Sion Tuipulotu (left), Jack Morgan (center left), Marcus Smith (center right) and James Lowe (right) do cut
Following the announcement of Andy Farrell's British & Head coach of the Irish Lions to tour Australia in 2025, it's only natural to start wondering who might be part of his squad.
Here's what a 37-man touring squad would look like if they were selected right now.
Andrew Porter (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England), Pierre Schumann (Scotland)
Porter and Schumann are undeniable. Genge has struggled for fitness since the World Championships but remains a leader in recklessness. However, they could be given a boost by Welsh duo Gareth Thomas and Corey Domachowski.
Dewey Lake (Wales), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), George Turner (Scotland)
Three outstanding World Cup international hookers, all remaining fit and have been shooting since returning to their clubs. Jamie George's (England) accurate darts may not help him hit the target, but he is an impressive support.
Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Asher Opoku-Forjour (England) 
Asher Opoku-Forjour (center) tearing up trees at a sale. Photo: Roger Evans/Shutterstock
Fagerson and Furlong – like Porter and Shuman – lead the group and are ahead of the rest. Thomas Francis of Wales plays in the French second division, while the main English candidates are either not in good shape or may be too old by 2025. If we're talking form alone, few have done more than Sale starlet Asher Opoku-Forjour, who is ruining Premier League action for fun, even at 19.
George Martin (England), Maro Itoje (England), James Ryan (Ireland), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Will Rowlands (Wales), Ian Henderson (Ireland)
Richie Gray (Scotland) may have something to say about this list, but this is a very deep area for the Lions. Martin has proven at the World Cup and at club this season that he can play with the big boys, while Henderson's displacement of Ryan from Ireland's starting XV is testament to his value at tight end. Beirne and Itoje are bankers, while Rowlands shone at the World Championship and earned a place in the starting line-up of French league leaders Racing 92.
Jack Morgan (Wales), Tommy Reffell (Wales), Ben Earl (England), Caelan Doris (Ireland), Rory Darge (Scotland), Courtney Lawes/Tom Currie (England ) 
Jack Morgan (great goal) scored for Wales. Photo: Harry Trump/Getty Images
There are question marks surrounding Lowes and Curry. If the former continues to perform at the highest level, he will definitely go on tour, since after the World Championship he explained that he really wanted to. However, rumors of a potential move to Provence could hurt his chances if the French club remains in the second division. Curry also needs to recover from a season-ending hip injury. Earl was England's best player at the World Cup, while Doris and Darge were stars for Ireland and Scotland respectively. The Welsh duo have shown in a disappointing campaign that their quality deserves better than a quarter-final appearance. That being said, if Lawes and Curry were fit and in good shape, Reffell could be out of the game, especially considering how many locks the back row can cover. If Josh van der Flier (Ireland) regains his 2022 and early 2023 form, he will be the default choice.
Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland), Gareth Davies (Wales), Alex Mitchell (England) 
Probably Jamison Gibson Park (centre) first choice No. 9. Photo: Aurélien Meunier/Getty Images
This is probably the most promising position. Jack van Poortvliet was a current England international before suffering an ankle injury before the World Cup and could be firmly back in action. Ben White of Scotland has one of the best passes in the modern game, and Tomos Williams (Wales) is almost as good as Davies. However, with Welshman, Mitchell and Gibson-Park, Farrell will have the country's outstanding trio in World Cup action.
Finn Russell (Scotland), George Ford (England), Marcus Smith (England)
The glaring omission is, of course, Owen Farrell (England), but given the uncertainty over the future of his club and country, the smart move would be to play it safe at this stage and leave him out. Farrell, 100 percent ready, mentally and physically, enters the lineup. However, the chosen trio represent a powerful combination of pragmatism and strength.
Bundy Aki (Ireland), Ollie Lawrence (England), Harry Ringrose (Ireland), Sion Tuipulotu (Scotland) 
Siona Tuipulotu (left) has been a consistent performer for Scotland. Photo: Christophe Simon/AFP
Aki was one of the diamonds of rugby in France and his partnership with Ringrose was brilliant at times for Ireland. Lawrence has been in stunning form for Bath and will undoubtedly become an outside center for England's Six Nations. Perhaps tough on Hugh Jones (Scotland), who has formed a vicious combination with Tuipulotu – “Huipulotu” – but with Lawrence out of it, Scotland's domestic center may even flourish more. However, at national and invitational level he will be promoted by Cam Redpath (Scotland), who is tearing up the inside of Lawrence for Bath.
James Lowe (Ireland), Doohan van der Merwe (Scotland), Darcy Graham (Scotland), Mac Hansen (Ireland)
Both Lowe and Hansen are currently out of the game but have been close to World XV status for the past two years; indeed, I would choose the latter in mine. The Scottish duo is also on the horizon. Anthony Watson (England) and Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales) will be the next taxi drivers out, depending on form and fitness.
Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Freddie Steward (England)
A perfect balance between the two. Keenan is capable of performing all the intricacies of the full-back game, as well as acting as a second playmaker and counter-attacking threat in the back line, while Steward is a model of solidity. This would give the Lions a choice of 15. Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) should also be in the conversation.
Total players by country:Ireland 13, England 11 , Scotland 8, Wales 5
Now you've seen who Charles would pick for the Lions team if it were called today. What do you think? Would you make any changes? Tell us in the comments section below:
Recent Comments