hen Warren Gatland named his squad for the 2013 tour to Australia it was evident that the Heat Jersey Lions would be playing the power game that had delivered Wales consecutive Six Nations titles. As Wednesday’s announcement of the 37 players who will take on New Zealand this summer is awaited, a trip that will be considerably more demanding in the warm-up matches never mind the three Tests, the tactics are harder to discern.The international game has moved on appreciably in the past four years. It is faster because of a greater emphasis on retaining possession, kicking is more tactical than ritual and the need for players to be able to detect space and opportunity is greater. New Zealand are the arch-opportunists but among the four home unions only Scotland have an instinct to run. England have developed an ability to attack off quick possession, struggling when teams slow their ball down, as Ireland did at the end of the Six Nations, but Wales have one foot in the past, hard to beat but lacking fluency, while Ireland’s play is prescriptive, leavened by the cunning of Johnny Sexton.But http://www.officialheatauthentic.com finishing fifth in the Six Nations after a November campaign that started with a heavy home defeat by Australia means it will be difficult for Gatland to justify selecting players such as Scott Williams, Ross Moriarty and Luke Charteris. The tour will be a lighter shade of red than it was in 2009 and 2013.Four years ago the menu was Welsh rarebit, Irish stew and a slice or two of English beef. Ireland’s victory over the All Blacks in Chicago in November will make Robbie Henshaw, Sexton, Conor Murray, Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong and CJ Stander Test contenders while Peter O’Mahony’s display against England in Dublin added to what was already a back-row conundrum.England, the Six Nations champions for the last two seasons, are set to have the largest single representation in the squad, primarily in the forwards. Owen Farrell is their one back who has long been inked in, with Elliot Daly using the Six Nations to strengthen his claim. Four years ago the Lions took two specialist fly-halves and used Hogg as back-up but, with the Blues, Highlanders, Chiefs and Hurricanes providing the midweek opposition, they will need three this time and Farrell, seen primarily as a centre, would give the coaches flexibility.Similarly Daly’s ability to play in the midfield, on the wing or at full-back would allow two No15s instead of three to be chosen as well as an extra centre. Henshaw can play 12 or 13, like Ben Te’o, while Jonathan Joseph is the rival to Jonathan Davies at outside-centre. With Daly also an option at 15, there could besides North and Liam Williams be a specialist wing slot for Anthony Phillies Womens Jersey Watson, Jack Nowell, Seymour or Simon Zebo.England will be heavily represented in the front five: three props, which could be four if the dynamism of Kyle Sinckler trumps the solidity of Samson Lee with WP Nel yet to return from injury; at least three second-rows in Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes, with George Kruis returning for Saracens against Northampton today in a match that will feature two contenders at hooker, Dylan Hartley and Jamie George, confronting each other. Wales’s Alun Wyn Jones will be also among the locks while Ireland’s Iain Henderson has played at blindside flanker.The back row will have taken some sifting. Sam Warburton has been considered as an openside, where he will be backed up by Justin Tipuric ahead of Hamish Watson. England use James Haskell at 7 but his chance lies at 6, where he is in contention with Stander, O’Mahony, Chris Robshaw and Moriarty. Billy Vunipola and Faletau are the No8s but Gatland may use the opening couple of weeks to see whether they are a Test option in the back row together.The Lions are unlikely to take on New Zealand at their own game. Ireland laid the foundation for their win in Chicago by getting to the scrum-half Aaron Smith, cutting off the All Blacks’ supply line and hustling them into errors. When England beat them in 2012 they took no risks in their own half and capitalised on mistakes.The Lions may take a two-tone approach, expansive in the warm-up matches but going into the first Test armed with experience and the capacity at forward to win ball and take it over the gainline, playing on the front foot knowing they have an alternative plan if they find themselves chasing the series. Versatility http://www.authenticphillieshop.com/authentic-27-aaron-nola-jersey.html behind the scrum would give Gatland the option of naming six forwards on his bench, allowing him to change the entire front five against opponents renowned for their capacity to finish strongly.Doubts have been raised about Warburton’s value in the Test side because he is not known for his ball-carrying but the Lions will have a wealth of powerful runners. What they will need is a turnover specialist and there is none better. If he is not the most vocal of leaders, Hartley would provide a voice. The England captain is vying with George, Rory Best and Ken Owens for a place in the squad and is regarded as an outsider on form.That ignores his fierce competitiveness. Training would be even more lively with him around on a tour that will be defined by the opening 50-60 minutes of the first Test, a match that has to be won on Dolphins Jersey a day made for the knowhow of the Saints’ recurrent sinner.
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