In a surprising twist away from the usual forwards-dominated commentary, former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has thrown his support behind a back for the British and Irish Lions' Man of the Series, after just two Tests. While many have lauded the efforts of Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne, Jones, along with another former Wallabies coach, Ewan McKenzie, have spotlighted Jamison Gibson-Park for his pivotal performances.
The discussion kicked off on the Rugby Unity podcast, where McKenzie initially proposed Jac Morgan as a starter over Curry due to his "Southern Hemisphere instinctive" approach to the breakdown. However, the conversation quickly shifted to Gibson-Park's instrumental role. McKenzie praised the scrum-half's game-changing abilities, saying,
"You've got to take time out and say how well the number nine has played, like he's such an outstanding player. He has been the difference between the two teams."
Eddie Jones echoed this sentiment, particularly emphasizing Gibson-Park's influence on the Lions' scoring opportunities in the second Test. "I reckon he's been the man of the series," Jones commented. He detailed specific instances, "When Beirne scored that try in the second half, he threw the ball over the top of the first receiver because he must have sensed that Lowe was in a bit of space there."
Jones continued, "Then, similarly with Curry’s try, he went down the short side, got to the second defender and again created a one-on-one situation on the end of the line. He’s been absolutely outstanding." Beyond just his offensive contributions, Gibson-Park's defensive efforts have also drawn Jones’s praise, particularly noting his proactive counter-rucking and tackling under pressure at the end of the first Test.
While the forwards often grab the headlines in Test match rugby, Gibson-Park’s dynamic play at number nine has clearly captured the attention and admiration of some of the game’s most respected figures, positioning him as a frontrunner for the Man of the Series accolade as perceived by Jones and McKenzie.