• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Sports

Six Nations Lions Watch – who impressed this weekend?

Six Nations Lions Watch – who impressed this weekend?
Newsexplored
15th February 2021
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
0
Louis Rees-Zammit
Louis Rees-Zammit and Dan Robson were both winners in the second round of Six Nations action

As the Six Nations heads into a rest weekend, there is more time to mull over what the action might mean for British and Irish Lions selection.

We should know more soon about where and whether the planned Test series against South Africa will go ahead.

But, in the meantime, some hands went up for selection for Warren Gatland’s squad.

Louis – King of the wingers?

Last week’s Lions Watch ended with the fateful words that “another couple of tries like that from Louis Rees-Zammit and Gatland will be forced to take note”. The Lions coach duly got plenty to ponder.

Rees-Zammit, who turned 20 earlier this month, was electric in the win over Scotland. He scored Wales’ first try with a lovely soft-shoe shuffle inside the covering Darcy Graham, set up their second with a nice line and offload and then clinched the victory with an absolute peach, chipping over Stuart Hogg to touch down.

The match winner could have come from the opposition though. With the clock in the red, Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe broke free, only to be tap-tackled by Owen Watkin. South African-born Van der Merwe actually made more metres than Rees-Zammit (103 to 61) in another industrious, powerful performance.

And there was a welcome return to form for England’s Anthony Watson, the man who started all three Tests for the Lions in New Zealand four years ago. Coach Eddie Jones admitted Watson’s form had been patchy over the autumn, but he made more metres than any other player this weekend as an interception try helped him to 160m. The way he raced inside the Italian cover defence to score his first though was probably more impressive.

With team-mate Jonny May also showing off his athletic finishing ability when he took the aerial route to the line, competition is getting hot. It could well be that Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale, hailed as the world’s best wing two years ago but currently out with a knee injury, misses out when Gatland draws up his selection.

Price is right?

If match-changing moments are key to selection, Ali Price supplied a gem for the first try at Murrayfield. The Scotland scrum-half deftly chipped over the Wales defence for Graham to gather and score. Such ability may well be very useful against a Springbok defence that comes up fast and flat. And if Finn Russell is going to start at 10, their partnership – shaped at Glasgow, as well as Scotland – may be a big plus for Gatland.

Conor Murray, 2017’s first-choice nine, has been short of form and fitness lately, perhaps leaving the way open for another first-time tourist.

Dan Robson injected energy and initiative after being brought off the bench by England, setting up Jack Willis’s try with a weaving run from a tap and go.

data-ad-format="auto">

The Wasps man has made all nine Test appearances off the bench for England, but, as Jamie George showed in 2017, Gatland has made Lions Test starters out of England’s ‘finishers’ before.

Eight debate

Taulupe Faletau has been a reliable performer for Gatland.

He started all three Tests in New Zealand and was one of the Welshmen drafted in to clinch the series-deciding third Test in Australia four years earlier.

The 30-year-old produced some big numbers in the win over Scotland as well. He made more metres (63), more carries (11) and more tackles (19) than any of his team-mates.


But Matt Fagerson did not suffer by comparison. The 22-year-old, making his eighth international start, was the man to give Scotland impetus, posting similar stats to Faletau (61m made off 14 carries, with 12 tackles) and bristling with intent. Following on from an impressive performance in the win over England, he is making his case well.

England’s Billy Vunipola might well have pipped Faletau to the Test starting spot in 2017 had he not been ruled out of the tour with a shoulder injury.

However, he has not been in that eye-catching, all-action form for some time.

The Saracens man was withdrawn after 59 minutes against Italy having made 31 metres from eight carries and seven tackles. It may be that he is doing more of the breakdown dirty work as Eddie Jones evolves England’s style, but ball-carrying ballast may well be what is required against South Africa.

If Gatland’s eye strayed to a smaller stage, he may also have noted Sam Simmonds’ form. The Exeter number eight and European player of the year scored another two tries in his club’s win over London Irish. He now has 11, more than double any other player in the Premiership this season, and has made more metres than any other Lions-qualified forward in the English top flight.

His last England appearance was nearly three years ago however, back in March 2018.

Around the BBC iPlayer bannerAround the BBC iPlayer footer

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsimpressedlionsnationswatchweekend
Sports
15th February 2021
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsimpressedlionsnationswatchweekend

More in Sports

  • Read More
    Derby 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Kazim-Richards earns Rams point against Forest

    Views:0 James Garner scored his first senior goal in his seventh appearance for Forest since joining on...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Man City boss Pep Guardiola is the Heston Blumenthal of football, says David Moyes

    Views:0 David Moyes has likened Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal for his...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool manager says club do not need a ‘massive rebuild’

    Views:0 Liverpool were beaten by Everton at Anfield for the first time since 1999 on Saturday Liverpool...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Six Nations 2021: England & Wales search for style in silence

    Views:0 The Principality Stadium, usually a cauldron of noise, will be empty for England’s visit on Saturday...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Ugo Monye says Premiership ‘does not care enough’ about racism in rugby

    Views:0 Ugo Monye earned 16 international caps and now works as a TV and radio pundit after...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Charles Leclerc says Ferrari have made ‘quite a good step’ with new car

    Views:0 Charles Leclerc finished eighth in the 2020 F1 driver standings Charles Leclerc says Ferrari have made...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Six Nations 2021: Wales v England – Courtney Lawes out for rest of tournament

    Views:0 Courtney Lawes returned to England’s starting XV for their second-round win against Italy Venue: Principality Stadium,...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Lewis Hamilton pledges to ‘keep pushing’ in fight against racism

    Views:0 Lewis Hamilton taking a knee at the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2020 World champion Lewis Hamilton...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Europa League draw: Man Utd v AC Milan, Rangers v Prague, Arsenal v Olympiakos, Tottenham v Zagreb

    Views:0 Manchester United will play AC Milan at home in the first leg of their last-16 Europa...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    England in New Zealand: Tourists secure series with another assured victory

    Views:0 England opener Tammy Beaumont scored her second half-century in a row New Zealand 192 (49.5 overs):...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    British Gymnastics: Group of 17 women and girls taking legal action over alleged abuse

    Views:0 Three Olympians are among the 17 women and girls to take legal action against British Gymnastics...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
  • Read More
    Leicester City 0-2 Slavia Prague: Foxes shocked by Czech visitors

    Views:0 Slavia Prague were winless in all five of their previous visits to England, with their four...

    Newsexplored 15th February 2021
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Super Bowl half-time show: How did The Weeknd do?
    Entertainment8th February 2021
  • John F Kennedy: When the US president met Africa’s independence heroes
    USA27th February 2021
  • Biden’s Covid stimulus plan: It costs $2tn but what’s in it?
    USA24th February 2021
  • Tiger Woods suffers ‘multiple leg injuries’ in Los Angeles car crash
    USA23rd February 2021
  • Nasa’s Perseverance rover in ‘great shape’ after Mars landing
    USA19th February 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Australian Open: Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev reach quarter-finals
Australian Open: Serena Williams ‘not obsessed’ by 24th title, says coach
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok