Tom Curry is poised to win the most competitive selection battle in the Lions squad by being named as the starting openside for the first Test, in a visiting side dominated by Ireland players.
The 27-year-old Sale and England flanker has been striving to hit top form on this tour of Australia, while Wales captain Jac Morgan has been outstanding in the No 7 shirt.
Former World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier, Ben Earl and Henry Pollock are other high-class candidates for the coveted back-row place, but the indications are that Curry will be preferred, as the pedigree option who started in all three Tests on the last tour, to South Africa in 2021.
Head coach Andy Farrell will back the man he acclaimed as a ‘machine’ to be functioning fully when it matters, in the first encounter with the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium here on Saturday.
Curry is set to be joined in the starting XV by three other Red Rose representatives; Tommy Freeman, Ellis Genge and captain Maro Itoje.
Tom Curry is likely to be the starting pick for openside for the first Australia Test this weekend
The areas of primary debate and intrigue have been openside and inside centre – certainly since the head injury suffered by Garry Ringrose ensured that Huw Jones became a shoo-in to be selected at outside centre.
It is understood that he will form a familiar midfield alliance with Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, with the pair operating outside Finn Russell, as they have done so effectively, so often, for their national team.
Injuries to Blair Kinghorn and Mack Hansen have limited the back-three options and the up-shot is that Hugo Keenan will line up at full-back, while James Lowe is expected to start on the left wing despite his uncharacteristically patchy form so far.
The other consequence of the injury issues is that it has impacted on the combination chosen to provide back-line cover on the bench.
Marcus Smith is destined to be included among the replacements, as he can be deployed at full-back as well as at 10.
Not only will he edge out England’s other Smith – Fin – but he is also likely to be chosen ahead of Owen Farrell, who was regarded as a leading candidate to be involved in the Test 23 ever since his call-up following the tour-ending injury suffered by Elliot Daly. While Farrell Jnr can cover 10 and 12, his father is expected to prefer Bundee Aki as someone who can run amok late on.
England pair Ben Earl and Ollie Chessum are set to feature among the reserves, but not Henry Pollock – the youngest member of the squad who has boldly declared that the Lions are hell-bent on earning a 3-0 series victory.
