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Martin Johnson runs rule over AWJ's Lions skipper claims

20 May 2020

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Speculation about who should skipper the 2021 Lions on their tour to South Africa has stepped up another notch. Paul O’Connell, captain on the last tour to the home of the Springboks in 2009, nominated Owen Farrell some weeks ago ahead of Maro Itoje as his potential candidate.

Martin Johnson has now agreed that Farrell will have a chance, saying: “I’m sure he will be up there in the thick of it.” However, the skipper of the successful 1997 trip to South Africa, believes Alun Wyn Jones can potentially defy his veteran status and challenge to lead the tour under Warren Gatland.

Jones stepped up for the injured Sam Warburton in the 2013 series decider in Australia and although he will only be two months shy of his 36th birthday by the time the South African tour starts in July next year, Johnson reckoned the Welshman could still have what it takes to lead.

RugbyPass brings you Bringing Home Gold, a reflection on South Africa’s 2019 World Cup triumph in the company of Schalk Brits

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RugbyPass brings you Bringing Home Gold, a reflection on South Africa’s 2019 World Cup triumph in the company of Schalk Brits

Speaking to Sportsmail, the 2003 England World Cup-winning leader said: “You are only looking at playing four or five games on the tour so if he has got the form, no, it [his age] is not an issue. And he has certainly got the experience. Willie John (McBride) was what – 33, 34 – when he did it?

“What you really want is a captain who is going to get in the Test team and command his position, which is tough because there are lots of good second rows around. It’s all to play for.

“There are obviously some guys with credits already. Alun Wyn Jones has a lot as a Lion and as Wales captain. Itoje has got a lot as a player, but they have got to do it all again. They [the coaches] won’t be picking off 2018, 2019 and 2020. These guys will have to be doing it in 2021.”

Second row has traditionally been the position of choice for the Lions captain when touring South Africa. Aside from McBride, Johnson and O’Connell, there has also been Bill Beaumont, another lock, who skippered the 1980 tour.

“I get all that. Fran (Cotton, tour manager in 1997) said that,” agreed Johnson about the thinking of having an enforcer lead the team. “It’s probably easier to captain from the middle of it all when you can show that you’re right into it from the first minute and you’re in it for the full 80, which you might not be on the wing. But Ieuan (Evans) would have been a brilliant captain in 1997 and I don’t think anything would have been different.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

tf 7 minutes ago

Brian O'Driscoll the latest name to back 'brilliant fit' Lions bolter

Yeah they are all fantastic in their way. The pick will probably be down to the way Farrell wants to play. Ford could have easily been picked in 17 and 22 but Gatland liked Biggar probably due to strength under the high ball and defense.

What I’d say about Ford and England is that he isn’t going to run all the way to 27 so has to be dropped sooner. But that doesn’t affect the Lions.

3 Go to comments

JanetAmos 10 minutes ago

England rout Scotland to set up Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider

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JanetAmos 10 minutes ago

Former England star leads Benetton to huge URC result over Lions

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Tom 15 minutes ago

Brian O'Driscoll the latest name to back 'brilliant fit' Lions bolter

Ford is good enough to go on the Lions tour. There isn't a lot to choose between Farrell, Ford, Smith, Smith, Crowley, Prendergast, Russell. You can make arguments for any of them.

3 Go to comments

JanetAmos 16 minutes ago

Former England star leads Benetton to huge URC result over Lions

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7 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 19 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Just wrong on so many levels. I am asking YOU how YOU know the law is in dispute? YOU are the persona saying that it’s in dispute and on the agenda for the next WR meeting in May, how do YOU know this and when will YOU tell us who exactly is disputing the law to put it on the agenda?

Until you answer these basic questions, everything else is irrelevant and you’re just shooting in the dark…

260 Go to comments

johnz 22 minutes ago

Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

I just don’t see it happening, not before this WC is over. Unfortunately.

Gone are the days when players were picked mostly on form. The press like to romanticise about the good old days when that was true, and in fairness, so do we - the fans.

The fact remains; the ABs are more like a club team now, and Reiko is locked in with a big paying contract, has been heavily invested in at 13, so there he will remain.

Yes there is still some room for form, but taking the place of a senior player with a big juicy leadership group contract, and sabbatical clauses to keep him put until the WC, is probably not one of those opportunities.

Heck, they respect him so much, they award him with leading the haka, despite acting like a 13 year old in his spat with Sexton.

So we’ll just have to get used to blind on attack Reiko. In fairness, he’s been very solid on defence at international level, and that’s nothing to be scoffed at.

But I look forward to (or hope for) seeing Proctor, Faingaʻanuku, and others compete to replace him. Both players who recognise there are 3 blokes playing outside them.

7 Go to comments

LauraBauer 23 minutes ago

Conor Murray: French giants weigh up shock move for Ireland star

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RedWarriors 24 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Again, when there is a question over how the the law (the final draft, the fine print) is interpreted then the INTENTION of the law must be determined. Supreme courts tend to have final say in this for States. For Rugby Law it will be similar with the INTENTION deciding how the law applies. Calling standard law practice for centuries ‘ludicrous’ or ‘bleating’ without substantiation does nothing for your argument.

An official involved with the creation of the law has said that the intention of the law was 5-3 with no9, no10 and another back covered. It will be up to the Rugby Board in May to decide if the loophole Erasmus used is legitimate and not contrary to the intention of that law. Lets hope integrity prevails.

260 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 29 minutes ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Wasn’t it Arnold Palmer that once said something along the lines of ‘the harder I work, the luckier i get’…???

260 Go to comments

Mark 31 minutes ago

Exeter chairman entitled to ‘fire into everybody’ after humiliation

One wonders how long Rob baxter will be given by Rowe before he’s gets the Spanish fiddler!!

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charles Phoenix 37 minutes ago

Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

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FN 43 minutes ago

Leinster, Munster among 7 clubs chasing South African schools sensation

When it comes to player development, RSA has proven it’s credit. If we talking about chances that players get to represent the Boks that’s something else. Only few players had that opportunity from school boy knowing that they'll make it to represent the Boks (Pollard).

5 Go to comments

fl 53 minutes ago

Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

“WR are saying you’re not Japanese until you’ve had 5 years there and JRFU are saying you can be after 30 tests”

Yes I am aware of this. Most people will never play 30 tests, so for those that don’t the JRFU will define their nationality according to “blood”.

“The Drua are identical to Moana.”

And Fijian Drua are not the same as “Fiji”.

“Of course you can. You just can’t make it represent a whole country ala South Africa. I’m sure theres hundres of Scottish or Irish rep teams all over.”

Name literally one team that restricts selection to only white people. If any exist, I would say that that is bad, because I am not racist. But I don’t believe you’ll be able to name one.

“At least you got one thing right, a person can call themselves white if they want, or Maori, and be involved in any such like minded group. Just don’t be like the KKK and make it a racial group 😋”

Are you aware that ability to play for NZ Maori is determined according to racial heritage? And that the same will be true of players deemed “Japanese” under the new JRFU eligibility rules?

“While I’m sure you realise you’re wrong about about the picture you tried to paint (and probably new before posting) in your OP”

I’m not wrong. Racism is bad.

“I don’t have faith that you were able to corelate the two examples”

This doesn’t make sense. “Correlate” doesn’t mean what you seem to think it means. Its also not clear what examples you’re referring to; is it the JRFU and Moana? The JRFU and NZ Maori? The Maori and hypothetical whites only teams?

“Happy to keep replying until you do, again”

Again? When has this happened before?

30 Go to comments

Cantab 54 minutes ago

'I've got my eyes on it': James O'Connor eyes international return

JO'C should certainly be in the mix for the Wallabies . He has added some real class to the Crusaders backline and clearly the 2 young understudies he mentors have learned much from him. Many observers including myself had severe doubts about him initially but he has most emphatically answered those. Just shows that veterans still have much to offer.

2 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 56 minutes ago

Leinster, Munster among 7 clubs chasing South African schools sensation

If the lad has an Irish passport, that must mean he has heritage back to grandparents, I would assume. So he would be Irish qualified. Surely there will be a strong attempt to keep him in SA though ?

5 Go to comments

Cantab 1 hour ago

Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

Early days yet to be deciding which players will occupy the AB midfield as there are several candidates. Proctor still needs a couple more games under his belt but him outside the 2 Barretts could make sense. Faainganuku and Tatananawai must also come under consideration ditto Havili & Ennor. ALB & RI to my mind are inferior to all of the aforementioned even though they have been tried in the past . Don’t envy Razor having to make some tough choices

7 Go to comments

Leeroy 1 hour ago

James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

hhfhf

38 Go to comments

PR 1 hour ago

Leinster, Munster among 7 clubs chasing South African schools sensation

Yeah no wonder the “source” isn't named because they are talking rubbish.

5 Go to comments

Andrew Nichols 1 hour ago

Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

Proctor just gives them a different element out wide, he frees up the back three because he can play out on an edge as well.

ie He does what a centre is supposed to do…which demonstrably RI does not. Wont matter a damn though. Razor is besotted with RI. Blinkered selections are a feature of all AB teams.

7 Go to comments

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