British & Irish Lions 2025 tour: Assessing Andy Farrell’s selection options after Autumn Nations Series | Rugby Union News

Ireland closed out the Autumn Nations Series with a 22-19 win over Australia in Dublin on Saturday.

The game was Andy Farrell’s final game as Ireland’s head coach before he begins preparations for next year’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

The 2025 Six Nations will be Farrell’s last chance to explore all four nations as he steps away from Ireland duties. Farrell is looking to narrow down his options and assemble a cohesive 37-man squad capable of ending the Lions’ 12-year wait. To win the tour.

In the meantime, Farrell will take stock of his performance and consider his options following a checkered Autumn Nations series. Even at this early stage of the series, some might even be able to secure a seat on a plane.

Here we assess candidates from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland vying for the coveted chance to represent the Lions Down Under…

Ireland: Will Farrell rely on familiar faces?

After winning two Triple Crown titles in 2022 and 2023, a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023 and back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2024, Farrell’s track record as head coach Given that, it seems right to start with Ireland.

After all, it is this very record that took Ireland to the top of the World Rugby Rankings from July 2022 to October 2023, with Farrell replacing Warren Gatland as Lions head coach for the upcoming tour of Australia. This led to his emergence as a.

Ireland has a deep pool of candidates, with a large selection expected to form the bulk of the squad. Not only have they developed a close, hands-on relationship with Farrell, but they will also play a key role in helping the newly formed group adapt to his methods.

As well as the tour hopefuls, Ireland will also have player of the year candidate Caelan Doris, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, centers Bundy Aki, Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, and winger James James. They also have Test match starters such as Lowe and Mack Hansen. , and full-back Hugo Keenan.

The Lions’ forwards include back-rowers Josh van der Vlier and Jack Conan, props Andrew Porter and Tajig Furlong, hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, and locks Tajig Beirne and James. – It is expected that a number of Irish players such as Ryan, Joe McCarthy, and Ryan will be used. Baird fights for choice.

Irish Lions Candidate

forward: Andrew Porter, Taj Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Taj Beirne, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan. bucks: Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast, Bundy Aki, Garry Ringrose, Mac Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Hugo Keenan.

Will Scotland form the Lions’ backline?

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the Scotland squad included in Farrell’s first Lions squad is as strong as Ireland.

After ending their Autumn Nations Series campaign with a 27-13 victory over Australia, Scotland showed how to beat England, the Lions’ next hosts and also higher up in the world rankings.

Finn Russell, captain Sione Tiupulotu, Huw Jones, Darcy Graham, Duane van der Merwe and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn not only have talent across the backline, but also He has staying power, which could be crucial for Farrell in decision-making moments.

With Russell a strong option at fly-half, placing Scotland’s burgeoning central partnership of Tuipulotu and Jones alongside him is as appealing as the selection of versatile Toulouse full-back Kinghorn. Looks like an option.

Van der Merwe and Graham have been competing for Scotland’s try record all through the autumn, and both wingers appear to be locked in a fresh battle for a spot on the plane to Australia, with Farrell’s side There is unlikely to be room for both.

Up front, props Pierre Schumann and Xander Fagerson further strengthen the case for selection, while Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge join the mix in a competitive field of back-row options.

Scottish Lions Candidate

forward: Pierre Schuman, Xander Fagerson, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson. bucks: Ben White, Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Hugh Jones, Darcy Graham, Duan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn.

Smith Chief English Selection Officer

After an impressive autumn in which he proved his world-class credentials, the main question surrounding England’s Marcus Smith is not whether he will go to Australia, but rather whether Farrell would prefer the number 10 shirt over Scottish fly-half Russell. The question is whether to entrust it to him or not.

Immanuel Fay-Waboso’s seamless start to international rugby has seen him bring power and tryouts wide and an effective threat at the breakdown. If he can maintain or improve on that through his second Six Nations campaign, he would also be an option for Farrell to ignore.

Chandler Cunningham-South has shown his combativeness and ball-carrying ability throughout the fall, while Ben Earl has shown to a lesser extent, but both have become attractive options for Farrell, adding to the Lions’ brand of rugby in their latest offering. We would like to establish this.

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell was selected for the Lions despite missing the autumn through injury, although the performances of Ben Spencer and Jacques van Poeltvliet were not enough to dethrone him as England’s best number nine. It has been highly evaluated.

The Lions may not be particularly blessed with looseheads compared to other positions, but that shouldn’t detract from Ellis Genge’s suitability. The Bristol prop has developed into an accomplished scrummager and senior figure in the England camp, worthy of a first Lions call-up.

Maro Itoje, once rumored to be a candidate to be the Lions’ next captain, leads England’s second-row options alongside the injured Ollie Chetham and George Martin.

England captain and two-time Lion Jamie George may feel there is too much competition at hooker to secure a new position on tour. The same could apply to centers Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence, and full-backs George Firbank and Tommy Freeman.

england lions candidate

forward: Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stewart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chetham, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Jack Willis, Tom Curry. bucks: Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Olly Lawrence, Henry Slade, Immanuel Fay-Waboso, George Furbank, Tommy Freeman.

Welsh influence weakens

How have times changed since the British & Irish Lions last tour of Australia in 2013?

With Wales head coach Gatland in charge, 16 Welsh players traveled Down Under, gaining a wealth of valuable experience as the Lions won the series 2-1.

Eight started for the first Test in Brisbane, seven started for the second Test in Melbourne and 10 took the field for the start of the decisive third Test in Sydney. It became synonymous with Wales winger George North’s incredible try.

But 11 years on, and with Wales having lost 12 Tests in a row for the first time since 1937, and without a win all year, few Welshmen can take comfort in their selection.

These are tough times to be a Welsh rugby player, but the added dimension of trying to involve yourself in the Lions’ fight has made it even more difficult. But they say pressure makes diamonds, and in these trying times a few qualities have shone.

Dewi Lake’s leadership in the face of adversity allows him to make a credible case for the Lions’ starting hooker position, while Jack Morgan’s autumn fighting performance comes up in the competitive back-row debate I joined.

The upcoming Six Nations squad will give No. 8 Aaron Wainwright, scrum-half Tomos Williams and flanker James Botham new chances to improve their chances of playing from the outside, but their respective Intense competition for positions could see the Welsh national team sink to an unprecedented low.

Wales Lions Candidate

forward: Dewi Lake, Jack Morgan, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright. bucks: Tomos Williams.

British & Irish Lions tour of Australia with Sky Sports

sky sports will exclusively broadcast the British & Irish Lions’ 2025 tour of Australia, with exclusive live coverage of all three test matches and six warm-up matches against the Wallabies.