There have been 16 back-five combinations on Lions tour... but this is right one

Telegraph

10 hours ago

The ferocious scrap for places in the back five of the British and Irish Lions' starting pack for the first Test encapsulates both the selection quandary faced by Andy Farrell and how he has endeavoured to keep his hand concealed from Australia counterpart Joe Schmidt.
Over six matches so far, accounting for starters and in-game replacements, the Lions have fielded 12 different back-row trios. Factor in the locks and there have been 16 combinations used across 480 minutes. Farrell cannot be accused of failing to cycle through scenarios or presenting individuals with an opportunity to impress.
Following a 48-0 defeat of an underwhelming Australia and New Zealand invitational side (AUNZ) in Adelaide, it is decision time. Frankly, for those of us outside the inner sanctum, an immensely competitive landscape does not seem too much clearer than it did prior to the tour. All we can do is review potential clues.
There is one central question, which is whether Farrell opts for collective agility or set-piece solidity and it hinges upon the identity of his blindside flanker. From a squad packed with bustling athletes who made their name as opensides, there was always the necessity to deploy a hybrid lock-flanker in the number six jersey.
After lasting the entirety of the loss to Argentina in the second row, Tadhg Beirne has spent more time at blindside flanker (two starts and 129 minutes in total against the Western Force and the Waratahs) than he has at lock (just 58 minutes against AUNZ) on Australian soil. As a mark of how tours need adaptability, these figures were swayed by Henry Pollock's withdrawal against the Waratahs, a fixture Beirne was due to start at lock before trading places.
Ollie Chessum had only a single start at blindside flanker during the 2024-25 campaign, coming in Leicester Tigers' ghastly 80-12 thrashing in Toulouse. He has shifted around for the Lions, coming on at lock against the Force and starting in that role against the Reds. Then he wore six against the Brumbies and moved to the engine room for the last 23 minutes of a 36-24 victory.
Chessum ended that outing, which was viewed as a rehearsal for the Test series, alongside captain Maro Itoje. Together, those two can certainly make a set-piece work. Interestingly, when they are in tandem, Chessum scrummages on the tighthead side as testament to his power.
The line-out and the breakdown are two more critical areas that will be heavily contested by the Wallabies. With Harry Wilson helping out at the front, Jeremy Williams and Nick Frost derailed Fiji's line-out platform on July 5.
Beirne, a trusted favourite of Farrell from Ireland successes who adds a jackalling threat, and Chessum are evidently options at blindside – especially if the heft and dynamism of Joe McCarthy makes him a foil for Itoje.
Tom Curry, who has started each of his last six Tests for England at blindside flanker, would appear to be in the strongest position if Farrell resists the hybrid approach. Thanks in part to years under the tutelage of Steve Borthwick, the 27-year-old has become a polished line-out forward.
That is not just in the jumping stakes, though Curry was hoisted to secure four throws in Dublin against the Pumas. He will shuttle around various set-ups fulfilling whatever responsibilities are required – dummying, lifting or peeling away to pass – and has done them plenty of times in harness with Itoje and Chessum. Expect the Lions to send throws over the top into midfield, either to an onrushing carrier or to a forward like Jack Conan peeling from the tail.
Curry and Jac Morgan spent 50 minutes together in the Argentina game before lasting the whole of the 52-12 victory over the Reds together with Conan. That has been the only match in which Farrell has kept an unchanged back row. James Ryan replaced Chessum but Ben Earl came on at inside centre.
The Lions surrendered just one of 77 rucks they spent in possession at Suncorp Stadium, having been similarly tidy in that area against the Western Force (losing one of 78 rucks). Morgan gradually grew more prominent during the Reds match, particularly as a carrier, and did so again on Saturday as AUNZ were vanquished.
Despite some confrontational running, AUNZ did not lay a glove on the Lions, who won all 74 of their rucks. Now, attacking breakdown efficiency encompasses many factors – refereeing interpretation, kicking strategy, support play, punch in collisions and technique in contact – but that return reflects well on Morgan.
Inspired by the scrapping of Charlie Gamble and Luke Reimer, respectively, the Waratahs and the Brumbies disrupted the rhythm of the Lions, who lost seven of 95 attacking rucks in Sydney and six of 92 in Canberra. Such results can be disastrous in Test matches, and Fraser McReight is a fantastic scavenger.
Again, there are many moving parts in a team's breakdown performance, but the Lions began both of those unconvincing games with a lock starting at blindside flanker. That gives you a sense of the trade-off at play.
To their immense credit, the players have made Farrell's life as difficult as possible. Scott Cummings could have faded into obscurity after a difficult outing in Perth punctuated by botched restarts. Instead, he has responded superbly. Ryan, burlier than when he broke through in spectacular style, remains a dependable and rounded operator.
As for the back row, Henry Pollock has underlined his capacity for game-breaking moments. That is not to say he shirks the tough stuff. Against hulking AUNZ boppers like Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Shannon Frizell, the 20-year-old chucked himself around. Josh van der Flier has been an unselfish and industrious facilitator as well. Earl has become more influential with every performance and Andy Farrell calling him ashore on the hour-mark against AUNZ must have been promising for his prospects.
Schmidt has tended to team up McReight with two of Wilson, Rob Valetini and Langi Gleeson to ensure the Wallabies are loaded with stinging carriers and the Lions will need to control the pace of Australia's phase play either on the ground or in the tackle. Will Skelton could be unleashed as well, of course.
Farrell has the capacity to plump for a six-two split among the replacements, yet has not favoured that slant as Ireland head coach. He did want to apply that tactic for the Waratahs game before Pollock's tight calf caused a reshuffle, Cummings coming off the bench and Beirne heading to the back row.
For the Tests, which will surely demand plenty of high-speed running from the backs in kicking duels, a five-three split would appear more likely – even if Earl can be a midfield contingency. Farrell can still mix up his back five over the course of 80 minutes by deploying two back-rowers in the 19 and 20 shirts as he did for the Brumbies with Van der Flier and Pollock as super-subs.
Given it will influence just about every facet of the series opener, from restarts to rucks via line-out work, scrummaging and gain-line momentum, this is Farrell's most pressing question.
Charlie Morgan's back five and replacements for first Test
4. Maro Itoje, 5. Ollie Chessum, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Jack Conan, 19. Joe McCarthy, 20. Ben Earl
This would require Farrell to take a leap of faith and overlook Beirne and Van der Flier, a pair of loyal performers with intimate knowledge of his intricate systems, while holding back Pollock and trusting a Curry-Morgan double act to deliver on a month's worth of alchemy as opposed to years of familiarity.
Margins are terribly fine, but I like what these seven offer as a collective and feel as though Earl has forced his way in. The cold truth is that there will be attrition and turnover during the next fortnight anyway. Squad depth is a major advantage for the Lions, not that they can risk a slow start in what should be a compelling series.