British Lions individual Aus experiences

It being the early hours and me being a student desperately trying to avoid doing actual work, I've decided to compile the individual win rate against Australia for each member of the touring party. I haven't made distinction between partial appearances and full ones, nor between starting berths or bench spots though. I have opted to only include matches since Summer 2010, as we can agree that any victory or loss before that isn't fair in terms of recent history and how teams change over years. The results are of course skewed by the fact that since then Wales have played Australia 7 times, England played them twice, Ireland twice, and Scotland just the once. Though of these matches, Wales have lost by a total aggregate of 31 points (with the four matches of 2012 only culminating with a 13 point loss). England have played twice, winning in 2010 and losing in 2012, with a total points difference of 11 in England's favour. Ireland have won one and lost one, again ahead on points difference with 2 points in their favour. Scotland are on a hundred percent winning margin since 2010, with their one victory last year putting them 3 points ahead on total aggregate.

However, when looking at the individuals who featured in these matches, only 16 of the 37 touring squad have beaten Aus, and many of them only making a fleeting appearance off the bench, in terms of stats there are few we have with any 'winning experience' against the force down under. Three have no international experience against the Aussies at all, though Maitland's Super Rugby background in many ways negates possible inexperience in that regard.

Not a huge point to this post in terms of my opinion changing or being formed, I just found it to be an interesting breakdown of our squad.

COME ON LIONS!!

Front Row
Dan Cole (England)- 1/2 50%
Cian Healy (Ireland) 1/2 50%
Gethin Jenkins (Wales), 0/7 0%
Adam Jones (Wales), 0/4 0%
Matt Stevens (England),
Mako Vunipola (England), 0/1 0%
Dylan Hartley (England), 1/1 100%
Richard Hibbard (Wales),
Tom Youngs (England), 0/1 0%

Locks
Ian Evans (Wales), 0/2 0%
Richie Gray (Scotland), 1/1 100%
Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), 0/5 0%
Paul O'Connell (Ireland), 1/1 100%
Geoff Parling (England), 1/2 50%

Back Row
Tom Croft (England), 1/1 100%
Toby Faletau (Wales), 0/4 0%
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), 1/1 100%
Dan Lydiate (Wales), 0/6 0%
Sean O'Brien (Ireland), 1/1 100%
Justin Tipuric (Wales), 0/2 0%
Sam Warburton (Wales). 0/6 0%


Back three
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), 0/6 0%
Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 1/1 100%
Rob Kearney (Ireland), 1/2 50%
Tommy Bowe (Ireland), 1/2 50%
Alex Cuthbert (Wales), 0/5 0%
Sean Maitland (Scotland),
George North (Wales), 0/5 0%

Centres
Jonathan Davies (Wales), 0/5 0%
Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), 1/2 50%
Jamie Roberts (Wales), 0/3 0%
Manu Tuilagi (England), 0/1 0%


Owen Farrell (England), 0/1 0%
Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 1/2 50%
Conor Murray (Ireland), 1/1 100%
Mike Phillips (Wales), 0/6 0%
Ben Youngs (England). 1/2 50%

Just for novelty's sake, i've put together a 'Winners 15'

1- Cian Healy
2- Dylan Hartley
3- Dan Cole
4- Richie Gray
5- Paul O'Connell
6- Tom Croft
7- Sean O'Brien
8- Jamie Heaslip

9- Conor Murray
10- Jonathan Sexton
11- Ben Youngs
12- Rob Kearney
13- Brian O'Driscoll
14- Tommy Bowe
15- Stuart Hogg

Of this I'd probably tinker with the backrow, hooker, 12, 11, 15.

So those who would stay i am glad to see they have a bit of experience doing the Aussies, and hope they can aid the naturally talented players lacking a gold and green notch on their belt.

100%beefy wrote:gethin, a jones and aw jones beat aus in 2008 21-18

I did these based on the past 2 a bit years rather than go all the way back, due to it being an issue going back through every single game played between Oz and a home nation since around 03 as that's when some current players were beginning, as well as it not being particularly relevant in terms of 'current' form and teamsheets

Looseheaded wrote:

100%beefy wrote:gethin, a jones and aw jones beat aus in 2008 21-18

I did these based on the past 2 a bit years rather than go all the way back, due to it being an issue going back through every single game played between Oz and a home nation since around 03 as that's when some current players were beginning, as well as it not being particularly relevant in terms of 'current' form and teamsheets

yes i re read it and deleted my post. nice work, managed to illustrate just how carp wales are

I was wondering the same thing, so thanks for doing this.

I notice you say you have gone back to summer 2010. Am I right in thinking, though, that you have excluded the two England tour matches against Australia which took place in June 2010? The only difference to the current squad stats is for Cole, Croft and Youngs, who pick up an extra win and loss each.

Well that was a real waste of your time .

Lets do one based on England or Scotland or Irelands win rate against Wales in the same period and see what that shows.

doctornickolas wrote:Well that was a real waste of your time .

Lets do one based on England or Scotland or Irelands win rate against Wales in the same period and see what that shows.

Good point.

Scotland have lost their last 6 games versus Wales.
England have lost their last 3 games.
Ireland have lost 3 of their last 4 games versus Wales.

Wales have always been within a score of Australia in their last few matches and it is not unreasonable to think that the Welsh Team plus say Sexton, Tuilagi, O'Driscoll and O'Connell would be enough to tip the balance in the Lions favour.

Add players such as O'Brien and Vunipola coming off the bench and a lions series win looks quite probable.

doctornickolas wrote:Well that was a real waste of your time .

Lets do one based on England or Scotland or Irelands win rate against Wales in the same period and see what that shows.

Yeah well feel free to go do that bud, let me know when you get it posted.