The big performances keep coming and, if that continues in 2017, then there will be a huge chance of County Meath having some British & Irish Lions representation.
Devin Toner was a 27-year-old lock with five Irish caps [one start] when Joe Schmidt was announced as Ireland head coach.
Three and a half years later, Toner now has 42 caps, two Six Nations championships and was one of the first names on Ireland’s team-sheets for victories over South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
He has become a key figure in Schmidt’s Ireland and is now almost as famous for the amount of rucks he hits than the amount of clean line-out ball he claims. Toner was man-of-the-match in Ireland’s super win over the Springboks, in Cape Town, and he averaged over 8/10 in the recent November Series against the very best opposition.
Toner returned to provincial duty for Leinster on Friday night and was mightily effective again. He was part of a front five that dominated Northampton Saints, he made strong carries and was a head-melt for the Premiership side all night.
Toner’s performance was certainly on Will Greenwood’s radar. The former England and Lions centre believes the six-foot-ten lock must be in the mix for next summer’s tour to New Zealand.
Brilliant tonight from @leinsterrugby – aesthetically pleasing and bloody tough – we have to mention @DevinToner4 for @lionsofficial
— Will Greenwood (@WillGreenwood) December 9, 2016
Greenwood’s views are in tandem with those of former Lions coach Ian McGeechan, who describes Toner as a ‘giant of a man’ who could help Ireland dominate lineouts and deploy an effective choke tackle defence.
Greenwood’s statement, typically in a Lions season, divided rugby fans.
Imagine…
https://twitter.com/andrewfoley13/status/807340545408372740
The main competition
he's no @maroitoje @GeorgeKruis or @AlunWynJones
— Andrew Burton (@0787Burton) December 9, 2016
Get him on the plane
MENTION???? would be pure folly to exclude him
— David McCarthy (@macklaptop) December 9, 2016
He’s come a long way in three years
“@JOEdotie: Burning Issue: Which Irish player is most hard done by not to be in the Lions squad?
Devin Toner, only joking, he's shite.
— Nockmeister (@Nocky82) May 1, 2013
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