9 Fly Halves Warren Gatland Could Pick For The Lions 2013 Tour To Australia

4. Toby Flood Toby Flood, or Noah as his team mates know him, has quickly became one of the old men of the current England set up, despite being only 27. His move to Leicester Tigers was an attempt to escape the shadow of Jonny Wilkinson, his friend and mentor and he has done just that. Barring injury and poor form he looks likely to cross the 50 cap mark for England this season and has proved instrumental in a more dynamic and flowing style of rugby under Stuart Lancaster when previous Lancaster favourite Owen Farrell has wobbled. His play with his club team mate Manu Tuilagi should prove to be an effective weapon again this season with the young English centre on the cusp of maturing into the top class centre and Lions starter he clearly can be once he sorts his discipline and decision making out. Chances of flying: In the pilot seat5. Owen Farrell The young Saracens fly half was found to be fallible in South Africa in the summer after an excellent debut Six Nations. The intensity of the South Africans unnerved him and he found his heavily structured and someone uncreative style of play insufficient to get the backline going. Nonetheless, the attitude of a player barely 21 years old is astounding. His place kicking was regularly exemplary and he has a lot of quality in the Saracens team to work with and help him develop. Charlie Hodgson has been possibly the best attacking English fly half in the professional era and with Brad Barritt and Chris Ashton the understanding between them and the importance of selecting €˜units€™ could earn him the third fly half place. Chances of flying: In the airport terminal6. Rhys Priestland Farrell€™s biggest challenger for the 3rd fly half spot in the squad is the young Welshman who like Owen Farrell broke onto to the international scene in the last year with some excellent displays. Injury and familiarity of his threat saw him pinpointed by Six nations defences but he is undoubtedly part of the future of the young Welsh side. His battle in the RaboDirect Pro12 with Dan Biggar for a place in the Wales squad has been intriguing, with the Ospreys man possibly the unluckiest Welshman when it comes to naming the national squad. Until Biggar ups his game, the Welsh 10 shirt should continue to be his and Gatland€™s personal knowledge of him from his time as Wales coach will help. Chances of flying: In economy class

Contributor
Contributor

Follow @BallInTouch on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest rugby news and columns. Jeff Ball is a Geordie with a Newcastle Falcons season ticket, a rugby coaching badge, a bias for Newcastle United on Playstation games and was terrified by Jurassic Park as a child. For more of his personal musings following him on Twitter @JeffreyBall If you have any comments about this story please post a comment.