There will be more than just a Six Nations title and Grand Slam at stake when Wales face France in Paris on Saturday night. For the Welsh players, there are reputations to be made, or broken, as Lions selections this summer, says Harri Morgan.
“At the death zone, continue straight on Summit Street for 849m.”
The directions a Himalayan adventurer must follow, if they are to achieve the selfie at the top of the hill.
The death zone – so named because of the dangerous Oxygen deficiency – is entered when a climber breaches the 8,000m mark.
A mountaineering website for prospective Everest explorers, describes Camp 4 at the gateway to the ‘DZ’ as, “the place where the media, fame and fun of BC (Base Camp) definitely are gone. Only fear remains on everyone’s face. People don’t talk a lot.”
Sounds grim.
It takes a special type to survive, let alone thrive in such circumstance. Most of us would be glad to hear, ‘when possible, make a U-turn’.
That is saying something.
An Everest analogy in a rugby column. It must be a British & Irish Lions year.
“Everybody knows that Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Very few used to get to the top. I had to make the players feel they were special.”
You’ve heard the famous Everest speech, now read about how it came to pass, from the man himself, Jim Telfer#LionsRugby
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) March 17, 2021
Quite whether a ‘home tour’, against a South African side starved of international rugby, constitutes the ‘Telferian’ tag, is a point of debate.
Not just in terms of the magnitude of the challenge, but also the impact it may have on long term brand value.
What we do know is the composition of Warren Gatland’s party will be flush with players who flourish in conditions replicating the ‘death zone’ of a Lions test.
Rewind to 2013.
Stuart Lancaster’s England arrived in Cardiff on Super Saturday with a 100% record.
Their captain, Chris Robshaw, was a front runner to be awarded the armband on that summer’s tour to Australia.
England were on the wrong end of a demolition from a Welsh machine at its abrasive, efficient best.
Howley-ball’s finest hour.
Robshaw didn’t get the nod – for captaincy – or a spot in the touring party.
In the 2017 Six Nations, Scotland defeated Ireland and Wales, in their happy place – Murrayfield.
In the penultimate round they headed to fortress Twickenham for a Triple Crown showdown.
Their hosts were on a 17-match winning run under Eddie Jones. The perfect audition for prospective Scottish Lions.
The champs brought the heat, the challengers melted. 61-21. Fail.
When it came to Lions selection day, only two Scots made the cut. Alongside 16 English, 12 Welsh and 11 Irish.
The inability to produce high performance on the big occasion was an insurmountable mark in the ‘against’ column of the likes of Hamish Watson, Jonny Gray and Finn Russell.
The 2021 squad may not have to contend with the lung-busting Highveld, or a stadium of raucous Bokke fans, high on braai.
Yet, their opponents are world champions, and a single season in the fast lane of Super Rugby is unlikely to have caused a seismic shift in the chief Lion’s philosophy.
The pressure of playing for a Grand Slam. The borderline Bok physicality of the French.
Precedent points to Saturday night being the type of contest which will be attributed great weight when the minds that matter ponder who to bring to their bubble.
Some have likely done enough. Recent performances, allied with the credit in the bank, will see them on the plane, train or automobile.
For Dan Biggar and Josh Navidi, a positive influence on proceedings in Paris may be sufficient to tip selection scales in their favour.
They have done the business to this point, but their respective categories are packed with ‘pick me’ talent.
The battle in midfield will be pivotal. A formidable French pairing have the ability to blow the game apart, if not properly policed.
Who’s makes your Lions squad at centre?
Jonathan Davies
Wilis Halaholo
George North
Garry Ringrose
Robbie Henshaw
Henry Slade
Manu Tuilagi
Bundee Aki
Huw Jones
Sam Johnson
Chris Harris
Owen Farrell
Ollie Lawrence
Johnny Williams
Nick Tompkins
Chris Farrell— Rugby Union 2021 (@2014_rugby) March 15, 2021
In combatting this duo, Jonathan Davies will hope to do a ‘reverse Robshaw’ – producing 80 minutes to prove his Lions credentials are current.
The 2017 player of the tour has ‘done a job’ in his last two outings in the 12 jumper.
This weekend his brief expands, both in scope and complexity due to the skill, agility and physciality of those with whom he will collide. To be sufficient, he will need to be excellent.
There are others.
The challenge for these individuals is to frame the extrinsic element as an opportunity, not a burden – leveraging personal goals as motivation to fuel the voyage of the Good Ship Grand Slam.
History shows that If the ship sinks, its sailors go down with it.