With the Lions tour just over three months away, Telegraph Sport’s experts pick their squads for Australia.
Gavin Mairs: Owen Farrell would raise standards
Props
Ellis Genge
Andrew Porter
Pierre Schoeman
Nicky Smith
Tadhg Furlong
Will Stuart
Zander Fagerson
Relatively straightforward selection, with Will Stuart forcing his way into contention off the back of an impressive Six Nations campaign. The competition on both sides for the first Test should be fierce, given Ellis Genge’s form for England.
Hookers
Dan Sheehan
Ronan Kelleher
Luke Cowan-Dickie
The two Ireland hookers are shoo-ins, and Luke Cowan-Dickie is now England’s first choice and is edging back to the form that earned him the Test shirt in South Africa four years ago. Tough on Jamie George, who would be a brilliant tourist, and just too soon for Dewi Lake, who has been unfortunate with injury.
Second rows
Ollie Chessum
Maro Itoje
Joe McCarthy
Tadhg Beirne
Scott Cummings
A mix of powerful athletics and line-out operators, with Beirne able to cover the blindside flank. George Martin was very close, but Cummings has been Scotland’s best lock, even though he missed the Six Nations with injury.
Back rows
Tom Curry
Caelan Doris
Ben Earl
Ben Curry
Jac Morgan
Jack Conan
Josh van der Flier was not as impactful during the Championship as the Curry twins, but it is still a big call to leave him out. Jac Morgan does not have the same show-reel either but has stood out despite playing in a team battling against the odds. Tom Willis would be there if he was not likely to be tied up with the Top 14 and has been out of the Test scene since the pool stages of the 2023 World Cup.
Scrum-halves
Jamison Gibson-Park
Alex Mitchell
Ben White
Ben White edges out Tomos Williams, who lost his way as the Wales campaign unravelled. Gibson-Park and Mitchell in an intriguing battle for the Test spot.
Fly-halves
Finn Russell
Fin Smith
Owen Farrell
Probably too soon for Sam Prendergast now, and a tough call too on Marcus Smith, but he has lost the England 10 shirt. And if we are taking three 10s, when why not have the back up of Farrell, with his experience of three tours, big match temperament and ability to play at 12. His presence alone would raise the training standards.
Centres
Bundee Aki
Sione Tuipulotu
Huw Jones
Tommy Freeman
Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw are the biggest casualties, but both did not quite look themselves during the Championship, and Freeman looks a better hybrid pick.
Back three
James Lowe
Hugo Keenan
George Furbank
Duhan van der Merwe
Mack Hansen
George Furbank missed the Six Nations but has emerged as a potent attacking threat who can also act as a second play-maker, which is important in getting the balance of the backline right. A tough call on Blair Kinghorn but he is likely to be involved in the Top 14 final and miss the start of the tour.
Wildcard
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
If he recovers from his injury setback in time, he will be worth taking. A superstar in the making and would add to the X-factor in the back three with his genuine pace and finishing prowess.
Charlie Morgan: Get Jack Willis on the plane
Props
Ellis Genge
Andrew Porter
Pierre Schoeman
Nicky Smith
Zander Fagerson
Will Stuart
Tadhg Furlong
The ability to pick seven props offers enough wriggle room for a left-field pick, but these are all hardened operators. Andrew Porter should thrive after missing 2017 through injury and Ellis Genge could be a galvanising presence. On the tighthead, Will Stuart has battered down the door. Tadhg Furlong has had his injury issues, so Finlay Bealham would be high up on my standby list.
Hookers
Dan Sheehan
Ronan Kelleher
Jamie George
One and two are reasonably straightforward, here, and my Test team would feature an Ireland one-two at hooker. Jamie George is an ideal candidate for the midweek captaincy.
Locks
Tadhg Beirne
Maro Itoje (captain)
Ollie Chessum
Scott Cummings
Joe McCarthy
And now the horribly difficult calls begin. Scott Cummings stays in my squad despite missing the entire Six Nations due to injury. Joe McCarthy has not been particularly impressive of late, but is an imposing specimen to counter Will Skelton. James Ryan is seriously unlucky.
Back rows
Ben Curry
Tom Curry
Caelan Doris
Ben Earl
Jac Morgan
Jamie Ritchie
My only slight headache here is No 8 depth. Caelan Doris tops the pecking order ahead of Ben Earl, with Jac Morgan and Tom Curry as emergency options before Jack Willis – himself an auxiliary – arrives later on. I might regret the omission of Jack Conan, but Jamie Ritchie and Ben Curry have demanded inclusion and Jac Morgan survives Wales’s savaging on Super Saturday. Speed and mobility will be vital in Australia.
Scrum-halves
Jamison Gibson-Park
Alex Mitchell
Ben White
It was always going to be a case of four scrum-halves into three, and Tomos Williams is the unfortunate individual to drop out of the reckoning.
Fly-halves
Tom Jordan
Finn Russell
Fin Smith
The more I think about it, the more obvious an inclusion Tom Jordan becomes. He guided Glasgow Warriors to United Rugby Championship Glory, so is more than capable of starting a midweek game at fly-half while simultaneously competing for a spot at centre or full-back. Andy Farrell will surely bring an Ireland fly-half, and I like both Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley, but have opted for double Fin(n).
Centres
Bundee Aki
Tommy Freeman
Huw Jones
Sione Tuipulotu
I have assembled a reasonably versatile crew here. Each of the cohort could, at a push, wear 13. Then I have Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu as well as Jordan as potential 12s. Garry Ringrose and the excellent Robbie Henshaw just miss out, chiefly because I could not leave out Tommy Freeman.
Back three
Darcy Graham
Mack Hansen
Hugo Keenan
Blair Kinghorn
James Lowe
Even if we have to wait a while for Blair Kinghorn to finish up with Toulouse, he is a shoo-in for me. The scuttling Darcy Graham adds something different, though all of them can roam around the pitch to pick up touches. Duhan van der Merwe is edged out.
Wildcard
Jack Willis
If it takes the wildcard slot to smuggle this man onto the plane, so be it. He might dislodge one of the back-rowers, in which case I would add another No 8.
Daniel Schofield: Double Curry and a Sinckler return
Props
Ellis Genge
Andrew Porter
Nicky Smith
Zander Fagerson
Will Stuart
Tadhg Furlong
Kyle Sinckler
If we are going for seven props then this provides the space for a luxury pick which is going to be Kyle Sinckler. He will be more battle hardened than any other options from the Top 14 run-in and provides a hedge to Tadhg Furlong, whose fitness remains uncertain. The battle for the starting shirts is wide open currently and may well come down to the tour matches.
Hookers
Dan Sheehan
Ronan Kelleher
Jamie George
The Irish hookers are in the box seat, but Jamie George boasted a 100 per cent record with his darts in the Six Nations and has the leadership experience which might yet earn him a place on the Test bench, if not the midweek captaincy.
Locks
Tadhg Beirne
Maro Itoje (captain)
Ollie Chessum
Scott Cummings
Joe McCarthy
Itoje and Beirne already feels like a Test second row partnership in the making but the competition is ferocious. Scott Cummings, who missed the Championship through injury, and Joe McCarthy, who was not at his best, get the nod for their mongrel qualities. James Ryan, Dafydd Jenkins and George Martin are mighty unlucky to miss out.
Back rows
Ben Curry
Tom Curry
Caelan Doris
Ben Earl
Jac Morgan
Jamie Ritchie
Changed my mind multiple times over the balance and composition of the back row. With a stronger calibre of player around him, I feel Jac Morgan could really kick on and I never fail to be impressed by Jamie Ritchie. Ben Curry has also kicked the door down, but I feel incredibly guilty about leaving out Jack Conan, who was a warrior four years ago in South Africa.
Scrum-halves
Jamison Gibson-Park
Alex Mitchell
Ben White
The top two are home and hosed. Tomos Williams picked a bad time to deliver his worst performance of the Championship against England so Ben White grabs the last spot.
Fly-halves
Finn Russell
Fin Smith
Marcus Smith
I could easily foresee a scenario in which Andy Farrell goes for Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley and Owen Farrell. However, if I am picking the squad then the two Fin(n)s have been the best fly-halves of the Championship and Marcus Smith offers a tantalising prospect of versatility and unpredictability.
Centres
Bundee Aki
Huw Jones
Sione Tuipulotu
Tom Jordan
Placing a lot of faith in Huw Jones being my Test outside centre here. Tuipulotu should have enough credit in the bank to merit selection and Jordan’s versatility is always a trump card. Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose may yet come into the equation for Leinster.
Back three
Darcy Graham
Tommy Freeman
Hugo Keenan
Blair Kinghorn
James Lowe
Possibly a wing light with two full backs, but Keenan and Kinghorn are such classy operators that they demand inclusion. Graham, Freeman and Lowe are comfortably on the podium for wing places with Mack Hansen and Duhan van der Merwe the incredibly unlucky men to miss out.
Wildcard
Jack Willis
It was going to be an extra wing or back row. In the end, I cannot ignore the form of the best club player in Europe.
Charles Richardson: Make room for a fourth fly-half
Props
Andrew Porter
Pierre Schoeman
Ellis Genge
Nicky Smith
Will Stuart
Zander Fagerson
Tadhg Furlong
These are pretty straightforward due to a lack of viable alternatives as things stand. Of the seven, Smith and Fagerson are the most vulnerable.
Hookers
Dan Sheehan
Ronan Kelleher
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Sheehan to start, Kelleher to come on after 65; just as the duo have done on Ireland’s best days. The boisterous Cowan-Dickie can breathe life into the midweek squad, both on and off the field...
Locks
Tadhg Beirne
Scott Cummings
Maro Itoje
George Martin
Ollie Chessum
Joe McCarthy and James Ryan will remain in the selection conversation but the pair did not show enough during the Six Nations to prove they are bankers. If all fit and firing – and, with Martin and Chessum, that is a big if – the English trio go and I think I would hold a spot for Scotland’s best lock Cummings who missed the Six Nations due to injury.
Back row
Caelan Doris
Jac Morgan
Jack Willis
Ben Curry
Tom Curry
Ben Earl
In the most competitive area, the form of England’s back row is too compelling to ignore. The two Currys and Ben Earl are in better form right now than some of their Irish counterparts and it is a measure of Jac Morgan’s class and heart that he was still able to occasionally shine amid the Welsh chaos. Caelan Doris is nailed on; possibly captain. Of course, this could all change should Leinster catapult to European glory and the form of the English boys fall off a cliff, but that is improbable.
Scrum-halves
Jamison Gibson-Park
Alex Mitchell
Jack van Poortvliet
The first two pick themselves and after that it is a bit... sparse. Tomos Williams dropped off during the Six Nations and Ben White is undoubtedly solid with a fizzing pass, but I think if his form continues to improve – and there were signs off the bench against Wales that it would – then Van Poortvliet could surprise a few people in the country where he burst onto the scene in 2022.
Fly-halves
Finn Russell
Fin Smith
Tom Jordan
On form the two Fin(n)s must tour and then there is one spot left. Does this touring party really need three out-and-out fly-halves? I don’t think so. To that end, Scotland’s breakout star, Jordan, is included having featured heavily for Scotland at 12 but also the odd appearance at 15. Fly-half is where he made his name, however, leading Glasgow to last season’s United Rugby Championship title.
Centres
Bundee Aki
Sione Tuipulotu
Tommy Freeman
Huw Jones
That Scottish partnership is fearsome and in order to have more back-three cover I have opted to take Freeman as a hybrid 13/wing. The Englishman will challenge for a Test spot on the wing but could quite easily cover 13 in midweek matches, with Tom Jordan also able to cover 12. Bundee Aki struggled against France and was dropped to the bench for Italy but he offers too much to be overlooked.
Back three
James Lowe
Duhan van der Merwe
Mack Hansen
Hugo Keenan
Blair Kinghorn
The two full-backs are shoo-ins - although Toulouse’s potential Top 14 final is a spanner in the works – while Lowe and Hansen are world class. The tour will probably come too soon for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso so this selection is without any English, although Freeman is among the centres.
Wildcard
Sam Prendergast
One bad game and a subsequent dropping will not define Prendergast’s career. The fly-half is a superlative talent who could still end up as the successful heir to Johnny Sexton. If Leinster excel in the Champions Cup, as predicted, then expect the 22-year-old to tour.
Ben Coles: No Wales players required
Props
Ellis Genge
Asher Opoku-Fordjour
Andrew Porter
Pierre Schoeman
Zander Fagerson
Tadgh Furlong
Will Stuart
Could see the Lions taking fewer props than this (Jack Boyle is a bit of a flier) and instead having an extra back. Starters right now could even be Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, although I would expect Tadhg Furlong to be fit and firing by the time the tour starts. Opoku-Fordjour goes for his versatility.
Hookers
Jamie George
Ronan Kelleher
Dan Sheehan
Dewi Lake is unlucky here and maybe forces his way in. George will be the perfect midweek captain. Sheehan is the clear starter after his brilliant recovery from an ACL injury.
Second rows
Tadgh Beirne
Ollie Chessum
Scott Cummings
Maro Itoje (captain)
Joe McCarthy
Backing McCarthy here to get back to his abrasive best over George Martin, whose fitness is a worry. Could even see both English locks start with Beirne used as a blindside flanker. Cummings elevates Scotland and will be a good addition.
Back rows
Jack Conan
Tom Curry
Caelan Doris
Ben Earl
Josh van der Flier
Jack Willis
Incredibly harsh on Ben Curry, who really misses out because of Willis working on the assumption that Farrell will not baulk at any French-based players potentially missing the first three tour matches. Even with no Test rugby you cannot leave Willis out. Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge pushing very hard here. Jac Morgan could go but this is such a competitive area. Van der Flier has to play better and will.
Scrum-halves
Jamison Gibson-Park
Alex Mitchell
Ben White
Despite tailing off a little at the end of the tournament, Gibson-Park would still be the starter. Tomos Williams’s hopes have faded with Wales’s rough run of results. Mitchell came back to life with England’s more attacking approach.
Fly-halves
Tom Jordan
Finn Russell
Fin Smith
Little doubt about Finn and Fin going, with Russell shading Smith as a potential starter, but the third fly-half is incredibly hard to pick. Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley did not convince, while Marcus Smith could be in the frame. But, given his versatility covering fly-half, centre and full-back, I’m going with Jordan.
Centres
Bundee Aki
Robbie Henshaw
Huw Jones
Sione Tuipulotu
Banking on Tuipulotu making a good recovery from injury and excelling at the end of the season for Glasgow, because when fit he is arguably Scotland’s best player. Bundee Aki showed against Wales that he can still boss games, while Jones had a very good tournament. Ollie Lawrence was a contender until injury struck.
Back three
Tommy Freeman
Mack Hansen
Hugo Keenan
Blair Kinghorn
James Lowe
The unluckiest player is Darcy Graham, so dynamic that he could thrive behind a dominant Lions pack, but he loses out, as does Duhan van der Merwe, who has not been as effective. Lowe’s left-footed kicking game can be such an asset. Freeman would be the left-wing and covers 13. Hansen was excellent against Italy. And it is hard to split the two full-backs, Kinghorn and Keenan, right now when it comes to picking a Test starter. Kinghorn, just. Or you could have him on the wing with Keenan at the back.
Wildcard
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Mainly because this squad feels as though it is missing a winger, and given the injury timeline for Feyi-Waboso to return is tight after his shoulder surgery. But, the Exeter and England wing is so dynamic that he would really add a spark to the group if available.
James Corrigan: No Mitchell but Willis offers X-Factor
Props
Zander Fagerson
Will Stuart
Tadhg Furlong
Andrew Porter
Nicky Smith
Ellis Genge
Pierre Schoeman
Fairly straightforward. Smith goes because the scrum could be a real weapon in Australia.
Hookers
Dan Sheehan
Ronan Kelleher
Dewi Lake
Harsh on Jamie George, because he would clearly be a big influence in the squad. But Dewi Lake is a coming force. The Irish pair have to go.
Locks
Tadhg Beirne
Maro Itoje (captain)
Joe McCarthy
James Ryan
Ollie Chessum
The Six Nations was the coming of Itoje as a captain. Second row is plainly a strength for this squad.
Back rows
Caelan Doris
Jack Willis
Jack Conan
Jac Morgan
Ben Curry
Tom Curry
Jack Willis can provide some X-Factor, whilst Morgan can cover the blindside. The Curry boys are peaking.
Scrum-halves
Jamison Gibson-Park
Tomos Williams
Ben White
Faith is kept in Williams, despite Wales’s awful run. Alex Mitchell has every right feel aggrieved if he missed out.
Fly-halves
Finn Russell
Fin Smith
Marcus Smith
Owen Farrell was tempting, but has not enjoyed this season. Smith provides cover at full-back.
Centres
Bundee Aki
Huw Jones
Sione Tuipulotu
Robbie Henshaw
The Irish together or the Scottish. Farrell will be keen to retain the combination in a short tour.
Back three
Blair Kinghorn
James Lowe
Darcy Graham
Duhan van der Merwe
Tommy Freeman
Graham offers something different and on the fast surfaces Down Under could emerge as a star.
Wildcard
Blair Murray
Was quite the feat to stand out in a Welsh backline that was denied the ball and was otherwise bereft of creativity. A tremendous breaker of the line.
