Top try-scorer Lions 2021

It’s a real source of pride, to be the most lethal finisher on a Lions tour. So who will win the race to top try-scorer for the British & Irish Lions this year?

We already have a front-runner – he has eight to his name so far and whe  Josh Adams scores four tries for the Lions to take his 2021 tour tally to five tries you knew he was onto something special. He was at it again against the Sharks, getting his sixth, seventh and then eighth with a hat-trick.

Adams was also one of four try-scorers in the opening match against Japan, at Murrayfield. And he was at it again – a further four times – against the Sigma Lions. Can anybody catch him? Duhan van der Merwe was also in on the act against the Sharks, taking his tour tally to two, three and then four with a hat-trick of his own.

Not to be outdone, the blistering Louis Rees-Zammit also scored a long-range try against the Sharks to take him to two.

In the second match against the Sharks, van der Merwe added to his tally, scoring a fifth, while Jamie George and Anthony Watson got two and Chris Harris, Jack Conan, Tom Curry and Elliot Daly got their first of the tour. Tadhg Beirne got his second and third.

Against South Africa A, Wyn Jones scored the team’s only try.

And when the Lions beat Springboks in first Test Cowan-Dickie scored the tourists’ only try.

In the last tour match before the Test series (against the Stormers) Adam Beard and Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jonny Hill got their first scores of the tour, while Conan got his second. Then Beirne got his third of the tour, as did Rees-Zammit. Zander Fagerson and Sam Simmonds also got their first.

Adams has already surpassed some previous top-scores. In 2017, in New Zealand, Tommy Seymour was top try-scorer on tour with three. In 2013 Alex Cuthbert and George North were joint-top of the chart with four each. Adams is currently on par with Ugo Monye was top on the 2009 Lions tour, with five. 

The last time the Lions won a series in South Africa, in 1997, the position of top try-scorer on tour was held jointly by John Bentley and Tony Underwood – both ended the tour with seven tries to their names.

Lions 2021 Tries Scored

8: Josh Adams

5: Duhan van der Merwe

3: Tadhg Beirne, Louis Rees-Zammit.

2: Jamie George, Anthony Watson, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie.

1: Robbie Henshaw, Hamish Watson, Ali Price, Gareth Davies, Bundee Aki, Chris Harris, Elliot Daly, Tom Curry, Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Jonny Hill, Zander Fagerson, Sam Simmonds.

Who do you think will end up as top try-scorer on the 2001 Lions tour? Do you think the Lions can out-score their Test opponents, the Springboks? Let us know on social media or send us your thoughts at rugbyworldletters@futurenet.com

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