REPORT | British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa could be CANCELLED

If international fixtures don’t go ahead in the Autumn – or are played behind closed doors – the home countries are in danger of falling into an £80m black hole, claims the Mirror.

This would lead to some, if not all of the home unions going bankrupt.

Therefore, there is a survival plan being put into place, which would see more lucrative home Tests scheduled for the following summer.

Unfortunately, this means elbowing aside the Lions tour. which would be postponed for a year, or even scrapped completely.

A delayed tour could prove complicated – not just for the 35,000 Lions fans who had been expected to head to South Africa, but also for head coach Warren Gatland, who has a specific one-year sabbatical written into his current contract with the Chiefs in New Zealand.

The tourists’ three-test tour against the Springbojs had been expected to earn £30m but the hosts keep most of the revenue from TV money and gate receipts.

It had already been hit by the re-scheduling of the Tokyo Olympics, which will now compete for exposure over the three weekends starting on July 23 next year.

I then started thinking through all of those players who have represented this great establishment. I realised that I might well have been a bit too hasty in my acceptance. However, I have made my selections and I am ready to take the abuse! 

Just to give you some caveats for my selections. The squad is based on the players selected performances across all games, either domestically or internationally, not only based on their performances for the Lions. Also, picking players across generations in identical positions on a rugby field is pretty much impossible. The selections are based on players on their achievements, and whether their core skillsets would still be as strong today. Also, those players what is their playing reputations within their peers.

The squad size I have selected is 37 players (which on average of recent tours is around that number). The destination I have chosen for this fictional tour is the next destination for the British and Irish Lions, South Africa.

Looking back in these critical positions there is much talent (I common theme throughout all selections), so to narrow it down is very difficult. But the players I have selected are:

JPR Williams, Gavin Hastings, Gerald Davies, Tony O’Reilly, Jason Robinson and Andy Irvine. 

These selections give you sufficient cover at full-back with four players in Williams, Hastings, Robinson and Irvine all played internationally at 15. In terms of try threats, then Davies, O’Reilly, Robinson and Irvine gives you that as well from the wings and also you have some good kicking options there. 

I am looking for partnerships and also players who can give you a physical edge to be able to carry the ball. Also footballers who can spot opportunities in defensive lines. My choices are:

Brian O’Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, Bleddyn Williams, Mike Gibson and Will Greenwood

These selections give me three centres in O’Driscoll, Davies and Williams who are more comfortable in the outside-centre position but can be adaptable. Still. with Gibson, I have a football option at inside-centre. Greenwood was a fabulous centre, who can play at 12 or 13 comfortably, great hands and always a try threat.

This position has arguably given me the biggest selection headache. So many great tens for the Lions. If JPR is to be my test full-back which he would start, then I need a ten who is a consistent place kicker or look at other options. With that in mind, have selected the following:

Barry John, Jonny Wilkinson and Jackie Kyle

John and Kyle were just magicians in their time on a rugby field. Both were competent goal kickers but could be inconsistent. My safety net is the selection of Wilkinson. A prolific goal kicker, and also can slot in if required, at inside-centre. A nice option to have.

Again, been many outstanding nines for the Lions. I am looking for players who can provide exceptional service to the backs. Also, has a great relationship with his forwards and also the individual ability to keep the opposition guessing at all times. My choices are:

Gareth Edwards, Terry Holmes and Robert Howley

I make no excuses selecting three Welshman as my choices for scrum-half. Each of them in their respective careers at some stage was the best player in the world in their position. For those of you who never saw Holmes at his best then you missed out, he was immense.

Going to South Africa, you have to have a good base and be able to scrummage. Of course, this is the job of the whole pack of forwards, but it does start in the front five. My selections are:

Fran Cotton, Ian McLauchlan, Gethin Jenkins, Sandy Carmichael, Graham Price and Jason Leonard

All fantastic players as you would expect. Cotton and Leonard can play both sides of the scrum more than proficiently, so barring injuries, I have adequate cover in this position.

Looking for players who are good in the set-piece but also good ball carriers who can get a try or two on tour. My selections are:

Bryn Meredith, Keith Wood and Bobby Windsor.

Three tough, uncompromising, durable players who were the standout players of their generation in Britain and Irish rugby.

Need a combination of toughness and athletes in this position to compete with South Africa, so going with the following:

Willie John McBride (capt), Martin Johnson, Gordon Brown, Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O’Connell

I think I have a good blend with these selections which should secure good lineout ball and also have the doggedness for a battle with their South African counterparts.

Balance is the key here, don’t want to select too many specialist open-side flankers or too many ball carriers as a need to compete at the breakdown as well. Bearing all that in mind, I have come up with the following:

Roger Uttley, Richard Hill, Mervyn Davies, Lawrence Dallaglio, Fergus Slattery and Sam Warburton

Some really tough choices here. But, I feel I have a good balance with players who can compete in the key areas I mentioned. Also, be able to carry physically into contact against the Springboks.

So there you have my squad, some outstanding players missing out, as you would expect with the long history of the British and Irish Lions. It would be wrong of me after selecting that squad not to choose my 23 for a fictitious test match, and here it is:

Hastings, B Williams, Holmes, Jenkins, Meredith, Carmichael, Jones, Dallaglio.

Please let us know your thoughts at Ruck Rugby!