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'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'
By Neil Squires
Maro Itoje’s new-found calmness under fire marks him down as the man to lead the Lions in Australia according to World Cup winner Mike Tindall.
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Tindall believes Itoje’s demeanor has “massively shifted” from on-field cheerleader to calm figurehead since assuming the England captaincy at the start of the Six Nations.
He admitted he did not consider the Saracens second row as captaincy material before the championship but has been won over by what he saw.
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“There are just little bits that jump out,” said Tindall. “The way he interacted with the referee throughout the whole Six Nations, the way Chandler Cunningham-South came on (against Wales) out of position having to go into the second row early when (Ollie) Chessum had to go off. He just pulled him aside and he didn’t rush, just talked him through what the lineout calls were and had that composure which I’ve not really associated with him before.
“We knew how good a player he is and he’s always been an energy leader and a standards leader but I think he’s done some work off the pitch. He just looked different, even to the autumn when he wasn’t captain. I think he’s really put his hand up and I think it’s hard to look past Maro currently.”
Itoje has leapfrogged Ireland’s Caelan Doris with the bookmakers as favourite to captain the Lions after leading England to second place in the championship – their highest position since they won the title in 2020.
While Doris was appointed Ireland captain by Lions head coach Andy Farrell, Tindall is no longer convinced he is an automatic pick to start the first Test in Brisbane.
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“People are talking about Caelan Doris, but I’m not sure he gets in the back row at the moment,” Tindall told the ainslie + ainslie Performance People podcast.
“I think Ireland have had an up and down performance over the last 12 months and I think there are other back rowers firing.”
He added: “There are so many good back rowers so that is going to come down to combinations. I genuinely think those back rows are going to be playing for their spots throughout the tour which I think is great for the team.”
The former England centre is backing the Lions to come out on top against the Wallabies but is expecting a tight series.
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“I think it could be 2-1,” said Tindall. “It all comes down to that first game. If we win that we might win all three but it’s going to be way, way closer than everyone thinks,” he said.
Farrell names his tour squad at London’s O2 arena in front of more than 2,000 fans on May 8.
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Farrell comes left field and names Jac Morgan as tour captain…
One problem for Doris currently is the form of Jack Conan. Conan is basically playing anywhere just to get on the pitch and is starting tonight at 8 vs Glasgow.
It’s an interesting thing to consider. Neither Doris nor Itoje are hugely experienced captains, but the argument could be made that Maro has more experience at the top given his amount of international caps and previous Lions involvement.
Both will be leaders in the pack regardless. Whoever is captain has to be a nailed on starter though. It’s not that outlandish to namecheck the current England captain as a potential tour captain really given Farrell only has a few options in front of him.
Does he have to name a tour captain? Itoje and Doris will both captain during the warmup games. Jamie George will too if he’s in the squad, and Jac Morgan and Finn Russell might get a look in too if they’re lucky. Farrell could then choose a captain for the tests after he’s taken some time to see what works.
Tinsel has zero rugby IQ but a lot of influential rugby mates. The bloke spouts so much nonsense it’s hilarious to hear, he speaks with such conviction… blinkered and rose tinted conviction, much like most of the English players from his era.
Usual campaign, Tindall going the fore in trying to undermine player. He’s convinced that England own the Lions, and a concerted effort to push for an English captaincy and bully a couple of extra position on the team.
If he isn't injured, Dorris is a nailed on starter.
Some English and other commentators trying to make a big deal of the 6 Nations. Ireland won the Tripple Crown easily enough this year. The only Irish loss was to France, who are an outstanding team. Alas the French are not part of the Lions set up.
So…the team that won the tripple crown will dominate the selections. And if you look at what us happening in the Champions Cup, the Irish players are only coming into their peak right now.
Doris didn’t play that well though, while other number 8’s really shone. Hell Conan made more impact during his minutes than Doris. It doesn’t matter how well Ireland did. Example - Sale lost to Toulouse last weekend, but Ben Curry was phenomenal despite losing.
Don’t judge a player on 5 games is my opinion, class is permanent. Doris does need some good games between now and the end of the season though.
There seems to be a concerted English media agenda to push Itoje for the lions captaincy and this weak claim is just part of that.
Its the Oz media. They want him as captain with his penalty count and discipline woes. He’d help them no end.
You'd think Ireland got the wooden spoon and hadn't won the triple crown having beaten England and Scotland at a canter and using a second string sides to beat Wales.
I stopped listening to anything Tindall says when he revealed he had no clue which of the props he had played with were tightheads and which were looseheads.
But here he seems to be in tune with majority opinion in completely underestimating Ireland. You don’t become a bad team overnight, and one loss to France doesn’t undermine the fact that the Irish players have proven time and time again that they are among the best in the world.
I played loose or tighthead for 46 years. Though I did keep it a secret that I was a prop when I left school until I was near 30.In those days if you took your opposite number low you had to be strong enough to keep him up otherwise it was a penalty against you for collapsing.
Can’t say you don’t think he gets in then not name anyone who would start at 8 before him. He’s a phenomenal player and while slightly below the high standards he’s set in previous seasons is still playing really well. Right now there isn’t a number 8 playing better than him in the home nations.