Warren Gatland and would-be Lions: crunch time for North, Hartley and co | Paul Rees

Mar 04, 2017

With two weeks left to impress the coach, which players have put their hands up in the Six Nations and who might miss out on the tour to New Zealand?

Leigh Halfpenny looked the Test full-back from the start in 2013, not least because of his goal-kicking, but with Owen Farrell able to fill that role it is more open this year. Stuart Hogg offers the most in attack but his defence is suspect while the reverse is true of Halfpenny, whose threat with the ball in hand seems to diminish every year. Mike Brown’s “they don’t like it up ’em” approach is not likely to be enough in New Zealand while pace is an issue for Rob Kearney. Full-back may be filled by a player chosen in another position, such as Liam Williams or Elliot Daly, who offers a counterattacking threat while being a resolute last line of defence.

Tags: British & Irish Lions Dylan Hartley New Zealand rugby union team Rugby union Six Nations Six Nations 2017 Sport Warren Gatland