gatland "had earned our trust". There was a genuine concern that Wales would dominate the squad or that Scotland would not be represented over tokenism. It seems that he has avoided that. Is it though a ploy, or has he done it at the behest of those who put him where he is. Either way I am shocked that players like Ryan, Grant, James and Brown have lost out.

People are saying that injuries will alter the squad. Of course, but what if the wrong lads get injured...
So, anyway, here is my predicted first test XXIII from the Gatland squad

15 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
14 Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13 Manu Tuilagi (England)
12 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11 George North (Wales)
10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
9 Mike Phillips (Wales)
1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2 Richard Hibbard (Wales)
3 Adam Jones (Wales)
4 Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
5 Richie Gray (Scotland)
6 Sean O'Brien (Ireland)
8 Toby Faletau (Wales)
7 Sam Warburton (Wales, captain)

16 Cian Healy (Ireland) 17 Dylan Hartley (England) 18 Dan Cole (England) 19 Paul O'Connell (Ireland) 20 Tom Croft (England) 21 Conor Murray (Ireland) 22 Owen Farrell (England) 23 Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

Lions Selector Panel–8th Round (WAL)

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.  This week it’s the turn of our Welsh panellist Hywel Davies.

Well, that Championship started well, went off a bit and finished with a bang. England are still a good team as are Ireland. I do not subscribe to the idea of "Wales +"

15 Halfpenny - rock solid

14 Zebo - The Lions would miss him as much as Ireland have. He has that spark.

13 Tuilagi - a poor game against Wales not enough to put me off him

12 Twelvetrees - the best of his type and because I think we will have to create

11 North - one day an ankle tap attempt will miss.

10 Biggar - from being charged down by Best in the opener to sparking the big Welsh backs into life in the decider. What a journey. Most importantly he has a very good partnership with:

9 Phillips - the bigger the game, the better he plays. Concerned about his pass? Take a look at Biggar's drop goal in the England match.

1 Jenkins - played back into form on the biggest stage

2 Hibbard - one of the toughest calls. However I've opted to keep the National units together, this front row and the Irish. You could make an argument for starting the Irish, but I think this unit would be the bigger challenge to the Aussie scrum to start.

3 Adam Jones. Cole is tall for a tight head. Wales exposed this chink in his armour at the scrum.

4 Ryan - a beacon in a stuttering Irish side. Is everywhere, a hard nut.

5 Evans - has matured into a class operator.

6 Wood - the failed experiment at number 8 should not undermine his credentials as a blind side.

7 Tipuric - when given his chance has grabbed it with both hands, not as big as Warburton, but has a more vision in open play I feel.

8 Beattie (c) - big, mobile ball handler.

16 Healy 17 Best 18 Ross 19 AW Jones 20 Warburton 21 Laidlaw 22 Madigan 23 Jonathan Davies

P.S. WRU - central contracting would be a big mistake...

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

Diolch yn fawr Hywel! We now put the four panellists’ selections together to make the HoR Composite Lions XV. Click here to see how it stands.  Next Friday we hear from our Scottish representative Kirsten Bruce.

Lions Selector Panel–7th Round (WAL)

Would you want to be in Head Coach, Warren Gatland’s shoes right now? We asked HSBC Ambassador & Lions legend Gavin Hastings how much the 6 Nations performances will be influencing the Head Coach’s upcoming Lions selection. Click here to find out what he had to say.

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.  This week it’s the turn of our Welsh panellist Hywel Davies.

15 Kearney - especially if it becomes an aerial battle with Halfpenny being another shorty on the wing tempting the Aussies to kick.

14 Halfpenny - the Aussies have nightmares about his long range kicking after last summer's Wales tour. That will give Mr Pocock something to think about around the half way line.

Centres Tuilagi and Twelvetrees - the Wales game it seems may have been a solitary high for O'Driscoll in this championship. Gatland is hard nosed and will make the tough call, something it seems Ireland are not used to. Tuilagi is more than capable of attacking at 13 and defending at 12. If you don't go with O'Driscoll though you need Twelvetrees or Scott to provide some mid field flair.

11 North - seems to be having an injury free run of games, which is unusual. There is little point in picking him though, unless the other backs give him the ball in a bit of space or close to the line, another reason for a play making centre.

10 Farrell - if he can control the excesses seen in the France game, he should make a big impact on this tour. Sexton is a class act and Biggar is growing in stature game by game.

9 Phillips - the bigger the game the better he is. I make no claims for his service. I rate his presence.

1 Grant - the find of the championship in the front row.

2 Hibbard - dynamic ball carrier and scrummager

3 Cole - scrummages well and adds something in the rucks.

4 Gray (c) - athlete. I've stuck with him throughout and believe he is showing why currently.

5 Launchbery - the outstanding front five forward of this championship. However either of Evans and Ryan would also make a decent pairing with Gray.

6 Wood - plays akin to Richard Hill. Does everything right, without fuss.

8 Beattie - With a mobile front five, he can concentrate in what he does best, good old fashioned number 8 play.

7 Robshaw - There are two schools of thought as to how to deal with players like Pocock, Brussow and McCaw when in his previous role on the open side. One is to fight fire with fire and go for a traditional open side to scrap on the floor. Tipuric or Rennie would be key to that plan. The other is to take a completely different attitude and rely on the brute force of your back row as an unit to smash them off the ball and draw their forwards into the rucks and mauls. England have chosen the latter option and have in Wood and Robshaw an excellent partnership on the flanks. It seems to work for them, so why not?

16-23 James, Best, A Jones, AW Jones, R Jones, Care, Flood, Hogg.

I suspect I will cop flack for only one Irishman being picked to start. So be it. Can any Irish fans look me in the eye and say their players' form matches their reputations currently? Healy has shown a lack of discipline, Best risks giving away silly penalties, O'Brien and Heaslip are not looking themselves.

I will be the first man to admit I was wrong if Ireland hammer France and Italy with bravura performances from these players. However, there seem to be motivational and performance deficiencies evident.

Does the Lions coach really need to be in the position of trying to sort out these deficiencies for the luxury of having four nations feeling adequately represented? Does he take players from the one squad on the way down, or the three on the way up?

In the positive column for our hibernian cousins, Zebo, Ferris and O'Connell when fit could well transform their fortunes. Players like Madigan, Jackson and Keatley are chomping at the bit. The irony is of course that it was Gatland as Irish coach that gave the 'golden generation' their chance whilst young and inexperienced men at the turn of the century.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

Diolch yn fawr Hywel!  These selections have made a couple of changes to the HoR Composite Lions XV, which is taken from the selections of the four panellists put together.  Click here to see how it stands.  Next Friday we hear from our Scottish representative Kirsten Bruce.

Lions Selector Panel–6th Round (WAL)

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.

Well, what better time to be up for my turn than this week? The critics of the 6 Nations were put back in their box last Saturday. The home nations paired off to produce two excellent games.

In as much as some players made strong cases for inclusion, I feel that a number of players demonstrated sound reasons for their replacement. There will be English and Scottish fans that believe the other two nations would be lucky to field anybody after Wales' lacklustre start and Ireland's fit of panic.

However I would select:

15 Kearney - the guy oozes class, is rock solid and an attacking threat.
14 Halfpenny - if in doubt look at his try and his tackle on O'Brien. His kicking is a massive asset.
13 BOD - do you really need me to tell you why?
12 Tuilagi - the toughest choice. Twelvetrees and Scott were excellent and are hard on his tail.
11 Zebo - it's nice to see that Rugby is still a game which reveres individual skills. That kick and catch was sublime. He has 'it'.
10 Farrell - Mr Dependable, but also showed excellent vision for Parling's try. Sexton didn't do much wrong, but he needed to rally Ireland when Best went off. He didn't.
9 Youngs - Lancaster has moulded his erstwhile prima donnas into Grand Slam contenders. He has maturity, a good pass and pace.
1 James - the best scrummaging loose head around.
2 Best - in magnificent form.
3 Cole - not just excellent in the scrum, is a decent operator at rucks and mauls
A note here. On the bench you will see another fine scrummaging front row for second half impact.
4 Gray (c) - there may be better second rows, but for Australia you need this sort of athlete.
5 Launchbery - at the heart of an excellent English front five.
6 Wood - he is timing his rise to prominence beautifully. He wrecked Scottish resistance very effectively and showed a turn of pace on the ball.
8 Beattie - big, strong and quick. Showing the influence of playing in France.
7 Haskell - a cameo performance but its clear that he is excellent in the tight game he didn't used to bother much with. Another big success for Lancaster.

16-23 Sheridan, Youngs, Jones, Ryan Jones, Tipuric, Phillips, Sexton, Hogg.

As to other players, I think that Owens, Robshaw, Twelvetrees, Brown, Scott, McCarthy and Ryan made big cases for inclusion in the wider squad.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

This latest selection has made some changes to the Composite XV…follow this link to see how it shapes up.  Next week it’s the turn of our Scottish panellist Kirsten Bruce.

Lions Selector Panel–5th Round (WAL)

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.

This week it’s the turn of Welsh panellist Hywel Davies.

Right, its time to reignite this debate.

Over Christmas everybody's mind turns to domestic matters. That's just as true in rugby with the derby season in the RaboDirectPRO12 and the Aviva Premiership. Now with the 6 Nations around the corner the team has a feel of anticipation about it.

If this was the BBC's 6 Nations coverage the music for 'Ones to watch' would be striking up.

However the eagle-eyed amongst you will spot the odd player who is not flavour of the month with National selectors.

The team:

15-8 Goode, Sharples, Tuilagi, Davies, Halfpenny, Sexton, Phillips

1-8 D Jones, Hibbard, A Jones, Gray (c), Evans, Wood, Tipuric, O'Brien

16-23 Sheridan, Youngs, Ross, Launchbury, R Jones, Care, Burns, Liam Williams.

If you're trying to read into that who I think will win the 6 Nations, then don't. It will be England. However as the team suggests I suspect the success of England will come from their backs. Their forwards as an unit are handy, if not as dominant as the packs of the 90s were. In my mind their individuals won't necessarily fit in to the mobile pack needed to play Australia out there.

The front row is the best scrummaging unit in the Northern hemisphere. The second rows are athletic and mobile enough to give aid to the flankers in their crucial quest to nullify the Aussie back row. O'Brien is there to carry. Ryan Jones' intelligence in spoiling later on in matches means he covers the back five.

In the backs, Bowe's injury makes room for Sharples. Sexton keeps his shirt, just. He has a long distance kicker to take the pressure off in the shape of Halfpenny. Davies, Tuilagi, Sharples and Goode should be capable of using any decent ball and Sexton is there to make them tick. I wouldn't have O'Gara touring even to give this lad his space. Burns is an exciting player to bring on if things open up.

I'm still open minded on Henson, but couldn't possibly draft him in whilst he is injured.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

This latest selection has made some changes to the Composite XV…follow this link to see how it shapes up.  Next week it’s the turn of our Scottish panellist Kirsten Bruce.

Lions Selector Panel–4th Round (WAL)

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.

This week it’s the turn of Welsh panellist Hywel Davies.

The annual marketing charade is over. The Southern Hemisphere teams are returning home with the funds that will help keep them afloat for another year, whilst the six nation unions milk the cash cow once again.

Cherished traditions have been sacrificed or prostituted on the alter of professionalism. Where working men who had played and who understood the game once stood big event people sit, in pink cowboy hats and valley boy t shirts, screaming at panning tv cameras.

It says it all that the WRU on twitter retweeted a lady getting very excited as she was attending the Samoa match "my first live rugby match ever".

But, we have a clearer picture of the players as a result. All the home nations had their ups and downs, but some players, even those in a terrible Welsh team, stood out of the crowd.

Kearney is not fit, and Halfpenny's stint at the Blues means he's not playing quality rugby often enough and it shows. I agree with Jonathan Davies, Halfpenny is a winger first. His distance kicking is a big asset and he has been a constant thorn in Australia's side in the past year and a bit. Kearney has shown that when fit he has that little bit extra and is the best technically of the choices available, but how can he be assessed when not playing? Liam Williams is a barnstormer and if he has a good 6 Nations he may well come into contention, but for his attacking instinct and pace, I'm going to plump for Alex Goode at fullback with Halfpenny on the wing.

Bowe and Visser are natural try scorers. Cuthbert offers hard running, Brown pace. Gilroy gives that little something special in that he can operate in tight spaces a la Shane Williams. If in doubt though, go with the tries and the master opportunist in the shape of Tommy Bowe.

Jonathan Davies is maturing nicely and is a dangerous open field runner, whilst Tuilagi is a better option at inside centre than Roberts who won't have BOD to make room for him. Tuilagi is a big game player and strong as an ox.

Sexton will blossom under a different regime I'm sure. Burns will have his day, he is doing the business for Gloucester, but it would be nice to see him tested in the 6 Nations.

Mike Phillips. What to make of him. An enigma, a pain, a lunatic? However he proved against New Zealand that he lifts the team around him by his very presence and is certainly a big game player, the bigger the challenge the better he plays. No other contender has this presence. Others have better technique, but he is the sort of man you read about leading a small band to successfully storm a machine gun nest in the First World War. He has charisma. He leads, from the front.

Sheridan and Cole are currently the best scrummagers around and can give something around the field. Healy and Jones will tour and may well advance their causes by the end of the 6 Nations. Owens' series of cameos in the autumn internationals showed that he is prepared to tear fearlessly into the opposition to good effect and is tall enough to hook between the first choice props.

I've seen nothing to deflect me from my views on the second rows.

The back row. Warburton put in his best shifts since the World Cup against New Zealand and Australia. Tipuric just oozes class. Which to choose? Both. They can play left and right. They can both carry ball and the competition between them can be mutually beneficial. O Brien is an excellent carrier as would Denton and Faletau be.

The England team is settling under Lancaster and with Ireland they come out of the series on the up. Whilst the historic win against New Zealand will be old news by the first test, and whilst we must guard against giving too much credit to England for one performance, this is the best England side since 2003.

15-9 Goode, Bowe, Tuilagi, Davies, Halfpenny, Sexton, Phillips

1-8 Sheridan, K Owens, Cole, Gray (c), Evans, Tipuric, Warburton, O Brien

16-23 Corbisiero, Youngs, Ross, Launchbury, Wood, Youngs, Burns, Liam Williams.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

This latest selection has made some changes to the Composite XV…follow this link to see how it shapes up.  Next week it’s the turn of our Scottish panellist Kirsten Bruce.

Lions Selector Panel–3rd Round (WAL)

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.

This week it’s the turn of Welsh panellist Hywel Davies.

Right, where to start.

My team wasn't exciting enough. It was lacking individuality, my mark if you like. I was sat in a Scottish pub drinking Irish stout watching English clubs play on TV, one of whom is coached by a Welshman. It hit me. I've been thinking too much like Gatland. I mean, you can hardly blame me. The Welsh fans have been conditioned into expecting the entirely expected when it comes to Welsh selections since 2008.

So, the back line.

15-9 Hogg, Halfpenny, North, Tuilagi, Visser, Burns, Care

Hogg would be a cast iron starter if he was any other nationality or played in another league. He has speed, guts, flair, and a young O'Driscoll like unpredictability. I think he and Halfpenny will complement each other. It leaves a little susceptibility under the high ball, but if the Aussies adopt that tactic it will be a surprise and anyway North can always drop back in defence.

The great Mark Ring believes North is truly a centre in the making, and he should know. If the rest of you disagree I'll expect to see videos of you back heeling drop goal conversions before I take your opinion over his. Tuilagi is on an upward trajectory in form. That's a partnership to strike fear into the opposition and that power is needed in attack and defence given the flyers in the back three.

Burns demolition of Leicester for Gloucester gives me confidence that he's an international class player. A berth will be found for him in the elite player squad in January and he could set the 6 nations alight. In Nigel Davies he has just the mentor he needs to step up. Care is back in a white shirt due to club form and the Lions can benefit from this halfback partnership IF Lancaster has the guts to develop it properly.

Turning to the pack.

1-8 D Jones, Cronin, Jones, Gray (c) Evans, Denton, Tipuric, R Jones

Jenkins' ship has not only failed to come in, it's stuck in a storm in the Bay of Biscay. The man who is the Brynmor Williams to his Gareth Edwards, Duncan Jones, is a hard scrummager, mobile and tackles fantastically well. The back row is a war zone currently. Who knows who will be fit by then. Denton is a shining light in a poor Edinburgh side and can free Ryan Jones up to play the intelligent type of game he has shown in the Liberty so well this season and the last. Tipuric is a star. With the extra quality of men around him he can truly shine.

Bench

16-22 Healy, Best, Cole, Faletau, Phillips, Sexton, L Williams.

Bit of mobility in the pack, experienced half backs to steady the ship if needed.

As for those on the cusp, Gavin Henson is doing well for London Welsh. The English front row may also put the pressure on if they do well in the Autumn matches, tight head cover being a burning issue in Adam Jones' absence.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

When we put the four panellist’s selections together we get the HoR Composite Lions XV, and Hywel’s selections this week mean there is one change to the side. Click here to find out what it is.

Next week we’ll hear more from our Scottish panellist.

Lions Selector Panel–2nd Round (WAL)

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.

This week it’s the turn of Welsh panellist Hywel Davies.

So the start of season, cobweb clearing, phoney war, pre Heineken Cup section of the season draws to a close.

It is still early days and nobody can be described as being in an unassailable position.

However, let's look at the centres.

Changes: 12 and 13 O'Driscoll and Earls.

This shows a shift of philosophy on my part. O' Driscoll is so far ahead of any other centre in terms of play making his partner will play better than at any other time in their lives. Roberts on the last Lions tour and the continuing professional rugby career of Gordon D'Arcy are the best examples of this. So why not 12 Roberts and 13 O' Driscoll?

Because neither has the outright pace for outside centre that will be needed in Australia. That's where Earls comes in. He's the quickest centre around and is a natural try scorer. I started with putting him in at 13 in fact. His hunger in attack and defence has been apparent in the misfiring Munster side. I was then wracking my brain for a New Zealand style play making inside centre (The third 15/16th or whatever the Kiwis call it) which are largely out of fashion in domestic rugby - due to the first and main requirement of any back currently, of course, being defence (note - sarcasm).

There are no new Jeremy Guscotts out there ladies and gentlemen. Steve Shingler is the type, but not the quality. In my mind two players could take on the roll from other positions and those are Sexton and O' Driscoll. Clearly the better option is O'Driscoll in my view. He is a centre, has the skill and in my mind needs to make this transition for his own sake.

Elsewhere:

Lydiate's ankle isn't as bad as first thought in that its only broken as opposed to broken and dislocated. He will be playing by the Spring apparently. He is a tough farmer of course. He has overcome a broken neck so breaking an ankle is a trifle. However in his absence I would play Warburton on the blind. He has played all three back row positions in his time and has the quality. This also leads to a shuffle of bench forwards. Best also comes back onto the bench as the lynch pin in a mightily impressive Ulster pack.

Whilst I propose to make no other changes at all, I will say that Gethin Jenkins and Mike Phillips are walking the tight rope currently.

If Jenkins can't convince the Toulon management that he can scrummage, then it calls into question whether he would be a passenger in this Lions scrum. His other contribution is without doubt, but this pack needs to smash the Aussie scrum. Corbisiero should press his case as the option for Healy. Duncan Jones would be a fine outside bet but it will never happen due to the over representation of the current Welsh management (who have persistently failed/refused to acknowledge his class) on this Lions tour.

Mike Phillips' well publicised difficulties at Bayonne do not rule him out for me. I can't see him finishing the season there and he would be an useful addition to any domestic club, region or province. However he needs to show in the 6 Nations and beyond a rising plane of form.

Finally, keep an eye out for Gavin Henson. We haven't seen the last of him internationally. Gatland likes him. Lyn Jones can handle him and keep his head right for Premiership Rugby. He is just as likely be filming on a beach somewhere during the Six Nations however, but the fact he's an enigma doesn't make him a poor player. He has a huge class, especially in running a tight defensive line.

As we progress, I fully expect the Heineken cup to dredge up some bolters for consideration, especially from the Premiership clubs.

Therefore:

15-9 Halfpenny, North, Earls, O' Driscoll, Visser, Madigan, Phillips

1-8 Jenkins, Cronin, Jones, Gray (c) Evans, Warburton, O' Brien, Tipuric

16-22 Healy, Best, Ryan Jones, Ferris, Knoyle, Sexton, Williams.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. A bundle of contradictions, he is a Solicitor and Farmer, a Scarlets supporter and a "conservative, forward orientated typical blydi prop".

Does this mean there are any changes to the HoR Composite Lions XV? Click here to find out.

Next week we’ll hear more from our Scottish panellist.

Lions Selector Panel–1st Round (WAL)

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.

They have each already given their preseason picks, time to start basing them on this season’s form.  This week for our Welsh panellist Hywel Davies has another look at his selection.

Right, two games in have I seen anything to change my mind?

This was my original XXII:

15- 9 Halfpenny, Strettle, Roberts, Tuilagi, Earls, Sexton, Phillips.

1-8 Jenkins, Cronin, Jones, Gray (c) Evans, Lydiate, O'Brien, Tipuric.

16-22 Healy, Best, Ryan Jones, Ferris, Webb, Farrell, Kearney.

I don't think we have learned that much from the first two games to be honest, but still I have amended my team:

IN

14 George North. He looks hungry for the line. I am a sceptic and almost allergic to hype, but you can't deny that if he's fit, on form and in the zone, he is like a wrecking ball in midfield and close to the line.

11 Tim McVisser. You can't deny his scoring record. We have not seen enough. Does he have the football for Lions rugby? I am still not convinced, but how else will we find out? The most precarious of selections.

10 Ian Madigan. The Irish selection policy is strangling young talent at provincial and national level. This guy is a star. Keep your "game management", give me a natural attacker at outside half every time, especially down under.

16 Ken Owens. The Sheriff has always had the physicality but is developing the maturity. I think he smells the chance of being top dog and usurping the incumbent at club level. If he does that there's no holding him back. He should study the video of Llanelli Scarlets v Munster in the HC quarter final in 07/08 to see why Rees is (was) rated.

19 Aaron Shingler. The perfect bench player. OK, there's not enough of him to get a start, but he'll get about in defence and attack and is an athlete and a footballer.

20 Tavis Knoyle. The surprise package of this season for me so far. He gives you what Phillips gives you with a better pass. He just needs to work on his vision, but then again so does big Mike.

21 Jonathan Sexton. Bet hedging if I'm wrong about the attacking outside half!

22 Williams. No not JPR, Liam "Sanjay" Williams (If I could guarantee not being sued get I'd question whether there was a blood tie, but I can't, so I won't) I saw him first in the Low Value cup thrashing of Leicester at Parc Y Scarlets the day we lost to France in the World Cup. He had attitude in buckets and a thirst to attack and score. He raised my spirits that day and has ever since. A "bolter" in the making.

I won't commit to not resurrecting some of those discarded.

The most interesting thing for me now though is the choice of back room staff to go with Gatland.

I wouldn't have gone for Gatland in the first place, but now that they have I would suggest:

Edwards - defence

Feek - forwards

O' Shea - backs

Jenkins - kicking.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. He will never tire of telling you he was in school with one Shane Williams. One of those people who listened to his parents, he got a 'proper job' and is now a Partner in a firm of Solicitors. He also finds time to be a part time farmer and is married with a young daughter. He is a product of the Rugby tradition of the West Wales coalfield. If you don't know what that means, rest assured, he'll tell you!

Hywel’s selections means there are a couple of changes to the HoR Composite Lions XV, follow this link to see how the team stacks up.  He’ll be back in four weeks to let us know if he has any more changes to make, next week it’s the turn of our Scottish panellist Kirsten Bruce.

Lions Selector Panel : Preseason selection 2

Over the coming season, our Lions Selector Panellists will be taking turns to pick their ideal Lions 2013 starting XV so we can see how they evolve based on form throughout the campaign.  This week, it’s the turn of our Welsh panellist Hywel Davies.

The “pick your Lions XV” game is a staple pastime of all true rugby fans on these islands. As fun as they are futile, the pre-season selection must be the most thankless of thankless tasks. I am fully aware as I type this that a record for posterity (or until the actual XV for the first test is announced) is being created as a source of future ridicule.

Mine I think though will be different. Firstly I can be an awkward like that and secondly my XV will actually be a match day squad as the starting XV does not have nearly as much relevance now as it once had. Also I am not listing my favourite or best players, I aim to select a balanced side.

So, if you've stopped laughing, here goes; the squad based on last season's performances and a little crystal ball gazing:

15 Halfpenny. Without question his place kicking is vital, especially from distance and as with Jenkins in '97 a berth will be found for him. There is a strong argument that Kearney is a better full back, but personally I don't think what he adds outweighs what would be lost in not playing Halfpenny, or in playing him on the wing.

14 Strettle. Much as would love to say North, he is injury prone. I also believe his game has already been 'picked'. I suspect young George needs to have things created for him and that is not a luxury the Lions can afford. Strettle has explosive pace and a killer instinct for the line.

13 Roberts. The fabled 'good big one'. A tour too far for Mr O'Driscoll. This could be the zenith of Robert's career.

12 Tuilagi. A huge talent being mismanaged at national level, much like his centre partner before the '09 tour...

11 Earls. Left field choice I know. Not done anything since '09 I know. I just have the feeling that he is bursting with ambition and is more suited to the hard Australian pitches than the bigger men. I would love to see Fitzgerald in contention but can' t possibly go with him now. McVisser will be found out at international level. Now if you're going to tempt fate, do it in style I say!

10 Sexton. Without the kicking duties and with an attacking brief he should shine. Has the grit and and HC winner's medals to show that the mental toughness that Priestland lacks. Edges Farrell on experience.

9 Phillips. Not my favourite scrum half, but then neither was Terry Holmes. They were both excellent players though. The other players will love to have Big Mike on the field. Anyone who saw him lift Wales in the last minutes in the Aviva in the spring will know what I mean.

1 Jenkins. This tour is custom made for him. The second easiest choice of the lot.

2 Cronin. Would be first choice for any other nation. Hooker is a weak position for this tour. His speed around the park will be vital.

3 Jones.

4 Gray. (c) Token Scot...joking. He has the athletic ability and pace needed down under in buckets. Just the man you want to look the other captain in the eye when the ref is tossing the coin.

5 Evans. The man of the Six Nations for me. Has lost his head in domestic rugby many times, but I now think that was because 'normal' rugby isn't enough of a challenge for him. With Grey will take a lot of pressure of the back row in their battle with Pocock.

6 Lydiate. Tackle machine. Berated by other nations fans in that they think the 'unseen work' spoken of by Welsh fans is actually undone work. However his ability to tackle ball carriers well behind the gain line is not measured by any stat I have yet seen.

8 O'Brien. Why pick a player out of position in one of the most competitive positions? Because number 8 is his position. I think he can do what all of his challengers can do, and if properly motivated more.

7 Tipuric. Better than Warburton and more likely to be fit. More rounded than Rennie as he is also a decent ball carrier.

16 Healy - able understudy to Jenkins.

17 Best - ahem, best of a poor lot.

18 Ryan Jones - Mr Reliable or Mr Adaptable, take your pick.

19 Ferris - Impact crater sub.

20 Webb - an option for a more attacking gameplan later on.

21 Farrell - covers 10,12,13.

22 Kearney - just too good not to be involved at all.

So that's a start. I would love to find places for Alun Wyn, O'Connell, Rennie, Wood, Jonathan Davies etc and who knows it's still early days. There are always surprising players that end up in the team. It may be JJ Hanrahan or Liam Davies, Milton Yarde or Colin Gregor. It's going to be fun finding out.

Hywel (@HywelV2) is head Rugby writer on the v2 Journal. He will never tire of telling you he was in school with one Shane Williams. One of those people who listened to his parents, he got a 'proper job' and is now a Partner in a firm of Solicitors. He also finds time to be a part time farmer and is married with a young daughter. He is a product of the Rugby tradition of the West Wales coalfield. If you don't know what that means, rest assured, he'll tell you!

Hywel will be back to us in 4 weeks to let us know if he has seen anything to change his mind.  Next week, we meet our Scottish panellist.

Click here for last week’s preseason selection from our English panellist.