GETTING AHEAD OF ourselves? You bet your ass we are!
The Lions’ tour of Australia come to something of a bittersweet end for the Irish sports fan. So we thought we’d take the opportunity to crank up the hype machine in good time for 2017 and the tour New Zealand.
By then the Lions will be out to end a 46-year wait for a win in the Land of the Long White Cloud, but we’ll still be arguing over selection and which province/country has the most players on Gatty/Schmidt/Lancaster/Geech ‘s big tour south.
Best get starting then, ay?
Cian Healy
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 29 and still among the top looseheads in Europe. Was the basis for all the optimism at the scrum in 2013 so will have to dislodge Alex Corbisiero.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be... 27 and still lighting up the Heineken Cup and Six Nations. Gained a huge amount of respect in 2013 even if being a ‘good tourist’ is not the compliment he was looking for.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 25 and a dominant force in Ireland’s second row. Made his international breakthrough in 2012 and his ability to cover a spot in the back row can only help his cause.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 28 and dictating the play for Munster and Ireland. Experience and impressive outing in Australia 2013 tour will make him a favourite for any coach picking a squad, but he may still be competing against Ben Youngs.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 26 and one of the best creative inside centres in Europe. Has the kicking and distribution to help any out-half and may well have a nice combination going with Jonathan Sexton to make picking Jamie Roberts (who will be 30) a difficult decision.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 24 and a regular feature in Ulster and Ireland’s back-line. Having made a home for himself at number 12 after arriving on the scene as a fullback, Olding looks likely to move again, to outside centre. That kind of versatility – not to mention his pace and eye for a gap – is invaluable on a long tour in the southern hemisphere.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 24 and a fullback with considerable international experience. The Connacht man is another who can perform more than a decent job at outside centre, so that flexibility could help him be called as an understudy for (then 28-year-old) Leigh Halfpenny.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… A 30-year-old beast in the back row and a potential captain of the tour. Showed his hunger to play in any spot in the back row in Australia and did untold good work in the pivotal final Test to lay the platform before being called ashore injured.
Jonathan Sexton
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… Just shy of his 32nd birthday but long returned from France having won everything (bar perhaps a World Cup and Premiership title) the game can offer him. His form will do Ian Madigan no favours. Another potential captain and a player the All Blacks will fear with Dan Carter having retired.
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… Munster’s 27 year-old captain and the steel in Ireland’s back row. Another who can do a job all across the back row and an intense character who won’t be caught flat-footed in tough matches down in Invercargill or Dunedin.
Planning ahead: 10 Irish players who could line out for the Lions in 2017
GETTING AHEAD OF ourselves? You bet your ass we are!
The Lions’ tour of Australia come to something of a bittersweet end for the Irish sports fan. So we thought we’d take the opportunity to crank up the hype machine in good time for 2017 and the tour New Zealand.
By then the Lions will be out to end a 46-year wait for a win in the Land of the Long White Cloud, but we’ll still be arguing over selection and which province/country has the most players on Gatty/Schmidt/Lancaster/Geech ‘s big tour south.
Best get starting then, ay?
Cian Healy
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 29 and still among the top looseheads in Europe. Was the basis for all the optimism at the scrum in 2013 so will have to dislodge Alex Corbisiero.
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Simon Zebo
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be... 27 and still lighting up the Heineken Cup and Six Nations. Gained a huge amount of respect in 2013 even if being a ‘good tourist’ is not the compliment he was looking for.
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Iain Henderson
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 25 and a dominant force in Ireland’s second row. Made his international breakthrough in 2012 and his ability to cover a spot in the back row can only help his cause.
©Inpho/Billy Stickland
Conor Murray
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 28 and dictating the play for Munster and Ireland. Experience and impressive outing in Australia 2013 tour will make him a favourite for any coach picking a squad, but he may still be competing against Ben Youngs.
Luke Marshall
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 26 and one of the best creative inside centres in Europe. Has the kicking and distribution to help any out-half and may well have a nice combination going with Jonathan Sexton to make picking Jamie Roberts (who will be 30) a difficult decision.
Stuart Olding
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 24 and a regular feature in Ulster and Ireland’s back-line. Having made a home for himself at number 12 after arriving on the scene as a fullback, Olding looks likely to move again, to outside centre. That kind of versatility – not to mention his pace and eye for a gap – is invaluable on a long tour in the southern hemisphere.
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Robbie Henshaw
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… 24 and a fullback with considerable international experience. The Connacht man is another who can perform more than a decent job at outside centre, so that flexibility could help him be called as an understudy for (then 28-year-old) Leigh Halfpenny.
Sean O’Brien
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… A 30-year-old beast in the back row and a potential captain of the tour. Showed his hunger to play in any spot in the back row in Australia and did untold good work in the pivotal final Test to lay the platform before being called ashore injured.
Jonathan Sexton
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… Just shy of his 32nd birthday but long returned from France having won everything (bar perhaps a World Cup and Premiership title) the game can offer him. His form will do Ian Madigan no favours. Another potential captain and a player the All Blacks will fear with Dan Carter having retired.
©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Peter O’Mahony
In 2017 he’ll hopefully be… Munster’s 27 year-old captain and the steel in Ireland’s back row. Another who can do a job all across the back row and an intense character who won’t be caught flat-footed in tough matches down in Invercargill or Dunedin.
©Inpho/Billy Stickland
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