DENIS HICKIE TOURED with the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand in 2005. Ahead of the Six Nations, Hickie speaks to TheScore.ie about the players that can make it onto the Lions tour this summer:
“I think Brian O’Driscoll has a very good chance of making it. Brian needs to be fit and, if he is, I don’t think they could do without him and I do think he’s an outside bet for the captain. A lot depends on how the Six Nations goes, for everyone.
If Ireland don’t win many Six Nations games it is going to have a huge impact on the amount of Ireland players picked. If Ireland have a special Six Nations, you’ll have a lot of Irish guys going and the Irish captain would be, obviously, a big part of that.
Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan and Brian O'Driscoll get their World Cup caps in 2003. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
For other guys like Jonny Wilkinson and Ronan O'Gara, they’re pretty much outside bets but there’s a lot of rugby to be played between now and April. You just don’t know how it is going to go. I’d expect the most dominant Six Nations team to get most of the picks and, after that, it goes down the pecking order.
The tradition is there has always been wildcards. In 1997, going to South Africa, Eric Miller was selected having barely played for Ireland before that. John Bentley, who wasn't even playing for England, got picked and both guys were stars of the tour.
The next tour, you had guys like Simon Taylor, who played for Scotland, got picked. Now he didn't play, he got injured in his first match but you always have wildcard guys getting picked.
On the last Lions tour, Keith Earls had played just twice for Ireland and hadn't really played with Munster. Next minute, he’s on a Lions tour.
It will happen this time as well but it is too early to say who they are and they mightn't necessarily play for their country. They just have to be in form and that European form plays a huge part. If guys are performing and their club is playing well in Europe, they are in the shop window.
Obviously, playing for your national side is the easiest way but there are always one or two guys that get brought it. I expect that will continue and I'm looking forward to seeing who they are."
Wallabies talisman
"I actually think Quade Cooper will feature. He has his demons but Aussie sport always has these characters, very volatile individuals.
They always seem to have some guy from the wrong side of the tracks who kicks up some sort of fuss.
It’s part of Australian sport and they just take it in their stride. I wouldn't underestimate the fact that they’re fine at having a go at each other when they need to but they’re not the type of country that would settle for anyone else having a go.
Quade Cooper has been included in Australia's extended Lions squad. (Barry Aldworth/Sports Inc.)
I can see them putting everything down and saying 'we need our best Australian players to play in this tour' and I don’t think they can do without a guy like him in their squad. Whether he plays all the games or not is another matter.
Of course he’s not going to want to miss out on it. He mightn't realise it, and the history and the heritage of the Lions tour, but in three or four months when it starts building up and the touring squad is picked there is only one place where an Australian player would want to be and that’s playing against them."
*Denis Hickie appeared 63 times for Ireland and toured to New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions in 2005.
Simon Zebo is my tip to star for the Lions in Oz. Tailor made for him .
Kilcoyne an outside bet for lions
Agree, Coughlan too. Warriors.
8′s to travel, Heaslip, Denton?? Coughlan?? Names people, must be versatile and able to function across the back row I would think. Lydiate, Watburton, Easter? Croft?
As a die hard wallaby fan i hope BOD does get picked
He is still a fantastic player, has (unlike alot of NH players) real x-factor and undoubtably carries with him an aura that would inspire the lions and certainly frighten the aussie centres (we still dont have a good or even first choice combo!)
Whether he is a run on or a subbed impact player he must be brought. I certainly fancy australia’s chances more if he is left home but ultimately i want to see the best feature and make it a series to remember
Err, Warren Gatland is picking the squad, we’ll be lucky if there’s 3 Irish players on the Lions squad, & BOD won’t be one of them! The England kids will do the slam & will make up the bulk of the squad!!!
Find it hard to see how bod will make the lions tour he has become very injury prone in the last few seasons and this will have an impact on his selection prospects think cave from ulster has a good chance of been the outsider on this lions tour
I’d venture there’ll be quite a few Munster boys on the plane…. Kilcoyne, Ryan, Coughlan, O’Mahony, Murray and maybe Jones (injuries depending)
Forgot Zebo, he’s a shoe in!
Of the players you name only two will start for Ireland. Ryan and Murrary.
As for Ryan he’s up against pretty good opposition for a starting place but should travel. Murray is a disaster.
The rest will have to fight for a place in the Irish squad never mind the lions.
O’Mahony will start for Ireland, Zebo will start for Ireland, Jones is one injury away from starting, as is Kilcoyne as is Coughlan, next?
Zebo had a good chance but earls will get one wing so he’s fighting with Gilroy for the other.
The point is we are talking about the Irish team the lions is a different thing altogether.
It will be heavy with welsh players and England will be well represented, to think Munster will have seven or eight players is unrealistic.
I’d say the Irish players will be
Healy , best, Ross, Ryan , heaslip O’Brien ( ferris) sexton, bod ,Murrary , kearney, earls and if fit Bowe. The six nations will throw up a few bolters and injuries will play it’s part.
For what your saying ireland would have to at least win the triple crown and apart from the arggie game theres nothing to suggest we will
Anti – Munster Red thumb brigade out in force I see. What no.8′s and Locks are going? All nations please.
Chris says 7 Munster players is unrealistic and then tells us 8 Leinster will be going? Europe will play a big part, not Amlin mind you, just the Heineken so you’re way off Chris ;)
I’ve named 7 Leinster players, the last two European players of the year, the current Irish captain, both current Irish props, the best Outhalf in the country and Brian O’Driscoll, as for your comment about the lions been picked on current European form I don’t think munster have played any better than Leinster and honestly I’ve watched Munster over the last 3 weeks apart from beating a 14 man second team at home you’ve not really done much.
Don’t know why the comment on gatland not picking IRISH players got so many thumbs down. I reckon it’s bang on. I really do hope o Driscoll gets picked, I don’t see who could do a better job than him from the lions countries…
The greatest player Ireland ever had should retire before he does himself permanent damage! Fortunately for us though, I don’t think he will for another year or two.
His body is going to be screaming at him for decades anyway! May as well keep going. I would.
I dont think its a tour u should be carrying people on!
O’Driscoll has never been carried in his life! Best Centre ever.
Thanks Denis Hickie… I needed a giggle this morning and that statement of yours did the trick!
BOD will probably travel, but it’s between Gatland’s pet, Warburton, and the man he has name dropped as potential captain, Jamie Heaslip, for the captaincy.
BOD may not necessarily start, but he’s still better than any centre we have or Scotland has. Tuilagi will tour, and probably a couple of Welsh lads, but there is definitely space for BOD, and he’s definitely good enough.
I’d love to see him captain it, given what happened to him in NZ.
If fit,BOD will travel. If form is good in 6ns he has a good chance of captaining d lions. Its him, Heaslip, Warburton r, and this is a real outside bet….POC. As regards no.8′s, ur looking at Heaslip as a cert. O brien can play there too and then its either a specialist in Faletau r try Lydiate there.