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'He has to go on the tour' - England centre not included in Lions has made Jason Robinson's Test XV

England's Jason Robinson breaks the diving tackle of Wales' Gethin Jenkins during the 2003 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Brisbane (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Former British and Irish Lions tour veteran in 2001 and 2005, Jason Robinson, has made a bold call by selecting a player that didn’t even make Warren Gatland’s 37-man squad for the tour of South Africa in his starting XV.

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Injured England centre Manu Tuilagi is yet to make his return for Sale Sharks after injuring himself last September, but Robinson is still backing his inclusion. Writing in his column in the Daily Express, Robinson says the Lions need the fear factor that Tuilagi brings.

“Think of the one player South Africa would not want running at them this summer and it is Tuilagi. He is close to a comeback for Sale after his torn Achilles and by the time the series starts he should be purring.

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“He has to go on the tour.”

It’s a view shared by Sale Sharks Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson.

“Yeah I would (take him) if I was picking it,”  Sanderson said recently. “Manu (Tuilagi) understands more than most how to come back from an injury because he has had more than most.

“I think he wants to come back and be brilliant again, I do and if I could back anyone to come back and be at their best, I’d back him.”

Code hopping winger Robinson has also backed Welsh wunderkind Louis Rees-Zammit to perform in South Africa.

“He has the pace to go the distance on the hard grounds of South Africa. He has only played a handful of Wales tests but a rookie can make a big impact on a Lions tour. I guess I should know,” Robinson wrote.

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Robinson also said Gatland was right not to make Maro Itoje captain.

“I know Maro Itoje has been talked about for the job in some quarters but to lead the Lions you need to be a captain of your national side or at least your club and Itoje is neither so just let him do what he does best and play.

“It isn’t as if Jones will be short on leadership back-up with Stuart Hogg and Owen Farrell – both national captains – on the trip.”

JASON ROBINSON’S LION XV:
15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
14. Anthony Watson (England)
13. Manu Tuilagi (England)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
11. Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
10. Owen Farrell (England)
9. Conor Murray(Ireland)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
7. Hamish Watson (Scotland)
6. Tom Curry (England)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
2. Jamie George (England)
1. Mako Vunipola (England)

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AM 43 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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