The announcement of the British and Ireland Lions squads looks a little different this year.
In 2017, the New Zealand Tour team was read out in front of the media pocket at a hotel in West London. The lights were dim and atmospheric music was scattered during the montage of the immortal lion scenes from previous tours.
Prior to the 2021 tour to South Africa, 37 names were read out in television studios. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic. The presenters socially distanced, the Lions legend streamed on Zoom to provide take, tour captain Arun Wynn Jones appeared as a hologram, and Chairman Jason Leonard and coach Warren Gatland read out a list of names while maintaining a healthy distance from each other.
This time, on May 8th, East London’s Andy Farrell and the inevitable Lions alumni will be announcing their teams to fans of O2 Arena. These names will be cheered and once the list is over, names not mentioned by summer will be discussed as the Lions prepare to face Dublin’s Argentina on June 20th and travel to Australia for the opening game on June 28th.
The suggestion is that Farrell rarely considers sentimental or sympathetic picks.
Wales has lost 17 Tests, so if Farrell is not considered better for players than the alternative options in England, Scotland or Ireland, he won’t choose (Dewi Lake, Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, and Jac Morgan have other ideas). Diplomacy is a shame. This is not the time for token picks to appease one of the four countries. There is a tour to win.
But like these methods, plans are always torn apart on the eve of announcement. Caelan Doris’ injury on Saturday threw a captain-sized spanner into the piece. Farrell takes Doris risk. Did you know you might miss the opening match of the tour? Does he name Malo Itoje captain? Does he have Doris at home?
These are just a few of the questions that will hover during Thursday’s announcement.
Below are some of the biggest calls that Farrell needs to make:
Does Owen Farrell go amidst the uncertainty of fly-half?
Of all the decisions Farrell makes, few prove that it’s as difficult as what he does in fly half. Whichever way you go here, it’s going to cause people.
Competing includes the English trio who appeared in the Six Nations (George Ford, FinSmith, Marcus Smith) and Owen Farrell, who was exiled in Race 92. Irish duo Jack Crowley and Samprundergust are with Mesmelic Finn Russell.
He’ll go here with the three of them. The Ford is sold brilliantly and makes it an ideal tourist, but Farrell brings leadership and experience to this position. However, given that he is playing in France and has left England’s duties, this would be a call for polarization, despite him being one of England’s finest players.
Prendergast still cuts his teeth in Test Rugby, but Crowley played him the second fiddle, mainly during the Six Nations. Prendergast shows immeasurable promises, but does not have the same guarantees as fellow young man Fin Smith, who overtook him on Saturday. Then there’s Russell. With Sexton on his coaching ticket, you’ll be intrigued as to what happens here.
Sexton has previously been critical of Russell, describing him as “fantastic” and “media beloved”, but there is no doubt about his incredible ability to marshall his team and split up defenses. So, whatever Farrell decides, there will be a strip of people who say he made it wrong.
I go to Finn Smith, Ford and Russell, and Farrell has options at the center.
Captain’s Dilemma: Maloy Sojae or Kaerandris?
Before Saturday, Captain the Lions had two distinct favourites. I’m Doris from Ireland and Ito from England.
Prior to the fall international, Doris was an outstanding favorite at skippering tourists. He was the chosen captain of Ireland, which seemed to him set up justly to fulfill the same duties to the lion. However, his form is mixed in the Six Nations, and he has problems communicating with the judge. He was then injured on Saturday as he was driven away with a shoulder fragment against Northampton. We’ll hear more about the prognosis in the next 48 hours, but Rainster fears the worst.
Now moving forward with Itoje, a bookmaker’s honorary favorite. He did well in his first championship as an English skipper, but his form is better than ever. He is also the two tourists featured on both the 2017 and 2021 tours.
There are outsiders options like Farrell and George, but given Doris’ unfortunate injuries, Ito is on the forefront.
Can Andy Farrell choose a bigger team than usual?
Farrell is expected to go with a team of 37-41 players. It gives him the opportunity to name two completely different starting XVs in the first two matches. You should also get knocks in a wiggly room, negotiating a test match and tricky weekday matches around it.
The nature of the tour’s whistler stop has been played in Australia in nine matches over five weeks, but the midweek side will not actually appear until the day on July 19th, on either side of the first match against the Wallabies in Brisbane. So it’s a juggling act, and has been measuring it ever since one Farrell was appointed Lions coach in January 2024.
Farrell met with the rest of his coaching staff as Northampton shocked Rainster at the Champions Cup over the weekend and played a squirrel to win Australia’s final team earlier this week.
They had an original long list of 75 candidates, but were injured and Form slammed this onto the lucky group.
Who is the Bolters?
Like other lion tours, there are plenty of potential surprise choices.
Asher Opoku-Fordjour is one cry. Farrell could go to Stuart (England) with Finlay Beerham (Ireland), Tadig Furlong (Ireland), with Tight Head, but don’t rule out Opok Forjour, who plays both sides of the Scrum.
The other is the Courtney method. He retired from British testing mandates and played club rugby in ProD2 in France, and his recent form raised the prospect of a surprise call. You can be sure that the law enjoys the opportunity.
“The Lions are always deep inside you,” Law told Planet Rugby. “I’m not saying that’s the main motivation, but I still really believe I can contribute to the Lions team and would like to have the opportunity.”
Then there’s Pollock. The 20-year-old lacks confidence, but he rots away from all the obstacles thrown in his way. He was epic in the backrow against Northampton’s Rainster over the weekend.
Elsewhere, Toulon’s Livan managed to get a nod in the second row. His 20th size was 6 feet 8 inches and he had an advantage. Other potential bolters include Cameron Red Pass in Scotland, Blair Murray in Wales, and Jamie Osborn in Ireland.
Does Ireland control the squad?
Six Nations acted as an audition. Farrell was watching in the stands when Simon Easterby coached the Irish team through this year’s Six Nations. Despite his sabbatical, leaving his usual work, expect the team he chooses to have strong Irish accidental conditions.
His backroom staff selection was appointed by Ireland’s Simon Easterby, John Fogerty, Johnny Sexton and Andrew Goodman, while Walters (head of athletic performance) and Vinnie Hammond (head of analysis). David Nucifora, former IRFU performance director, is also heading down. Richard Wigglesworth of England and John Dalziel of Scotland make up the list.
Despite some volatile moments with the Six Nations and Rainster’s performance over the weekend, Ireland should still hold back most of the team’s spots.
Is there any biggest team fight in the backrow?
Farrell’s second row call affects the balance of the backrow as he has players who can cover both positions such as Courtney Law, Itsje, Ollie Chesham, Ryan Baird and Tado Bailun. There is a wealth of talent that Farrell can use at his backrow.
See who can play No. 7: Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Jack Morgan, Josh van der Freier, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Jamie Richie, Rory Darge, Jack Willis. Then there’s Henry Pollock’s youth who won Saturday in Northampton’s victory over Rainster.
It’s an open side eater.
No. 8 has Jack Conan – perhaps the biggest impact alternative in world rugby at the moment, potential Lions Captain Doris – even fit – and Welsh’s Evergreen Tawl Pefale Tau, Tom Willis and Matt Fergerson. Farrell has some major appeals.
Either way he goes there will remain some impressive numbers that have been disappointed.
Can playing abroad take place to Kinghorn locations?
Farrell appears to be open to selecting players based in France, but if Toulouse is in the top 14 final, Blair Kinghorn and Jack Willis could miss out on the Lions opening three games on the tour.
In other circumstances, Kinghorn is a guaranteed lion, but these logistical hurdles count against him (the same goes for Willis). Those that could potentially be affected by this include David Ribbans and Kyle Sinckler from Toulon, but the Racing 92 form means Farrell will be available from the start.
Of all the areas where the top 14 can confuse things, it’s the fullback that has the biggest impact. The full-back on the test will likely be a call between Kinghorn and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan, but with George Farbank suspected of injury, there may be a chance for a bolter like Blair Murray to make the cut.
Given the tight schedule, the need for a makeshift fullback works in favor of including versatile players like Jordan and Marcus Smith.
– Announcement of the British and Ireland Lions Squad: Time, How to Watch
– British & Irish Lions Fixture for Australia Tour
– News: Doris’ injury “can be serious,” says Rainster boss
– clock: Why is Owen Farrell on the Lions Tour team?