The Six Nations is at an end with the final opportunity for British and Irish Lions hopefuls to impress Andy Farrell at international level over.
The Lions head coach will name his touring party for Australia on 8 May in front of a live audience at London’s O2 Arena, with a big captaincy call to be made between Ireland No 8 Caelan Doris and England lock Maro Itoje.
England’s strong finish to a coming-of-age campaign has furthered the chances of plenty of their players, while Farrell’s familiarity with the Irish squad should mean plenty of representation despite the relinquishing of their Six Nations crown.
Scotland and Wales have several standouts eyeing inclusion, too, with the announcement of the assistant coaches on 26 March potentially revealing more about Farrell’s plans.
What could his squad to take on the Wallabies look like, and how has it changed since before the tournament? The Independent has selected a 38-man touring party:
Loosehead props (3)
Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England)
Changes since pre-tournament: None
Don’t rule out Wales loosehead Nicky Smith given his scrummaging skill but this trio all possess a better blend of skillsets. Ironman Porter is a regular 70-minute man for Ireland, Schoeman an underrated force with the ball and at the breakdown, and Genge has been back to his best in recent weeks in England white.
Hookers (3)
Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Dewi Lake (Wales), Jamie George (England)
Changes since pre-tournament: None
Sheehan returned to full force in the Six Nations after a speedy recovery from ACL surgery, and feels a nailed-on starter. It was a shame not to see more of Lake after his own injury issues - how Wales needed him fit and firing. While his time as a Lions Test starter may have gone, George would be an excellent squad man and possible midweek captain if required, a role fulfilled by mentor Rory Best in 2017.
Tighthead props (3)
Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Will Stuart (England)
Changes since pre-tournament: Stuart IN, Asher Opoku-Fordjour (England) OUT
The thought of Asher Opoku-Fordjour bolting into contention with a breakthrough Six Nations was entirely misplaced, with the hugely improved Stuart instead taking the tighthead shine for England. The Bath prop has gone from fringe contender to possible starter, particularly with Furlong’s ongoing fitness battles. Fagerson should make a second tour in succession.
Locks (5)
Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), George Martin (England), Ollie Chessum (England)
Changes since pre-tournament: No Adam Beard (Wales)
There’s a chance that Beirne reprises his role on the blindside with the emergence of McCarthy and Martin giving Farrell two tighthead lock options to complement Itoje, who tends to rise to the occasion in the famous red shirt. The England second row is now my choice as captain having performed the role well in his first Six Nations a skipper, with his past experiences as a tourist helping his case. Chessum also offers four/six versatility and is just getting better and better.
Adam Beard, Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, James Ryan and Ryan Baird all have their merits, but this quintet are strong.
Back rows (7)
Caelan Doris (Ireland), Ben Earl (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Jamie Ritchie (Scotland), Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Changes since pre-tournament: Ritchie and Faletau IN, Jack Dempsey (Scotland) OUT
Squeezing this group down to even seven names remains a brutal task. Looking at the openside options alone, all of Van der Flier, Earl, Tom and Ben Curry, Morgan, Sam Underhill, Rory Darge, Jack Willis and Tommy Reffell deserve mention and consideration. Willis misses out partly due to the fact that Toulouse could well still be playing in the Top 14 when the Lions play their first game in Australia.
There are relatively few bonafide blindsides in the mix at six, though Ritchie is returning to past form. and four of the locks included in our squad have the ability to cover the position. Jack Conan is very close to a second tour but the vast experience of Faletau, a Test match animal chasing a fourth Lions trip, could be seen as valuable.
Scrum halves (3)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland), Alex Mitchell (England), Tomos Williams (Wales)
Changes since pre-tournament: None
Gibson-Park’s importance to Ireland’s attack should see him take the starting nine shirt, with Mitchell also earning a first Lions trip. Williams’s skillset would be a nice fit if Farrell favours an Irish-style system despite a difficult tournament. Ben White is unfortunate to miss out.
Fly halves (3)
Finn Russell (Scotland), Fin Smith (England), Marcus Smith (England)
Changes since pre-tournament: F Smith for George Ford (England)
So much to consider here with the form and fortunes of Irish and English fly halves key in determining who joins Russell – safely in despite a mixed bag of a Six Nations – in a touring trio. Let’s again explain, though, the absence of Owen Farrell. Would the Farrell family wish to deal with the unfair questions that Owen’s selection may cause? With no recent Test rugby in which to really press his case, it may be easier to avoid a potential millstone by letting him continue to settle in Paris.
The younger of the two Smiths has seized England’s fly half shirt and has the right materials to go well with the Lions, with his sparky teammate just about edging out Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley. Neither Irishman quite asserted themselves fully to secure a spot on the plane.
Centres (5)
Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Huw Jones (Scotland)
Changes since pre-tournament: None
The timing of Ollie Lawrence’s achilles injury was desperately disappointing given how he appeared to be forcing his way in. But this group has a nice balance to it and real familiarity with one another. The versatile Tom Jordan filled in admirably but Tuipulotu was much missed by Scotland, with his development as a leader an added bonus.
Wings and full-backs (6)
Hugo Keenan (Ireland), James Lowe (Ireland), Mack Hansen (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Tommy Freeman (England)
Changes since pre-tournament: Freeman for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England)
Another area in which it is tough to narrow the options down; Darcy Graham is perhaps the most unfortunate player of all in our prediction. The livewire Scot could easily go as part of a wing group where beauty may be in the eye of the beholder. Feyi-Waboso drops out on account of a shoulder injury that appears to have been mismanaged by both Exeter and England. Teammate Freeman capacity to cover centre and aerial ability offer a point of difference.
The other quandary in this unit is what to do with Kinghorn, like Willis a potential Top 14 winner with Toulouse. The 27-year-old possesses unique ability to provide a genuine option at fly half and across the back three, though, and thus takes a spot as an ideal utility man even if he will arrive late in Australia.
The Independent’s predicted Lions 23 for first Test
Starting XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Maro Itoje (capt), 5 Joe McCarthy; 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Caelan Doris; 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Finn Russell; 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 14 Blair Kinghorn; 15 Hugo Keenan
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Ben Earl; 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Tommy Freeman
