Rugby Union Six Nations: 8 Players Who Should Make 2013 Lions Squad

England Stuart Lancaster's men are in the best position to win the Six Nations at the moment. They have won two games from two; easily dispatching Scotland and then winning a rather dull affair against Ireland. England players of recent times have often had free-rides on to Lions tours but this may not be the case in 2013. Warren Gatland's no nonsense approach suggests that English players may be left out of the tour if they return to their wild ways of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Owen Farrell (Fly-Half/Centre)

Owen Farrell Whether you like him or not it seems that Owen Farrell is destined to turn into the next Johnny Wilkinson. Farrell only started playing for England during last year€™s Six Nations but he has already earned 14 caps and scored 139 points. He was instrumental in record-breaking England's win against New Zealand in December 2012 and has carried some impressive form into the 2013 Six Nations. In England's opening game against Scotland, Farrell set up one of the tries, scored 18 points and won Man of the Match. He followed up this performance by scoring all of the England's points in their 6-12 win over Ireland. Farrell is currently the top scorer in the 2013 Six Nations with 30 Points from two games. Farrell is beginning to solidify his place in the England starting line-up and is slowing starting to oust Toby Flood. There are other Fly-Half options for the Lions to consider, most notably Ireland's Jonathan Sexton but it seems likely that Farrell will go on tour, especially if he keeps up his current form. The only factors that may go against him are his relative inexperience and his young age.

Chris Robshaw (Flanker)

Chris Robshaw Robshaw is another relative newcomer to the world of international rugby: he gained his debut cap in 2009 but then a two-and-a-half year break due to being overlooked in selection. Stuart Lancaster took influence from Wales as he re-selected Robshaw to be England's captain at the start of last year€™s Six Nations. Since then, Robshaw has captained his country on each occasion that he has been fit enough to play. In the same way as Farrell, he is instrumental to England's current recovery and why they are the only team not to have lost a game in the 2013 Six Nations. He's continuing his good form from last season on to this one and he is a surprisingly likable character too. Robshaw embodies a level of English professionalism that was so absent during the 2011 World Cup campaign. Could he be Lions captain? I doubt it at the moment but I'm pretty sure that he will be one of the first names on the flight out.
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Ginger gamer and practising historian from South Wales.