As the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia gathers momentum, the countdown to the first Test in Brisbane on 19 July has begun. With limited time remaining, the next two matches against the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs will prove pivotal for players still striving to make the matchday 23.
In the front row, Dan Sheehan has all but secured the starting hooker role, underscored by his captaincy in Perth. The contest for the bench spot is heating up between Ronan Kelleher and Luke Cowan-Dickie, with Kelleher’s throwing against the Reds likely to be decisive. At loosehead, Andrew Porter needs a standout showing to edge out Ellis Genge, whose ferocious performance against Argentina showcased his ball-carrying prowess. Tighthead remains less settled; Tadhg Furlong’s class is undisputed, but questions linger over his current form. Will Stuart could thrust himself into contention with a big game, particularly with Finlay Bealham already impressing earlier on tour.
In the second row, Maro Itoje’s place is secure as tour captain, but the emergence of Joe McCarthy has added intrigue. McCarthy’s dominant display in Perth has given the selectors a dilemma partner him with Itoje and risk disrupting the lineout by needing a third option at blindside. Tadhg Beirne is the obvious candidate, though he has yet to hit top gear. A strong outing from Ollie Chessum against the Reds could add another wrinkle, especially with the possibility of a 6-2 bench split increasing his appeal as a versatile impact player.
The back row presents perhaps the toughest selection challenge. Tom Curry’s relentless work-rate and defensive steel make him hard to leave out, especially with Australia expected to unleash Rob Valetini. However, if Beirne is selected at 6, Curry must shift to openside or No 8 positions currently eyed by Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan, respectively. Van der Flier’s timely return to form makes him a strong candidate at 7, while Conan will need to deliver against the Reds to cement his No 8 credentials. Henry Pollock’s speed and dynamism offer something different, though he remains an outsider for now.
In midfield, the half-back combination of Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell looks settled, but the centre pairing is still fluid. Sione Tuipulotu is a natural foil for Russell but has had limited game time. Selection choices this week, especially against the Waratahs, may reveal more about the preferred combinations. The Ringrose-Aki duo or the Scottish pairing of Tuipulotu and Huw Jones remain viable options.
Finally, the back three is still open. James Lowe and Mack Hansen are familiar, intelligent operators on the wing, but Duhan van der Merwe and Tommy Freeman offer physicality and aerial prowess. At full-back, Blair Kinghorn, Elliot Daly, and Hugo Keenan are all in contention, with Farrell likely to favour experience and versatility in his final decision.
