Nine Irish players could feature in Lions Test XV, but one Leinster star could miss out

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2 days ago

This Lions tour is travelling at a furious pace and it now just two-and-a-half weeks until the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
On Wednesday morning, Andy Farrell's side hit a half-century mark for the second time in four days against midweek opposition as the Queensland Reds – after a bright start – wilted and suffered the same fate as Western Force in Perth.
Once again, it was a mixed bag from the tourists. When the Lions hit their stride, they looked potent and threatening in the wide channels, scoring eight tries and leaving a few more out on the Suncorp Stadium pitch. Andy Farrell's side hit a half-century mark for the second time in four days. Pic:But there were some familiar issues, namely a flurry of handling errors as well as scrum and lineout malfunctions.
Farrell and his backroom team will be confident that a lot of those problems will be ironed out in time for the Test series.
The Lions boss is beginning to get some clarity on selection, too. There are still plenty of spots up for grabs in the matchday 23 to face Australia on July 19. The Lions boss is beginning to get some clarity on selection. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Some players cemented that status on Wednesday while others are beginning to drift from the first-team picture…
Thrall back through the many, many 'predicted Lions Test XVs' in the years and months leading up to this tour and the all-Irish frontrow of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong was a familiar sight. Few would have argued with such predictions either.
Porter is one of the premier loosehead props on the planet, Sheehan is 'World XV' material while Furlong had started six consecutive Lions tests spanning tours of duty in New Zealand (2017) and South Africa (2021). Porter is one of the premier loosehead props on the planet. Pic:With every passing week, the likelihood of the Leinster trio getting the nod to pack down against the Wallabies pack is looking increasingly unlikely, however.
Sheehan remains a frontrunner. The fact he was handed the captaincy on his first Lions cap against the Force spoke volumes and the Leinster hooker duly produced a typically busy and dynamic performance. He's nailed on for Game One in Brisbane.
Porter, however, will be feeling the heat from Ellis Genge, especially after Wednesday's shaky scrumming performance against the Reds. Dan Sheehan scoring a try against Western Force last Saturday. Pic: Colin Murty/AFP via Getty Images
And Furlong is far from assured of a starting spot at tighthead. The Wexford native, who has endured an injury-disrupted two years, has not looked his usual rampaging self in Oz. England's Will Start didn't make a compelling case on Wednesday either.
Could Finlay Bealham, who didn't make the cut initially, be emerging as the Lions Test tighthead? He's likely to get another opportunity to state his case against the Waratahs on Saturday.
For a player who has clocked up more than 2,200 minutes of competitive action, for club and country, this season, Maro Itoje didn't look like a player who needed a breather in Brisbane.
The England lock delivered a superb, all-action display. It was a real captain's performance. Itoje is a class act and will be central to the Lions' chances in this looming series.
Who will partner the Saracens second row remains to be seen. Joe McCarthy has made the biggest impression thus far and another muscular display against the Waratahs will put the Leinster lock firmly in the frame. If Itoje and McCarthy get the nod then Tadhg Beirne is likely to shift across to the blindside flank. Maro Itoje didn't look like a player who needed a breather in Brisbane. Pic:Given the lineout yips in recent weeks, Farrell will be keen to have three lineout jumpers in his starting Test pack.
Right now, Ollie Chessum looks to have the edge on James Ryan and Scott Cummings for a spot on the bench.
Beirne moving into the backrow is only going to increase the competition in the backrow and one player in particular has really put his hand up for further inclusion.
Josh van der Flier is a former World Player of the Year and the Leinster openside was the favourite to start the Test series before the Lions departed for Sydney late last month.
Van der Flier knew that he had serious competition long before this tour squad was named. And the Ireland flanker knows he needs to deliver a massive display next time after Jac Morgan's relentless shift against the Reds. The Ospreys flanker was everywhere. Whether he was winning turnovers, making big tackles or running smart lines, Morgan made a big impression on the Lions management. Jac Morgan put in a relentless shift against the Reds. Pic:Henry Pollock's manic energy and Ben Earl's versatility – with the Saracens flanker doing a late shift at centre on Wednesday – are tailor-made for a power-packed 6-2 bench split in the Test series.
If Farrell, as expected, goes for a big unit like Beirne on the blindside and Jack Conan at No8, then openside flanker looks the only position still up for grabs. Van der Flier v Morgan is going to be fascinating in the coming weeks. There was plenty of pragmatism from Gibson-Park during some dicey moments in the first half. Pic:Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell looked like first-choice half backs on Wednesday. Both players were a joy to watch in full flight. Crucially, there was plenty of pragmatism from Gibson-Park during some dicey moments in the first half. The Leinster scrum-half is known for his full-throttle attacking approach but Gibson-Park can slow things down and play the percentages as well. Russell is looking the part at No10, too. The Northampton Saints pair of Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith are locked in as the back-up options as the bench. Bundee Aki tackles Queensland Reds' Tim Ryan. Pic: David Gray/AFP via Getty Images
Bundee Aki and Huw Jones grew into this game. Both centres looked most effective when they ran hard at the line, rather than trying the intricate stuff out the back. Sione Tuipulotu and Garry Ringrose remain the favourites to start the Test series, mind. Freeman looks like a frontrunner for the right wing. Pic:Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe needed big games in Brisbane. James Lowe and Mack Hansen are firm favourites of Farrell and both excelled in Perth.
Van der Merwe looked suspect in defence on several occasions. The Scotland wing is a serious athlete but the Wallabies will target him. Freeman still looks like a frontrunner for the right wing. Van der Merwe is a serious athlete but the Wallabies will target him. Pic:Otherwise, the back three slots are wide open. Hugo Keenan fell further behind after withdrawing late through illness. His replacement Elliot Daly, virtually ever-present on the last three Lions tours, was having another impressive outing before that concerning late arm injury.
Blair Kinghorn, a late arrival on tour following his Top14-winning exploits with Toulouse, will get a chance to impress in Sydney. The Scot looks primed to make a late surge into the Test reckoning.
B Kinghorn; T Freeman, G Ringrose, S Tuipulotu, M Hansen; F Russell, J Gibson-Park; E Genge, D Sheehan, F Bealham; M Itoje (capt), J McCarthy; T Beirne, J van der Flier, J Conan.
Reps: R Kelleher, A Porter, T Furlong, B Earl, H Pollock, A Mitchell, F Smith, B Aki.