THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS 2013 Squad – Squad Bio’s

In the first of a series of Lions special articles and tips from thatsbettingtips.com new boy @Chugger , we run the rule over the 37 man Lions squad, providing you with some quick statistics and thoughts on player strengths, weaknesses and versatility.  Make @thatsbettingtip and thatsbettingtips.com your home for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer!!

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Full-backs:

Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

Cardiff Blues Age: 24

Tests: 44 Lions in 2009

Notes: 6 Nations player of the tournament this year, fearless under the high ball with a metronomic boot to match. Likely to take kicking duties should he make the test team.

Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

Glasgow Warriors Age: 20

Tests: 15 Lions debutant

Notes: Youngest player in the squad who will have the honour of carrying the Lions mascot. Lit up the 6 Nations this year with his running abilities Can also play stand off and centre, which may be invaluable with inevitable injuries

Rob Kearney (Ireland)

Leinster Age: 27

Tests: 49 (3 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Went on the 09 tour as second choice and ended up starting all three tests. Great broken field runner and steady under the high ball. Suspect in defence on occasion.

Wings:

Tommy Bowe (Ireland)

Ulster Age: 29

Tests: 54 (3 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Powerful runner who has a knack of scoring tries in important matches. Recent return from injury raised some eyebrows when selected for the Lions, but has picked up where he finished before getting injured.

Alex Cuthbert (Wales)

Cardiff Blues Age: 23

Tests: 18 Lions debutant

Notes: Made an instant impact after being picked for Wales consistently being amongst the tries. Big man with plenty of gas, who forms a formidable international partnership with North. Has been found out on occasion in defence, but for a relative newcomer more than makes up for this with what he brings to a team going forward.

Sean Maitland (Scotland)

Glasgow Warriors Age: 24

Tests: 5 Lions debutant

Notes: Kiwi born flyer who played for NZ at age grade level before choosing to represent Scotland in 2013. Has an eye for the try-line scoring 4 tries in a match against the Brumbies in 2011.

George North (Wales)

Llanelli Scarlets Age: 21

Tests: 31 Lions debutant

Notes: Man mountain North seems to have been round for years, yet he’s still only 21. At 6ft 4, he probably could have played 2^nd row in the 70’s, great step, lots of gas and already proved to be a devastating finisher. Shown none more so than the game against France in this years 6 Nations where his father had his own one man pitch invasion to celebrate his try!

Centres:

Jonathan Davies (Wales)

Llanelli Scarlets Age: 25

Tests: 36 Lions debutant

Notes: Deceptively quick centre known as “Foxy”, Davies is another who has a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Scores plenty of tries although passing sometimes lets him down.

Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

Leinster Age: 34

Tests: 131 (6 for Lions) Lions in 2001, 2005, 2009

Notes: Now the senior player in the party, brings massive experience with him as both a captain and player. Will be invaluable to Warburton for advice and don’t be surprised to see him link up in the test team with Roberts again, where they formed a formidable partnership in 09. The Australians will write off O’Driscoll at their peril, they should remember what he did to them in 2001.

Jamie Roberts (Wales)

Cardiff Blues Age: 26

Tests: 55 (2 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Newly qualified Doctor Roberts is another Gatland favourite, his form seemed to dip somewhat after his man of the series displays in the 09 Lions tour but was back to his bulldozing best against England in the 6 Nations where he kept Manu Tuilagi quiet all match.

Manu Tuilagi (England)

Leicester Tigers Age: 21

Tests: 21 Lions debutant

Notes: Despite sometimes being a controversial figure (remember his little swimming trip when on England duty?!), there is no doubting the talent this man possesses, brute force allied to an eye for the tryline, has a real chance of making the test 23, if not the starting 15.

Fly-halves:

Owen Farrell (England)

Saracens Age: 21

Tests: 16 Lions debutant

Notes: Will probably start as number 2 fly-half on this tour, the ice cool Farrell has a great boot and the ability to (mostly) stay calm under pressure. Touted as the next Jonny Wilkinson, but not yet filled the boots of the great man.

Jonny Sexton (Ireland)

Leinster Age: 27

Tests: 36 Lions debutant

Notes: Has the all round game to change any match, great runner, great eye for the gap and another consistent kicker. You can see why Racing Metro are shelling out a bucket load of Euro’s for him next year. Likely test 10.

Scrum-halves:

Mike Phillips (Wales)

Bayonne Age: 30

Tests: 80 (3 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Big man, who loves the big occasion. Will have his hand full looking after Genia, but this is the sort of challenge he relishes. Expect him to get in the Australian players faces from the moment the whistle goes.

Ben Youngs (England)

Leicester Tigers Age: 23

Tests: 33 Lions debutant

Notes: Lightning quick Youngs has the ability to split defences wide open from the base of the scrum with a great eye for the gap. Can sometimes be slightly erratic with his passing, but his strengths outweigh his weaknesses.

Conor Murray (Ireland)

Munster Age: 24

Tests: 19 Lions debutant

Notes: Similar player to Philips, strong and abrasive. Made the Irish 9 position his own this season with some outstanding performances in the 6 Nations, notably against France in the 13-13 draw.

Props:

Cian Healy (Ireland)

Leinster Age: 25

Tests: 39 Lions debutant

Notes: A modern day prop, big in the scrummage, handy in the loose. Some questioned his temperament after the English game the season, but is proven at this level. Likley to make the test 23.

Gethin Jenkins (Wales)

Toulon Age: 32

Tests: 103 (5 for Lions) Lions in 2005, 2009

Notes: Known affectionately as Melon, the dynamic prop has been around for years, with this being his third Lions tour. Puts in a massive shift around the park, expect him to be one of the top tacklers in most matches. Lack of game time had commentators questioning his inclusion, but strong performances for Wales proved the doubters wrong.

Dan Cole (England)

Leicester Tigers Age: 25

Tests: 40 Lions debutant

Notes: Uncompromising prop, who doesn’t like taking a backwards step. Was touted as the first name on the team sheet going back a few months, but has since found out how tough international rugby can be. Will be fighting hard for a test spot.

Adam Jones (Wales)

Ospreys Age: 32

Tests: 90 (2 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Slight dip in form (or so they said) was swiftly forgotten as Jones proved again in the 6 Nations that he’s the best prop in the Northern Hemisphere. Would be my first name on the test team sheet. Awesome scrummager with a brilliant haircut!

Matt Stevens (England)

Saracens Age: 30

Tests: 44 Lions in 2005

Notes: For many, the surprise inclusion in the squad. Stevens has retired from International game. His ability to play both sides of the scrum may have gained him the nod, that and the fact that he is seen as a player with the potential to be a great tourist off the field as well as on it.

Mako Vunipola (England)

Saracens Age: 22

Tests: 9 Lions debutant

Notes: Largely untried at the highest level, but a player with the potential to make a big impact with the Lions. Still learning his trade, this will be an invaluable experience for him.

Hookers:

Richard Hibbard (Wales)

Ospreys Age: 29

Tests: 23 Lions debutant

Notes: Consistently the best h0oker in Wales for some time now, Hibbard has been unlucky with injuries in the past. Big tackler and strong scrummager. Needs to ensure he keeps his accuracy throwing into the lineout.

Dylan Hartley (England)

Northampton Age: 27

Tests: 47 Lions debutant

Notes: The player most fans love to hate, abrasive and fiery with a mouth to match. Just what you want in a hooker. Playing himself into good form just at the right time when some questions were asked about his inclusion.

Tom Youngs (England)

Leicester Tigers Age: 26

Tests: 9 Lions debutant

Notes: Former centre and brother of Ben, Tom Youngs arrived late to the role of hooker but has proven himself a more than able performer for both Leicester and England. Mobile around the park, but questions remain about his scrummaging.

Locks:

Ian Evans (Wales)

Ospreys Age: 28

Tests: 30 Lions debutant

Notes: Came into the Welsh 6 Nations side following time out through injury and ended up being one of the stars of the side, ever present throughout. Great in the lineout, big tackler and happy with the ball in hand. Will have his job cut out making it into the test team, but expect him to give it everything.

Richie Gray (Scotland)

Sale Sharks Age: 23

Tests: 31 Lions debutant

Notes: Another who’s form has been inconsistent this season, but with the ability to be a world class operator. Towering presence in the lineout and great around the park, the Lions environment may suit his game down to the ground.

Paul O'Connell (Ireland)

Munster Age: 33

Tests: 91 (6 for Lions) Lions in 2005 and 2009

Notes: Been there and done it before. The Munsterman is embarking on his 3^rd tour bringing with him a huge amount of experience which will be invaluable. A late season surge following injury showed why he has been the go to man for both Munster and Ireland for so many years.

Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)

Ospreys Age: 27

Tests: 73 (3 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Another who came back to form late in the season following injury, Jones started all three tests last time around. Always gives 100% and never gives up. Just the sort of player the Lions need.

Geoff Parling (England)

Leicester Tigers Age: 29

Tests: 17 Lions debutant

Notes: Came relatively late to the international scene in comparison to some of his peers, but proved a wise pick for Lancaster during the 6 nations forming a formidable partnership with Joe Launchbery. Don’t be surprised to see him pushing for a test spot.

Flankers:

Tom Croft (England)

Leicester Tigers Age: 27

Tests: 41 (3 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Dynamic is the best way to describe croft, often found running in tries from the wing and great in the lineout. Might lack the out and out grunt of some of the other 6’s in the squad, but more than makes up for the with his ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Dan Lydiate (Wales)

Newport-Gwent Dragons Age: 25

Tests: 27 Lions debutant

Notes: Known as “Chopper” to many in the game in Wales, an old school player who manages to fit in working on the family farm when not playing rugby. Destructive tackler who literally chops opposition players off at the ankles. A Gatland favourite who has formed a great partnership with Warburton in the past.

Sean O'Brien (Ireland)

Leinster Age: 26

Tests: 27 Lions debutant

Notes: Bullocking 6/7/8 who loves nothing better than running full pelt at opposition in open play. Tireless runner who loves proving himself on the big stage.

Justin Tipuric (Wales)

Ospreys Age: 23

Tests: 15 Lions debutant

Notes: Showed with his dummy show and go against England why he could pretty much play anywhere in the backline as well as being an outstanding 7. Ridiculously quick player, but also happy to get involved in the dirty stuff.

 

Sam Warburton (Wales – captain)

Cardiff Blues Age: 24

Tests: 38 Lions debutant

Notes: Youngest captain for 58 years, Gatland trusts Warburton to do his talking on the pitch and he delivers. Had something of a dip in form early in the season, when there were a great deal of questions being asked within the media, but kept his head down, worked hard and answered them all. Ferocious tackler who specialises in the jackal. Will be a mighty battle with whoever plays openside for Australia.

Number eights:

Toby Faletau (Wales)

Newport-Gwent Dragons Age: 22

Tests: 26 Lions debutant

Quiet man off the pitch, quiet man on it. Goes about his job without making huge headlines, but gives whatever side he plays for huge go forward and an immense tackle completion rate. Could become a great.

Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)

Leinster Age: 29

Tests: 60 (3 for Lions) Lions in 2009

Notes: Was in the frame for the captaincy at the beginning of the season, but a dip in form saw even his inclusion being questioned. Signs of the old Heaslip have appeared at the seasons end and with a Lions test place to play for don’t be surprised if he’s one of the stars of the tour. Great ball carrier, and another who has a canny knack for scoring tries.

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