606 Front Five Choices for the Lions tour to Australia 2013

From our recently held Poll, here are the results and I have the results of the similar Poll from a year ago so we can see the trending difference that 12 months rugby makes.

It has been interesting to watch the polls collating, the sway in opinions on players before and after certain performances. Some certainties have gone right out of the reckoning others are a mainstay... Form temporary class permanent?

Loosehead 121 Votes

Cian Healy 47% 57 votes
Ryan Grant 21% 26 votes
Gethin Jenkins 17% 20 votes

Always going to be an interesting conundrum, not as tough as some other areas of the team but contentious enough with the Establish Gethin Jenkins returning to form for Wales in the Six Nations, the exceptional Cian Healy showing consistency and the new man on the scene Grant playing some superb rugby.

Outside these three Paul James would be a likely selection by the coaches, and Alex Corbisiero maybe hard done by injury at the wrong time. Most would consider Corbisiero to be in the mix had he been playing.

Last Years Poll 125 votes

Gethin Jenkins 45% 56 votes
Alex Corbisero 34% 42 votes
Cian Healey 18% 22 votes



Hooker

Rory Best 47% 54 votes
Richard Hibbard 25% 29 votes
Tom Youngs 13% 15 votes

Only one man figures in the top three after 12 months and thats Ulsters Rory Best. He and Ireland did not have as good a Six Nations championship as we all thought they would, especially after the way thy started in Cardiff, but Bests form for Ireland and Ulster rarely dips and it is likely his consistency and voracious enthusiasm that makes him our number one. Interesting to see how the runners up of both this and last years polls feature a Welsh and an English player that have both dropped out of any contention to be replaced by new incumbents.

Two notable absentees but a close run selection were Ken Owens and Ross Ford, both of whom would not be a surprising selection over any of the above 606V2 selected players on Tuesday.

Last Years Poll 114 votes

Rory Best 38% 43 votes
Dylan Hartley 18% 21 votes
Matthew Rees 18% 20 votes


Tighthead 101 Votes


Adam Jones 68% 69 votes
Dan Cole 23% 23 votes
Euan Murray 5% 5 votes

There were always two firm favourites for the number three shirt, Adam jones and Dan Cole are pretty unrivalled in the pecking order. The third has swayed one way or another but has been between the same two players Ross and Murray.

Last Years Poll 123 Votes

Adam Jones 43% 53 votes
Dan Cole 41% 50 votes
Mike Ross 10% 12 votes


Locks 195 Votes over two polls

Richie Gray 35
AW Jones 33
Geoff Parling 32
Ian Evans 29
Paul O'Connell 24
Joe Launchbury 19

A very close run race and difficult to determine over polling which partnerships might be the most prudent selections for the Lions. It is perceived that four Locks would travel. The two most popular selections as you can see are Gray and Jones, though Gray is still suffering with injury and it is, as yet unclear, whether he will be recovered and have any game time before the start of the tour.

Next in line as Parling, Evans and O'Connell all very popular choices and I am sure most would be welcome to see their inclusion. Launchbury is chasing up the leading pack in the Poll though his current form, and recent international form has been very impressive he has not seemingly inspired the voters.

Interesting to see how thoughts have changed in 12 months, POC, Evans, Parling and Ryan still popular choices, Lawes has fallen out of the limelight while AWJ's support has risen massively. Charteris is injured this year.

Last Years "multiple Choice" Poll 247 votes

Courtney Lawes 12% 30
Geoff Parling 9% 21
Donnacha Ryan 8% 19
Paul O'Connell 21% 52
Richie Gray 28% 69
Luke Charteris 8% 19
AW Jones 4% 9
Ian Evans 8% 20

Would still take James over Jenins but no it wont happen

Well my choices were Healy, Best and Cole.

Healy Best Jones..... tidy!. I have been very impressed with Ken Owens during the 6Ns and particularly during the Scarlets run-in for the PRO12 playoffs. In my mind by far the form hooker

Hi beds mate

There have been a number of pundits saying the same in the press this weekend. Not taking instead of Jenkins but maybe instead of Grant.

Jenkins offers sublime skill at the breakdown as well as being a competent scrummager.

James and Grant are fantastic scrummagers and good ball careers, Healy combines both.

Any of those four would do us fans proud in Oz

Don't think Vunipola did himself any harm yesterday as he was excellent. Wasn't considering him at all but he is putting himself in the frame. Think there are only 4 names set in stone; A Jones, Healy, Best and Cole.

Think the English guys could be ver important impact subs this series.

Youngs x 2, Vunipola, Morgan etc

Perhaps not too many starters but an equally important role off the wood

MMaaxx wrote:Think the English guys could be ver important impact subs this series.

Youngs x 2, Vunipola, Morgan etc

Perhaps not too many starters but an equally important role off the wood

A great deal can happen once the tour party start training together and coaches see players in a different light. Can go either way. But I agree there are a good number of English players that will be in the Match day 23 though possibly not starting XV.

Good polls, Maes. Healy Best Jones sounds about right, really.

No more stompy stompy now, big feller.

Unless it's on Quade Cooper when nobody is looking...