With the Autumn Nations Sequence settled, Rugby World editor Joe Robinson picks his present British & Irish Lions XV in the event that they performed tomorrow
If the British & Irish Lions performed Australia within the first Take a look at tomorrow, that is the beginning XV I would choose.
This assertion comes with caveats. Firstly, that is an imaginary fixture, they aren’t enjoying tomorrow. Nor am I Lions head coach Andy Farrell. This crew relies off what I’ve seen from England, Eire, Scotland and Wales over the previous month within the Autumn Nations Sequence.
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So don’t fear if I’ve excluded your favorite participant, it’s okay. Farrell’s not studying this and copying my homework.
This additionally means I’ve averted gamers at the moment on the sidelines. For instance, Eire front-row duo Tadhg Furlong and Dan Sheehan aren’t match so aren’t chosen. In a perfect world, they each in all probability make the XV. There may be additionally no house for gamers who’ve simply returned to the fold, like England scrum-half Alex Mitchell.
Beneath, our beginning XV includes of six Scots, six Irish, three English and 0 Welshmen. Right here’s who and why…
Present British & Irish Lions XV: RW picks…
Rugby World’s present British & Irish Lions XV
The Backs
15. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland): Since becoming a member of Toulouse in 2023, Blair Kinghorn’s sport has skyrocketed. Having performed fly-half at Take a look at stage, Kinghorn was the proper second receiver this autumn, dropping in when Finn Russell was unavailable, guaranteeing the assault remained on the entrance foot. Bar Beauden Barrett, Kinghorn is the perfect on this planet at this position and is our Lions 15.
14. Darcy Graham (Scotland): England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will most probably occupy this jersey subsequent summer season however a phrase for Darcy Graham who had a elegant Autumn Nations Sequence. A winger’s winger, capable of rating your half-chances.
13. Huw Jones (Scotland): One half of the Huwipulotu centre partnership for Scotland and Glasgow Warriors, Jones and Sione Tuipulotu are arguably the world’s finest midfield duo on present type, alongside Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel of South Africa. I as soon as performed Jones aged 10 so I additionally need to say I’ve performed towards a British & Irish Lion.
5 – Huw Jones made 5 line breaks for @Scotlandteam v Fiji , the joint-most of any centre from a Tier 1 nation in a males’s Take a look at match this decade, alongside Bundee Aki for Eire v Romania in final 12 months’s World Cup and Huw Jones himself v Italy within the 2021 Six Nations. Warrior. pic.twitter.com/xyiBNjF6CQ
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) November 4, 2024
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland, captain): In my crew, Sione Tuipulotu is the primary identify on the crew sheet and captain. Having seen his spicy afters with Australia’s Joseph Suaalii and Tom Wright towards the Wallabies, I’m in little question this man is the correct man to guide the Lions subsequent summer season. Correct, correct participant.
11. Ollie Sleightholme (England): England winger Ollie Sleightholme lowkey had a formidable autumn with well-taken tries towards Australia and Japan. A poacher with a watch for the strive line, we like how Sleightholme goes about getting issues carried out. He additionally has uncooked velocity which is at all times a winger’s largest attribute.
10. Finn Russell (Scotland): Toss a coin between Finn Russell and Marcus Smith in the meanwhile, I feel each have confirmed they will begin within the No 10 jersey subsequent summer season. The difficulty for me is whether or not there’s house for Russell and Smith in a 23 – do you want a extra wise head to stability the aptitude? For me, I’d again them each to get the job carried out.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Eire): Not at his finest this autumn however nonetheless the perfect scrum-half from the Dwelling Nations. The Lions No 9 jersey is probably the most open proper now, no person has actually made it their very own. Gibson-Park might be main the best way however Alex Mitchell (England), Tomos Williams (Wales) and Ben White (Scotland) can all fancy their probabilities ought to they’ve a category Six Nations…
Learn Extra: The complete record of British & Irish Lions fixtures forward of subsequent 12 months’s tour of Australia
The Forwards
8. Caelan Doris (Eire): Andy Farrell’s Eire captain will fancy his possibilities of being made Lions skipper we reckon. In our crew, we would like him to neglect the armband and crack on with what he does finest – carrying the ball over the gainline, smashing individuals within the sort out, successful turnovers and giving work-rate.
7. Josh van der Flier (Eire): Genuinely wild that the 2022 World Rugby Males’s Participant of the 12 months has by no means been a Lion – having been missed in 2017 and 2021. Now again in high-quality type, I’m bringing in Van der Flier as my annoying, ball-winning openside who’s more likely to go on and have a Participant of the Sequence impact on the tour.
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (England): A controversial decide however I’m backing it on the idea of the opposition. Cunningham-South is an efficient ball provider with tender dealing with expertise, a stable lineout choice and extremely athletic in defence. Simply the form of man you want towards Australia’s combative, buzzy back-row.
5. Tadhg Beirne (Eire): From the college of outsized blindsides moonlighting within the second-row, we might forgo some ballast at lock to prioritise intelligent lineout operator and crisp ball-handler Beirne as a ‘fourth’ back-rower prepared to offer ball to that electrical backline. This autumn he banked 41 tackles, three turnovers and 60 rucks hit, correct work-rate.
Small factor actually however Andy Farrell in all probability appreciated seeing Irish gamers piling in right here after Matawalu had a shot at Kelleher after his rating.
Craig Casey takes exception and shoves Matawalu, with Doris, Prendergast, Kelleher, and notably Joe McCarthy following in. pic.twitter.com/JO7vxUexNC
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) November 24, 2024
4. Joe McCarthy (Eire): Finishing an all-Irish row, Joe McCarthy pips Maro Itoje and George Martin to the punch, all of whom we count on to be picked subsequent summer season. McCarthy offers the vibe of that extremely annoying second-rower you play towards on a Saturday who simply messes all the pieces up, his absurd limbs clumsily smashing into something inside a metre radius – the signal of an efficient lock.
3. Zander Fagerson (Scotland): With seven penalties gained on the scrum for Scotland within the autumn, Fagerson has confirmed he can do what all the perfect tight-head props do – dominate the scrum. He additionally contributes massively across the park – his ruck hit price being the very best of any front-row ahead. Will probably be an awesome battle between Fagerson and Tadhg Furlong for the tight-head spot subsequent summer season.
2. Jamie George (England): You study so much about individuals within the face of adversity. England had a troublesome time each on and off the pitch this autumn but the entire means by captain Jamie George carried himself with unimaginable poise. He was additionally efficient with the darts banking a 97% success price at line out time. Our present Lions hooker.
1. Andrew Porter (Eire): Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman is placing actual stress on this place however we expect Andrew Porter has the sting at loosehead. Immensely robust, Porter is rising a little bit of aura round him that’s invaluable within the Take a look at enviornment.
Replacements: 16. Dewi Lake (Wales), 17. Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), 18. Will Stuart (England), 19. Maro Itoje (England), 20. Sam Underhill (England), 21. Ben White (Scotland), 22. Marcus Smith (England), 23. Robbie Henshaw (Eire).
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