LIONS HEAD COACH Warren Gatland will name his Test squad to face the Wallabies at 3am on Thursday morning.
The majority of Irish rugby supporters will sleep through the announcement but will awake in the hopes of seeing some familiar, Irish names in the starting XV and on the bench.
While the half back, second row and back three partnerships have passed beyond debate, several players will have hopes of making the matchday 23 and becoming a real Lion. England’s Will Greenwood played every one of the midweek matches in 1997 but did not make his Lions Test debut until 2005 when he faced New Zealand in Christchurch (he replaced the injured Brian O’Driscoll).
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Jamie Heaslip will feel he has done enough to merit a start in the No.8 jersey as he has finished the season strongly and played two strong tour games (he was merely good against the Waratahs). His direct jersey rival, Toby Faletau, has done well but his case suffered, just like the Lions, against the Brumbies on Tuesday.
Sean O’Brien also featured in the 14-12 loss in Canberra and cut a dejected figure at the final whistle, even though he had been called ashore on 59 minutes. His ability to cover all three back row positions gives him hope of facing the Wallabies on Saturday, although it may be from the bench.
Heaslip and O’Brien congratulate Jonny Sexton after his try against Western Force. (David Davies/PA Wire)
Shane Jennings is confident his Leinster and Ireland colleagues will feature this weekend but feels The Tullow Tank faces the stiffer selection challenge.
He told TheScore.ie, “Everyone has their preferences but, whoever Gatland selects, there will be at least 10 lads who you could put in there that would do a job for him. The back row is one of the toughest to whittle down as you have seven lads that are all as good as each other yet bring different qualities.
Jamie, by his own admission, was up and down throughout the year. He played the last few (Leinster) games really well and, thankfully, he wasn’t the only one. Since he arrived in Australia he has kept that form up and has a real chance of starting.
“Sean is playing well too and, with the class he’s got, should be in the mix. His problem is that there are three excellent No.7′s down there and one of them is captain. His advantage is that he can play blindside and 8 too so he is giving them every opportunity to select him.”
*TheScore.ie will be covering the announcement of the Lions matchday 23 from 3am on Thursday morning.
Who do you think Warren Gatland should select in his back row?
Jennings believes Leinster teammates Heaslip and O'Brien will make Lions 23
LIONS HEAD COACH Warren Gatland will name his Test squad to face the Wallabies at 3am on Thursday morning.
The majority of Irish rugby supporters will sleep through the announcement but will awake in the hopes of seeing some familiar, Irish names in the starting XV and on the bench.
While the half back, second row and back three partnerships have passed beyond debate, several players will have hopes of making the matchday 23 and becoming a real Lion. England’s Will Greenwood played every one of the midweek matches in 1997 but did not make his Lions Test debut until 2005 when he faced New Zealand in Christchurch (he replaced the injured Brian O’Driscoll).
Jamie Heaslip will feel he has done enough to merit a start in the No.8 jersey as he has finished the season strongly and played two strong tour games (he was merely good against the Waratahs). His direct jersey rival, Toby Faletau, has done well but his case suffered, just like the Lions, against the Brumbies on Tuesday.
Sean O’Brien also featured in the 14-12 loss in Canberra and cut a dejected figure at the final whistle, even though he had been called ashore on 59 minutes. His ability to cover all three back row positions gives him hope of facing the Wallabies on Saturday, although it may be from the bench.
Heaslip and O’Brien congratulate Jonny Sexton after his try against Western Force. (David Davies/PA Wire)
Shane Jennings is confident his Leinster and Ireland colleagues will feature this weekend but feels The Tullow Tank faces the stiffer selection challenge.
He told TheScore.ie, “Everyone has their preferences but, whoever Gatland selects, there will be at least 10 lads who you could put in there that would do a job for him. The back row is one of the toughest to whittle down as you have seven lads that are all as good as each other yet bring different qualities.
“Sean is playing well too and, with the class he’s got, should be in the mix. His problem is that there are three excellent No.7′s down there and one of them is captain. His advantage is that he can play blindside and 8 too so he is giving them every opportunity to select him.”
*TheScore.ie will be covering the announcement of the Lions matchday 23 from 3am on Thursday morning.
Who do you think Warren Gatland should select in his back row?
5 reasons the Wallabies will trounce the Lions… according to the Aussies
Lions fullback Stuart Hogg is still rocking it on Bebo
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back row Lions Tour irish contingent Jamie Heaslip Lions 2013 Rugby Sean O'Brien Shane Jennings Australia British and Irish Lions Warren Gatland