Maro Itoje has done enough to become the Lion king – the captain in Australia.
That was among the primary takeaways from a Six Nations campaign which turned tour planning upside down.
What a busy and confusing period it has been for Andy Farrell, the man charged with masterminding a series victory over Australia this summer.
Rewind to the end of January and the consensus was it was going to be a cakewalk – and that he would just travel south armed with his Ireland squad en masse, knowing they were capable of doing the business.
How much has changed since . France’s thunderous victory in Dublin raised grave doubts about so many of the Irish contenders for places in the Lions squad and in the Test XV.
Then, last Saturday, the title holders were awful in Rome as they clung on grimly to beat Italy by just seven points; the same Italy the French thrashed 73-24 last month.
Maro Itoje has done enough to be the Lion king and captain them Down Under this summer
The England skipper is a towering leader of men and worthy of being given the prestigious job
The Saracens lock is a certain starter for the Lions and an 80-minute player of presence
All of a sudden, the squad announcement by Farrell at the O2 Arena on May 8 may not be quite the green-wash which was long anticipated. And when he names a captain, it could be an English one after all. Itoje has proved to be worthy of the prestigious job.
Leinster and Ireland No 8 Caelan Doris had been regarded as the front-runner, but it should be Itoje now and the reasoning is not complicated.
The Saracens lock is a certain starter and an 80-minute player of presence, more so than Doris is – in the most competitive selection area.
Itoje also fits the mould of big, imposing Lions figureheads, following a trend of second-row skippers which includes Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell, Martin Johnson, Bill Beaumont and Willie John McBride.
Farrell still has more than seven weeks to finalise his squad, but all the Test evidence is in now, so he will be close to nailing down his choices.
He knows his own mind of course, but here, this column offers a suggested squad list, area by area…
Back three
T Freeman (Eng), D Graham (Sco), H Keenan (Ire), B Kinghorn (Sco), J Lowe (Ire), D van der Merwe (Sco)
This is one of the Scottish strongholds, where some of their finest game-breakers operate to deadly effect.
Blair Kinghorn must be the favourite to start at full-back in the Test side, unless his delayed arrival after finishing the season at Toulouse undermines his hopes
Blair Kinghorn must be the favourite to start at full-back in the Test side, unless his delayed arrival after finishing the season at Toulouse undermines his hopes.
Without Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and George Furbank being fit to state their cases with England in recent weeks, there are not too many contentious calls to make – although it is a coin-toss decision to pick Darcy Graham over Ireland’s Australian flier, Mack Hansen.
Centres
B Aki (Ire), H Jones (Sco), G Ringrose (Ire), S Tuipulotu (Sco)
Scotland are prominent here too. Frankly, despite missing the whole of the Six Nations, nothing has diminished Sione Tuipulotu’s claim to be the first-choice No 12-in-waiting, armed as he is with supreme power, passing class and a kicking game, like a latter-day Ma’a Nonu.
Ollie Lawrence would have been in ahead of Garry Ringrose if he had not injured his achilles
Ollie Lawrence would have been in ahead of Garry Ringrose if he hadn’t suffered a cruel achilles injury.
Huw Jones is a graceful shoo-in to resume a familiar alliance with Tuipulotu in the Test side. Aside from Lawrence, there are no hard-luck stories in this area.
Half-backs
J Gibson-Park (Ire), A Mitchell (Eng), F Russell (Sco), F Smith (Eng), M Smith (Eng), T Williams (Wal)
Owen Farrell should not be in contention. He has not played international rugby for 18 months and has only played a handful of games – unconvincingly, due to injury – for struggling Racing 92.
I still have a high regard for Marcus Smith’s X-factor threat as a Lions tourist
The former England captain has so much pedigree but no form at all. For all the noisy hype about Irish prodigy Sam Prendergast, his inclusion would be a gamble, whereas Fin Smith has been immediately assured and this observer still has a high regard for Marcus Smith’s X-factor threat.
At scrum-half, Tomos Williams edges it over Ben White.
Props
Z Fagerson (Sco), T Furlong (Ire), E Genge (Eng), A Porter (Ire), P Schoeman (Sco), W Stuart (Eng)
The good news for Andy Farrell is there has been a surge from several men he will hope can lead a scrum blitz Down Under.
England prop Will Stuart has had the greatest rise of any Six Nations player
Will Stuart has had the greatest rise of any Six Nations player, Zander Fagerson will push him for the tighthead starting role and Tadhg Furlong can come through again as a veteran contender.
Ellis Genge has also pushed himself forward strongly of late. As with various other areas, Wales – sadly – cannot offer much here.
Hookers
J George (Eng), D Lake (Wal), D Sheehan (Ire)
In this position, it comes down to a tussle for the understudy role, as the main man is in no doubt.
Dan Sheehan is a freakish talent, prolific finisher, mobile athlete and reliable with all his duties
Dan Sheehan is a freakish talent, prolific finisher, mobile athlete and reliable with all his staple duties. Provided he is in one piece and hell doesn’t freeze over, the Irishman will wear No 2 in the Test side.
Dewi Lake missed most of Wales’ calamitous Six Nations campaign and that probably helps him make the cut, along with Jamie George for leadership and set-piece assurance.
Locks
T Beirne (Ire), O Chessum (Eng), M Itoje (Eng), D Jenkins (Wal), J McCarthy (Ire)
There is scope to take five second rows as some of these chosen men can also line up at blindside.
Tadhg Beirne offers this versatility and remarkable breakdown presence, and Ollie Chessum is another adaptable figure, a lineout specialist and wise beyond his years.
Itoje is a shoo-in and Joe McCarthy brings an abrasive edge and shades it over compatriot James Ryan, and Dafydd Jenkins is one of few Welshmen to avoid the complete destruction of their tour prospects in the Six Nations.
Dafydd Jenkins is one of few Welshmen to avoid the complete destruction of their tour prospects in the Six Nations
Back row
J Conan (Ire), B Curry (Eng), T Curry (Eng), C Doris (Ire), B Earl (Eng), J Morgan (Wal), J Ritchie (Sco)
Options galore. The Curry brothers were both magnificent for England throughout the championship and they work so well in tandem that it makes sense to take both.
Ben Earl was another standout English performer who offers positional flexibility, while Jack Conan has shone in the shadow of Doris.
Jamie Ritchie is a breakdown master and Jac Morgan carried Wales on his shoulders, in tough times.
With apologies to the likes of Josh van der Flier and Jack Willis, there’s just no more room.
Ben Earl was another standout English Six Nations performer who offers positional flexibility
Totals: England – 12, Ireland – 12, Scotland – 9, Wales – 4.
World of Rugby’s Lions Test XV: B Kinghorn (Sco); T Freeman (Eng), H Jones (Sco), S Tuipulotu (Sco), J Lowe (Ire); F Russell (Sco), J Gibson-Park (Ire); E Genge (Eng), D Sheehan (Ire), W Stuart (Eng); M Itoje (Eng, capt), T Beirne (Ire); T Curry (Eng), C Doris (Ire), J Morgan (Wal).
Farrell’s coaching slip-up
Farrell is reportedly poised to fill his coaching staff from assistants from the Ireland set-up, which doesn’t strike the right tone.
There is no need to go overboard with an agonised balancing act so that each country is equally represented at all levels, but it won’t necessarily create a harmonious mood of equal opportunities for all Down Under if it feels like a one-nation production.
Granted, Warren Gatland would often turn to trusted Wales management side-kicks during his tours in charge – but there were ‘outsiders’ in key roles too.
In 2013, he took England’s Graham Rowntree and Farrell Snr to Australia, in 2017 it was Farrell again and Steve Borthwick in New Zealand, and Gregor Townsend and Steve Tandy were seconded from Scotland in 2021.
Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick were both part of Warren Gatland’s Lions team in 2017
It appears Shaun Edwards won’t be available due to a clash with France’s series against the All Blacks, which is a crying shame. It would be interesting to know if heaven and earth have been moved to try to recruit him.
Tandy could oversee the defence again after making a good impression four years ago, and Kevin Sinfield would add mentoring value as he does with England.
His noted man-management instincts would be a real asset on a long trip when fringe players can start to feel overlooked and demotivated.
Why Scotland fall down on biggest stage
Townsend finds himself facing the heat of scrutiny and doubts about his future in charge of Scotland.
After another disappointing championship campaign culminated in another fourth-place finish, the question being asked is whether, after eight years of trying, the head coach can take them any further.
The answer is no, probably not. But, realistically, can anyone else? That is debatable.
For all the outbreaks of Scottish optimism which greet every strong start to Europe’s annual Test showpiece, the country are simply not a force at Test level
The stark reality is that Scotland are operating with finite resources – even allowing for the way they are forever hunting for eligible candidates based abroad.
Ending up in the lower half of the table after two wins from five maintains a miserable record in the Six Nations. For all the outbreaks of Scottish optimism which greet every strong start to Europe’s annual Test showpiece, the country are simply not a force at Test level, even with a genius at 10 and other back-line superstars.
As is the case with Wales these days, without far more clout up front, they are easy prey for the biggest sides.
A step in the right direction
There is no need to repeat the whole argument again in this column, as it has been outlined so often, but the decision to keep the Six Nations on free-to-air TV for another four years represents a rare example of common-sense from the powers-that-be.
Well done to all concerned for recognising the bigger-picture need to stop rugby sliding into relative anonymity as a niche sport, without the mass appeal generated by this cherished annual event, which reaches so many millions of screens in homes and pubs and clubhouses across the land.
Rugby has a precious shop window – closing it for a modest upturn in revenue would have been a blinkered act of short-termism, tantamount to wilful vandalism.
It would have been madness. Instead, there was tangible relief all round when the news came through last Friday.
As Itoje so rightly said before the 2025 campaign began, rugby needs eyes on it and that is what ITV and the BBC can provide.
Sure, steps can be taken to polish the product they both offer when the Six Nations comes around again, but the main thing is it will continue to be visible to lots and lots of people. Great news.
As Itoje so rightly said before the 2025 campaign began, rugby needs eyes on it and that is what ITV and the BBC can provide
Last Word
The Premiership is back, hopefully with a bang of sorts, depending on the availability of international players.
English rugby’s top division resumes with derbies weekend and some eye-catching rivalries will be renewed, led by the latest seismic East Midlands battle when Leicester visit Northampton on Friday night.
However, the Saints have more weary England players than most to manage, so they will be unavoidably depleted.
Each director of rugby will have their own approach to rotation and choosing the right time to rest all those who are burnt out after a month-and-a-half of Six Nations combat.
The Premiership returns with Friday’s blockbuster derby between Northampton and Leicester
The upshot is that some blow-out results are inevitable as the Premiership returns to full throttle, either side of another hiatus when the Champions and Challenge Cups take over.
Rugby’s bits-and-pieces calendar continues to work against the quest to improve the popularity of the sport, but there is no easy solution when Test windows are wedged in the heart of the domestic season.
The lack of overlap between the Premiership and Six Nations these days is undoubtedly an improvement, but the league has been in mothballs for so long now that is feels as if a whole new campaign is being launched.
Prepare for a sprint, not a marathon.
