Hookers
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Back in the England fold after a two-year injury absence. Played in all of England’s Six Nations matches, starting four, winning the nod, as here, over Jamie George, England’s previous captain. Also involved in every Test in South Africa in 2021, starting the first two. A handful around the park with much-improved technical skills.
Sale and England
Age 31 Caps 49 Lions caps 3
Rónan Kelleher
We thought he might be Ireland’s hooker for the foreseeable when he made his debut in the 2020 Six Nations, a few months after Rory Best retired. And then along came Sheehan. Kelleher does not have his Leinster teammate’s pace (what front-row forward does?) but he is rock solid at the important bits.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 28 Caps 39
Dan Sheehan
If he is fit, he will surely start the Tests. Has captained Ireland and racked up 13 Six Nations tries, comfortably the most by any forward. And that’s because he has the pace and power to terrify anyone, whatever their position. Leinster’s elimination from the Champions Cup will hurt – and hopefully spur.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 26 Caps 32
Props
Zander Fagerson
Played for Glasgow at 18 and Scotland at 20 and has formed the cornerstone of both more or less ever since. Currently injured, so a show of faith from Farrell. If Scotland are more about the flashy backs these days, they would really be at sea without this fellow where the sun don’t shine.
Glasgow and Scotland
Age 29 Caps 75
Tadhg Furlong
The man in possession and no obvious reason why he wouldn’t stay as such if fit. He has started all of the Lions’ last six Tests, across two tours, to New Zealand and South Africa. To do so again would complete a nice set. He did miss most of the Six Nations with a calf niggle, though.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 32 Caps 79 Lions caps 6
Ellis Genge
The Lions won’t lack for leadership – but it is easy to forget this larger-than-life personality led Leicester to a Premiership title not so long ago. Indeed, he was England’s vice-captain during the Six Nations. Not that such gravitas stops him charging round the pitch like someone much less grown-up.
Bristol and England
Age 30 Caps 71
Andrew Porter
His feats in the gym did much to secure his early reputation, but hardly anyone talks about that now, such is his prowess on the field. He has played at the highest level on both sides of the scrum, always handy in a tourist, but as a loosehead he has found a licence to rampage in the loose too.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 29 Caps 75
Pierre Schoeman
You know when he has the ball because his adoring fans cry “Schooooooo”. He came to Edinburgh in 2018 from the high veldt of South Africa, one of the last to qualify under the old three-year residency rule. As soon as he was eligible he was in the Scotland team.
Edinburgh and Scotland
Age 31 Caps 42
Will Stuart
The prop’s prop. He has bided his time in the shadow of more obviously charismatic rivals at tighthead, but he came into his own in this year’s Six Nations, being named in the official team of the championship. Australia have a long-standing phobia of big England props. Here comes the latest.
Bath and England
Age 28 Caps 50
Locks
Tadhg Beirne
If the distinction between lock and back-row forward is increasingly blurred in the modern game, this guy embodies that trend as much as anyone. Comfortable in the second or back rows. Comfortable leaping in the air, comfortable grappling in the godforsaken nooks and crannies, comfortable in the wide-open spaces.
Munster and Ireland
Age 33 Caps 61 Lions caps 2
Ollie Chessum
Another of these multi-purpose forwards. They really come into their own on a Lions tour. Chessum had a bad run of injuries at the back end of last year, but by round three of the Six Nations he was back in England’s engine room and revving.
Leicester and England
Age 24 Caps 28
Scott Cummings
A testament to him that he should be selected for this after such little rugby at the highest level this season. Fell victim to one of the more ridiculous red cards in the autumn, then missed the entire Six Nations with a broken arm. Sorely missed then, a figure of substance in Scotland’s tight five.
Glasgow and Scotland
Age 28 Caps 48
Maro Itoje (captain)
He has finally consummated the “Future England Captain” tag that was foisted on him from a young age. And he wears it well. Back to his best this Six Nations, his first as England captain, he now strides on to a stage he knows well as captain there too. Now is his time.
Saracens and England
Age 30 Caps 90 Lions caps 6
Joe McCarthy
Try saying his name without breaking into a rendition of Vanessa Paradis’s 80s hit, “Joe le Taxi”. Back to the rugby, he made his name as the star of Ireland’s hugely impressive win in Marseille to launch their grand-slam campaign last year, so soon after another disappointing World Cup. The Leinster production line keeps rolling.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 24 Caps 19
James Ryan
At least some players remain specialist locks. Ryan is an understated but influential technician of the set-pieces. Which is not to say he cannot gallop with the best of them. Indeed he scored on his Ireland debut which, unusually, came before his Leinster one. Another with a taste for captaincy.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 28 Caps 72
Back row
Jack Conan
Started all three Tests in South Africa last time out. With Caelan Doris missing, his chances of repeating the trick have shot up, probably vying with Ben Earl for the No 8 jersey. A good old-fashioned, snarling back-row forward, who packs quite the punch with ball in hand.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 32 Caps 51 Lions caps 3
Tom Curry
Classical openside in a modern era. Which means punishment and lots of it. Almost inhuman amounts. Extraordinary how he rides it all and still produces world-class performances in attack and defence. Has had stem-cell treatment on a chronic bone condition in his hip. So a link between the past and future, as much as between backs and forwards.
Sale and England
Age 26 Caps 61 Lions caps 3
Ben Earl
Comfortable at the base of the scrum or on the flank, his explosiveness is an asset anywhere – including the centre, where England have deployed him. Then there’s the niggle, celebrating every little scrum win as if it were a World Cup. Must be a nightmare to play against – and thus a dream to play with.
Saracens and England
Age 27 Caps 42
Josh van der Flier
It seems they hand out player of the series awards for any old collection of matches these days, but Van der Flier collects more than most. And his gong for world player of the year in 2022 puts him among quite the elite. He scores tries, makes tackles, wins turnovers and never stops running.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 32 Caps 73
Jac Morgan
Amid Wales’s recent tribulations, Morgan has stood out as a player and a man. Co-captain for Wales’s World Cup campaign at the age of 23, he pretty much fulfilled the role on the field alone. Now captain outright. Barrel-chested and explosive, he will contend with a few others answering to that description.
Ospreys and Wales
Age 25 Caps 18
Henry Pollock
There will be bumps along the road (surely) but for now this kid is a sprinting, bristling advert for doing whatever comes naturally – in his case playing rugby without fear. More Test tries (two) than halves of Test rugby (nearly one) at the moment. An outrageous selection for this tour. But an increasingly undeniable one.
Northampton and England
Age 20 Caps 1
Scrum-halfs
Jamison Gibson-Park
If we in the north were to think long enough about how someone who didn’t make the All Blacks went on to become one of the very best up here, we might get a little depressed. Or maybe the Irish just understand him better. Either way, he’s a gem and likely to start the Tests.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 33 Caps 43
Alex Mitchell
Northampton win the Premiership with him at No 9. They slump when he is injured earlier this season. He returns and they win all their Champions Cup games. In short, he’s one of those heartbeat players. All the management skills of your petit general-type scrum-halfs and the pace of those quicksilver ones.
Northampton and England
Age 27 Caps 23
Tomos Williams
These are not halcyon times for Welsh rugby, but Williams remains beyond reproach. In the Premiership where teams are, shall we say, more evenly matched, he repeatedly stars for Gloucester, winning multiple match awards and turning sides inside out with his pace and derring-do.
Gloucester and Wales
Age 30 Caps 63
Fly-halfs
Finn Russell
Time is ticking by and he must know it. After a decade of sublime brilliance the maestro must yearn for achievements more concrete. He has a title from his formative years at Glasgow and is looking good for two finals with Bath in the next few weeks. Some more silverware there would be great for his tour.
Bath and Scotland
Age 32 Caps 87 Lions caps 1
Fin Smith
Suddenly England’s steady hand on the tiller, even though he’s three years younger than the maverick, uncut option of namesake Marcus. His stock is higher still after the role he played in Northampton’s undoing of star-studded Leinster on Saturday. One of those who just get rugby.
Northampton and England
Age 22 Caps 11
Marcus Smith
Despite a recent ankle injury Smith proved an irresistible selection. Now no longer the precocious youngster, he enters the mid-stage of his career with the extra asset of versatility. England deploy him at full-back as often as not these days. Wherever it is, he turns heads – including those of his opponents.
Harlequins and England
Age 26 Caps 44
Centres
Bundee Aki
Of the triumvirate in seemingly perpetual competition for a place in Ireland’s centres, Aki has proved the most eye-catching. Rugby is not always about the most obvious, but when someone throws their considerable weight around like Aki does, it looks good because it really is good. Don’t overthink it. Get him in your team.
Connacht and Ireland
Age 35 Caps 65 Lions caps 1
Huw Jones
The purveyor of rugby with a smile on its face. Even if he might not always be grinning widely as he slashes his way through opposition defences, it feels as if he is. The speed and footwork are outrageous. He’ll be a popular tourist, certainly among those who have paid good money for a ticket.
Glasgow and Scotland
Age 31 Caps 58
Garry Ringrose
Long been a classy operator in the outside-centre channel, where Brian O’Driscoll was once so indispensable to Ireland. Glides through defences like the old maestro and reads opposition attacks just as astutely. His comfort in that fabled No 13 shirt is as much tribute to him as Ireland’s uptick in titles since he donned it.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 30 Caps 67
Sione Tuipulotu
Big vote of confidence. A pectoral injury denied him a chance to lead Scotland in the Six Nations. Due to make his comeback this weekend, for Glasgow, he has already impressed Farrell enough to bring him straight in. And no wonder. Was the form centre only a few months ago.
Glasgow and Scotland
Age 27 Caps 30
Wings
Tommy Freeman
The thinking man’s winger. Not as lightning quick as some but reads the game like few others. Given his try-scoring exploits (a try in every round of the Six Nations, three against Leinster last weekend), easy to forget he started life as a full-back. Also fancied in the 13 shirt. Class wherever he plays.
Northampton and England
Age 24 Caps 20
Mack Hansen
A maverick who will prove very hard to defend against, however well they might feel they know him in his native Australia. Injury means he won’t play again before the tour starts and has disrupted his last two Six Nations, but he is worth the gamble. Anything can happen when he’s on the ball.
Connacht and Ireland
Age 27 Caps 28
James Lowe
Another of Ireland’s beloved New Zealanders, he was fast-tracked into international rugby as soon as eligible, in 2020. Deadly with ball in hand, waving it around like a wand as he feints this way and that. Also pretty devastating with ball off foot, launching enormous punts to all corners.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 32 Caps 40
Duhan van der Merwe
Not much arguing with this fellow in full flight. Huge and quick, he is in an enthralling duel with the very differently-sized Darcy Graham to be Scotland’s top try-scorer. He currently leads by one. Expect him to add a Lions try or two to his collection. Started all three Lions Tests in 2021.
Edinburgh and Scotland
Age 29 Caps 49 Lions caps 3
Full-backs
Elliot Daly
A perfect tourist. Versatile, deadly and able to land kicks from great distances. He is also vastly experienced. He started every match on the 2017 tour to New Zealand and picked up a further two Test caps in 2021. As France can testify, his pace and power are as lethal as ever.
Saracens and England
Age 32 Caps 73 Lions caps 5
Hugo Keenan
One of those electric types who had a schooling on the sevens circuit. Soon he was wowing the fans of Leinster and Ireland, just as they were coming to terms with the retirement of Rob Kearney. Has been a fixture ever since, missing only four Six Nations matches in the last five years.
Leinster and Ireland
Age 28 Caps 46
Blair Kinghorn
Not only would he miss start of tour if Toulouse make the Top 14 final, as expected, he is also injured. Such is his importance, Farrell has picked him anyway. A Rolls Royce of a full-back who can play wing or fly-half and kick goals. Rock-solid under the high ball and rangy on the gallop.
Toulouse and Scotland
Age 28 Caps 60
