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British and Irish Lions 2021: Who could be the bolters to tour South Africa?

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments1001

Kieran Hardy, Sam Simmonds, Simon Zebo
Kieran Hardy, Sam Simmonds and Simon Zebo are among the outsiders hoping to be named in Warren Gatland's squad

A 23-year-old Martin Johnson made his British and Irish Lions debut after only one England cap.

Jeremy Guscott scored a try in a Lions Test against Australia less than two months after his England debut.

Keith Earls was just 21, with two Ireland caps to his name, when he toured South Africa in 2009, while league converts John Bentley and Jason Robinson came from left field to light up Lions tours in 1997 and 2001 respectively.

Who could be a surprise selection - or bolter - when Warren Gatland selects the Lions class of 2021 on Thursday?

Sam Simmonds

Sam Simmonds

The European player of the year. The Premiership's leading try-scorer. A key cog in Exeter's double-winning team. But apparently not good enough to add to his most recent England cap in 2018.

Simmonds' omission from Eddie Jones' plans has become one of English rugby's most reliable talking points. Could Gatland take a different view?

Simmonds, 16st 2lbs and 6ft tall, isn't a super-sized back row. But he is compact enough to lever into breakdowns bigger men can't. And he has pace to burn.

The most eye-popping example was in November's win against Harlequins, when Simmonds burst through a hole on halfway, swerved outside the full-back and celebrated his score with a nonchalant shrug.

On South Africa's firm ground, with a point to prove, could he be an ace in the hole for the Lions?

Kieran Hardy

Kieran Hardy

The 25-year-old scrum-half has made only three Test starts for Wales, but might have been the man in possession of Wales' pass-the-parcel nine shirt but for an untimely hamstring injury in a superb try-scoring display against England.

The Scarlets scrum-half is a quick, clever runner with a nose for a gap in the fringe defence.

Selection to the British and Irish Lions squad would cap a remarkable rise. Fewer than four years ago, Hardy was playing in the English second-tier Championship as he struggled to get game time ahead of Scarlets team-mate Gareth Davies.

Ben Youngs' decision to remove himself from consideration for the tour might leave the Lions coaches less well-staffed than expected at nine as well.

Danny Care

Danny Care

Care admits the prospect of him being in contention for the Lions tour at the start of the season seemed laughable.

The Harlequins scrum-half won the last of his 84 England caps against Japan in November 2018.

But since the turn of the year and a change of head coach at Quins, Care has rediscovered the best form of his career.

The 34-year-old specialised in the 'finisher' role during the latter part of his England career, stretching play and darting through holes as players tired and space opened up.

Could Gatland imagine a similar role in his final chance to tour with the Lions?

John Cooney

John Cooney

Another scrum-half, another man who has found himself left in the international cold.

Cooney has struggled to convince both Joe Schmidt and, now, Andy Farrell that he is worth more than the occasional cameo off the bench for Ireland.

But he was Ulster's star man in the early part of 2020 and, after a brief post-lockdown dip, has resumed that form in the past few weeks.

Lions coaches Gregor Townsend and Steve Tandy were on hand at Welford Road on Friday night to see Ulster lose control of their European Challenge Cup semi-final after Cooney departed with a head-knock early in the second half.

As well as canny support lines, pace and footballing ability, Cooney is also a reliable goal-kicker.

Cameron Redpath

Cameron Redpath

This would be one from left field, but centre is one of the areas - along with scrum-half - where there are places up for grabs.

Cameron Redpath has made only one international appearance. But what an appearance it was.

The 21-year-old centre strolled through Scotland's first win at Twickenham in 38 years, making the step up to the Test arena look effortless.

He was prevented from playing any further part in the Six Nations by a neck injury but has recently made his comeback for club side Bath, where his agility and pace give him the impression of always being in space.

His father Bryan won 60 caps for Scotland as a scrum-half but never toured with the Lions.

Simon Zebo

Simon Zebo

Out of sight, out of mind?

On the final weekend before Lions selection, Simon Zebo did all he could to catch the Lions selectors' eyes.

Playing in Paris' club derby the 31-year-old Irishman sliced between two Stade Francais defenders before throwing a sublime back-of-the-hand offload to send Teddy Thomas into the corner.

Zebo can play full-back as well as wing, was a popular tourist when called up to the 2013 trip to Australia and links well on and off the pitch with Racing 92 team-mate Finn Russell, who seems a certainty to make the 2021 trip.

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1001 comments

  • Comment posted by Squidlord, at 15:01 3 May 2021

    Madness not to take Simmonds - might give EJ a kick up the pants too.

    • Reply posted by jackoshmac, at 15:33 3 May 2021

      jackoshmac replied:
      I think Gats will take Simmonds as the ultimate two finger salute to Uncle Eddie

  • Comment posted by SensibleMartin, at 15:16 3 May 2021

    To those of you who aren't familiar with the term "bolter" in a sporting context, this is an Australian / New Zealand expression which means "an outsider in a sporting event or other competition".

    • Reply posted by njr1330, at 15:54 3 May 2021

      njr1330 replied:
      Thank you, I was too embarrassed to ask!!

  • Comment posted by Bosnia Herzegovina, at 18:07 3 May 2021

    On a separate note, well done to Ben Youngs for putting family before the Lions. He’s clearly got his priorities right.

    Read a lot of comments about him not likely to get selected anyway, but he was on the 50 man shortlist so he was in with a shout.

    • Reply posted by RobboTheKitten, at 21:56 3 May 2021

      RobboTheKitten replied:
      What do you expect him to do? NOT put family first?

  • Comment posted by mynd views, at 16:12 3 May 2021

    Anyone but Farrell

    • Reply posted by Socks, at 17:39 3 May 2021

      Socks replied:
      Farrell defended superbly and kicked vital, high pressure penalties and conversions in all 3 tests in the drawn Lion's series v The AB's in 2017. He'd be in my squad any day!

  • Comment posted by Noname, at 15:24 3 May 2021

    Would Chris Harris no longer count as a bolter? Absolutely pivotal to the defensive structure which Tandy and Townsend (both on the Lions coaching ticket) operate successfully for Scotland.

    • Reply posted by Dr Dre, at 15:29 3 May 2021

      Dr Dre replied:
      I like Harris, and think he has a chance considering the coaches. I’d prefer Ringrose if it was a 50:50 choice though.

  • Comment posted by ewentm, at 15:11 3 May 2021

    Simmonds has to go. He didn’t get European player of the year for nothing

    Apart from that Care is the only other Bolter I can really see happening due to the lack of quality at 9

    • Reply posted by Valley Commando, at 15:40 3 May 2021

      Valley Commando replied:
      Tomos Williams, Connor murray and Kierran Hardy in that order, with several others between them and Care.

  • Comment posted by RichSpen, at 15:14 3 May 2021

    If Faletau is ‘nailed-on’ as many say, he has been out-played by his own teammate Zach Mercer all season.

    • Reply posted by jackoshmac, at 15:27 3 May 2021

      jackoshmac replied:
      How did Mercer get on in the Six Nations this year?

  • Comment posted by PJ444, at 14:57 3 May 2021

    Might be a bit early for Redpath but he looks a real talent

    • Reply posted by KingDon, at 15:23 3 May 2021

      KingDon replied:
      If he’s a real talent, he should go.
      Better than taking players who have been around for a while but haven’t as much talent.

  • Comment posted by Honest ABE, at 15:09 3 May 2021

    England fans: Hamish Watson is too small to play SA.
    Also England fans: Pick Sam Simmonds to play SA.

    • Reply posted by Ali, at 15:12 3 May 2021

      Ali replied:
      As someone who is not English, I'd pick both of them

  • Comment posted by tripping, at 15:19 3 May 2021

    Huw Jones - purely to come on in the last 20 minutes as this guy is serioulsy fast and a proven try scorer.

    • Reply posted by KingDon, at 15:49 3 May 2021

      KingDon replied:
      Huw Jones must be the best player to put on with 15 mins to go.
      Darts through gaps and scores tries. Could be taken for that alone.

  • Comment posted by paul teare, at 16:28 3 May 2021

    Sam Simmonds works at Chiefs cos he play usually next to two huge flankers. That wont work in SA against the Boks. Back Scrum needs heft and ballast not Willo the Wisp and to pick him at 8 means using one of flankers as rear jumper against giant Bok backrowers....

    • Reply posted by justin150, at 16:57 3 May 2021

      justin150 replied:
      pick him at 8 means using one of flankers as rear jumper against giant Bok backrowers....

      A flanker such as, for example, Curry who is a genuine line out threat? or maybe Tips who performs same role for Wales? So to pick Sam at 8 Gats simply needs to pick at least one flanker he would have picked in any event.

  • Comment posted by Joe, at 16:02 3 May 2021

    I'm not sure why people keep saying Smith, he disappeared in games against Exeter and Bristol

    • Reply posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 16:06 3 May 2021

      This name is awaiting moderation replied:
      Agreed he struts around too much of late..... reminds me of Troy Tempest...... better suited to junior tournaments where he would doubtless do well.

  • Comment posted by Dr_John - not a Doctor of medicine, at 11:29 4 May 2021

    Sadly the most predictable bit of the announcement is that the response will be a trollfest, with
    Claims of not enough players from their nation
    Claims of too many players from a nation.
    Gloating about numbers from other nations.
    Gloating about individuals left out
    Anger at certain players left out
    Accusations of favouritism.

    All very much against the Lions ethos

    • Reply posted by Rugby born and bred, at 11:42 4 May 2021

      Rugby born and bred replied:
      All correct and unfortunately true

  • Comment posted by Torchief, at 18:04 3 May 2021

    Firstly I am an Exeter fan but I don't get this Simmonds isnt big enough argument. Do the Lions really want a physical arm wrestle with the Boks or do they want to stretch them with pace and width. If it is just a physical battle then I personally wouldn't pick any of the back rowers mentioned. I would look at playing Ewers style players, If you want all round class then Faletau etal work...

    • Reply posted by MW, at 20:55 3 May 2021

      MW replied:
      That's a good point but we're short of Ewers-type players. Maybe Ewers is a bolter? He carries Simmonds over the try-line often enough maybe we could get a 2 for 1?
      I agree that we want to avoid an arm wrestle but we need to be able to front up and we're looking like taking a light backrow whoever we pick.

  • Comment posted by Athils Thorgisl, at 15:08 3 May 2021

    Would love for Sam to go. Just to get some recognition for the way he's played the last year or 2. Mr Jones is not likely to pick him.

  • Comment posted by calatibo, at 17:47 3 May 2021

    Wait, Simmons would work well in South Africa, but Watson (an inch taller and a pound heavier) is too small?

    • Reply posted by my username, at 17:49 3 May 2021

      my username replied:
      And Watson is expected to play 7 instead of 8! Pick Watson.

  • Comment posted by Dr Dre, at 15:01 3 May 2021

    Talk of Care or Cooney is disrespectful to Ali Price who had been good the past few years. He goes for me, with Murray and Davies. I love Care, and wanted him to play more for England when it was a shoot out between him and Youngs. England fan by the way, although Lions fan for a few months.

    • Reply posted by KingDon, at 15:20 3 May 2021

      KingDon replied:
      Well said Dr Dre. Great to see sense and honesty.

  • Comment posted by paul teare, at 16:26 3 May 2021

    Care ,,,,,,, oh my splitting aching sides.....

    • Reply posted by andyunlimited, at 21:19 3 May 2021

      andyunlimited replied:
      That's why he is a bolter. His England career is behind him but might need that experience against SA.

  • Comment posted by Waggle Yer Wallies, at 15:11 3 May 2021

    Lions aside for a second, anyone else sick of the lack of incriminating replay angles from certain Gallic tv match directors....??

    • Reply posted by Voletsbleus, at 15:27 3 May 2021

      Voletsbleus replied:
      No

  • Comment posted by D1679401328621, at 16:18 3 May 2021

    Genuinely don't understand the hype around Simmonds. Of the current predicted Lions back row who on earth is he that much better than to oust? Faletau is a better 8, vastly more experienced. Curry a better 6 and Tipuric a better 7.

    It's all very well clamouring for someone to be included but they have to be a better player than the incumbent.

    • Reply posted by Bangers_N_Mash, at 16:23 3 May 2021

      Bangers_N_Mash replied:
      You'd select him for cover in any of the 6, 7, or 8 positions. Not saying he's better, but DESERVES selection at least to cover and recognize his hard work and obvious abilities. Not hype per se, just recognizing the obvious.

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