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Twenty-two players whose careers peaked during Lions years

Ollie Smith in 2005

Every British and Irish Lions tour has a handful of players who happen to be in the right place at the right time to get picked.

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A squad will have players that were always guaranteed to be selected, but it will equally have those that happened to peak in the months preceding the tour, many of whom see their careers peter out after the tour or not flourish as much as some would have expected.

That is why the Six Nations before a tour is crucial for any bolters hoping to be selected a few months later.

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Scott Quinnell on which Welsh players should get selected for the 2021 Lions:

Video Spacer

Scott Quinnell on which Welsh players should get selected for the 2021 Lions:

This was demonstrated perfectly in the 2013 Six Nations decider, where England’s 30-3 loss to Wales in Cardiff was effectively a ceremonial handing over of plane tickets to Australia between the two sides. Some England players lost far more than a Grand Slam on that evening.

But every tour has players whose Test careers may not have been particularly long or as grand as some of their Lions teammates.

So here are players who peaked at the right time to make an original Lions squad:

2017 – NEW ZEALAND

Ben Te’o
League convert Ben Te’o only had three England caps going into the 2017 Six Nations and only won 10 more after the Lions tour, but his displays that year earned him a starting berth in the first Test against the All Blacks to counter Sonny Bill Williams.

Tommy Seymour
Tommy Seymour was an ever-present for Scotland between 2013 and 2019 across his 55 caps, but a promising Six Nations personally and for Scotland as a whole opened the door for his selection. He retired from Test rugby in 2019.

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Jared Payne
A head injury sustained during this Lions tour ended Jared Payne’s career, so he may have earned more caps, but his Test career was less than two-and-a-half years when he was selected in 2017. He earned 20 caps for Ireland.

Lions
Jared Payne /Getty

2013 – AUSTRALIA

Matt Stevens
Though Matt Stevens did go on the 2005 tour, his 2013 was still a shock nonetheless as he had retired from international rugby in 2012. But some fine form for Saracens that year, combined with his ability to cover both sides of the scrum, got Stevens on the plane.

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(Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)
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Richard Hibbard
Dragons hooker Richard Hibbard’s 41-cap Wales career may have spanned between 2006 and 2015, but he only started 22 of those matches. However, he was the first choice at the right time for Wales’ in their 2013 Six Nations win under Warren Gatland.

Tom Youngs
Tom Youngs was another hooker from this tour who peaked at the right time (which perhaps reflects the options Gatland had). His England career only lasted three years, but he too was Stuart Lancaster’s starting hooker in 2013. He would then have to settle for being second choice until the 2015 World Cup.

Tom Youngs cited
Tom Youngs (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

2009 – SOUTH AFRICA

Lee Mears
In the year-and-a-half leading up to the 2009 Lions tour, Lee Mears started all 13 matches he played for England. Outside of that, he was on the bench for 26 of the other 29 Tests. But his form in 2008/09 was all that counted.

Andy Powell
It may surprise some how short Andy Powell’s Wales career was – only 23 caps between 2008 and 2012. But in 2009 the back row enforcer was a clearcut option to travel to South Africa.

Lions
Andy Powell (Getty Images)

Riki Flutey
Former Wasps centre Riki Flutey earned nine of his 14 England caps in the eight months leading up to the Lions tour, and a marvellous display against France at Twickenham in the 2013 Six Nations may have convinced Sir Ian McGeechan to choose him.

Ugo Monye
Like Flutey, Ugo Monye had not played a lot of Test rugby before the Lions tour, but he had shown enough in his six England appearances to earn a starting berth in the first in Durban. He only earned eight more caps after the tour.

Luke Fitzgerald
The stars aligned for then-21-year-old Luke Fitzgerald in 2009. A Grand Slam with Ireland and a Heineken Cup win with Leinster that year ensured his place on the tour, but he would only be an Ireland regular for two more years before injuries started to disrupt his career. 34 caps for Ireland was ultimately a modest return considering his talents.

Lions
Luke Fitzgerald

2005 – NEW ZEALAND

Andy Titterrell
The sole possessor of four England caps (all from the bench) before being selected for the 2005 Lions, Andy Titterrell was a beneficiary of Sir Clive Woodward’s extensive squad after a promising season with Sale Sharks.

Michael Owen
Wales’ 2005 Grand Slam-winning captain Michael Owen was a mainstay for the national team between 2004 and 2006, and earned a place on the NZ tour as result.

Ollie Smith
Back in 2005, 22-year-old Leicester Tigers centre Ollie Smith was one of England’s brightest prospects, and went on tour with only five caps to his name. He would not earn another after that tour though.

Gavin Henson
Gavin Henson was a household name back in 2005 and that was largely due to his purple patch and heroics in Wales’ Grand Slam, which made him a shoo-in for the Lions. After that though he was not the model of consistency in a Wales shirt, with off-field distractions and near-constant club changes diminishing his undoubtedly talents.

Lions
Gavin Henson is set to play in a July testimonial match in Neath (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

2001 – AUSTRALIA 

Matt Perry
Bath and England fullback Matt Perry’s Test career lasted only four years between 1997 and 2001, but in that time he was mainstay for England in the 15 shirt and started all three Tests against Australia for the Lions. However, he never played an international match after that.

Rob Henderson
Former Munster and Ireland centre Rob Henderson’s Test career was brief but impressive, and he was at his rampaging best in the years leading up to the 2001 Tour, which meant he started all three matches against the Wallabies.

Darren Morris
For former Leicester and Wales prop Darren Morris, the majority of his Test caps came in 2001, which was perfect timing.

Phil Greening
Former England Sevens captain Phil Greening peaked in the two years prior to the 2001 tour, which earned him a place in the squad. He only won one more cap though before an early retirement.

1997 – SOUTH AFRICA

Tim Stimpson
Former Leicester fullback Tim Stimpson produced his best form for England in 1997 as a 23-year-old, but never consistently played for England after that.

John Bentley
Two of John Bentley’s six international caps came for the Lions on this tour in a career where he moved between union and league, but he is eternised for his solo effort against Gauteng Lions.

Jeremy Davidson
Ireland lock Jeremy Davidson’s 35-cap Test career only spanned six years, but in that time he fitted in the 1997 and 2001 Lions tours, starting in all three fixtures against the Springboks.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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