Sam Warburton 'turns off notifications' as pundits launch into Jac Morgan debate

Wales Online

2 days ago

Sam Warburton 'turns off notifications' as pundits launch into Jac Morgan debate
The former Wales and Lions captain 'stuck his neck out' as he gave his thoughts on who should face Australia in the first Test
The Sky Sports team debated the Lions starting team to face the Wallabies
(Image: Sky )
Sky Sports pundits Sam Warburton, Will Greenwood and John Barclay have chewed the fat over Jac Morgan's Lions Test inclusion, with his selection the only one dividing them when it comes to the forwards.
The trio discussed the possible make-up of Andy Farrell's XV for the opening Test against the Wallabies in two weeks' time following the turgid win over the Waratahs on Saturday.
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In their potential front eight, the pundits went with Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Joe McCarthy, Maro Itoje, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan and Ollie Chessum.
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It wasn't a selection without debate, however. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia.
"Hang on a sec, just 'turns off Instagram notifications'!" Warburton joked at the start.
"I'm going to stick my neck out and have a go. We had this pre-match and I'm not going to move from it as well. I think some of these players have been elevated since this game as well. I think this guy, McCarthy, since he's come on the scene in the last two years has just steps up game after game.
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"Maro's exactly the same.
"The one where we probably disagree a little bit is I've gone Morgan, John's gone Morgan and you've gone van der Flier as well. That's the only one out of these eight..."
Greenwood added: "I think if you open it up, I think we'd all go nailed on 1, 2, 4, 5, 8. Genge, Sheehan, Itoje, McCarthy, Conan. I think we are all pretty strong there. We felt (Tadgh) Beirne might have been in it, in terms of six jersey. And in a way Chessum has got better by not playing. Three is absolutely still wide open.
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"You've gone Jac Morgan at seven while I've gone van der Flier as world player of the year and Farrell's relationship with him might get him that nod."
"I think with the sevens you could literally flip a coin," added Barclay.
Physicality of the front eight is what Warburton emphasised will be vital against the Wallabies. "These eight guys put it about physically," he added.
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"They are obviously all skilled, all good at set-piece, all of them can ball-play to a degree as well. If I'm looking at what the most physical pack I can pick, this is where Tom Curry would enter this conversation, he's right up there from a physicality perspective.
"Stuart was throwing it around. I really like what he brings in the loose as well. I look at that and we are going to be playing a big Australian team. This is a pack that can take that physicality to another level."
The punditry team then went om to discuss the backs, and settled on a line-up which included Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, Sione Tuipoltu, Huw Jones, Will Freeman, Blair Kinghorn and James Lowe, with little debate, with the centre partnership the only sticking point between them.