B&I Lions: Legend issues ‘humble pie’ message to Andy Farrell’s critics and claims one forward is ‘best in the world right now’ in his position
Tom Curry celebrates his try for the British and Irish Lions
Three-time British and Irish Lions tour pick Lawrence Dallaglio has hit back at critics of Andy Farrell and his first Test team selection following Saturday’s series-opening win in Brisbane.
The Lions were comfortable 27-19 winners in a match where the Wallabies massaged the margin of defeat with a couple of late tries. To the fore in the success was openside Tom Curry, whose selection dominated the headlines leading into the match.
Many felt Curry’s form on the tour didn’t merit his selection ahead of the excluded Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier. However, the Sale and England player produced a dominant display and Dallaglio, a Lions pick on the 1997, 2001 and 2005 tours, pulled no punches with his match review in his Sunday Times column.
“Anyone who has questioned or criticised Andy Farrell and his coaches on this tour should be eating humble pie after the first Test. His team selection was absolutely spot on,” he began.
“So many other people got it so wrong…”
“There is no doubting the quality of the performances of some of those fringe players, such as Jac Morgan and Henry Pollock, in the warm-up matches, but the performances of Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne in particular highlighted why Farrell got it so right when so many other people got it so wrong. Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the centres were excellent too.
“There was a huge gulf in class between the British & Irish Lions and Australia in Brisbane, even if the winning margin was only eight points. That has been the case in every match since they touched down in Australia. In fact, the most competition they have had has probably been in their own training sessions and that is when most of the selection pointers will have been highlighted.
“You could have made an argument for any one of three players – Curry, Morgan or Josh van der Flier – to be picked at No.7 but, given the lack of genuine opposition throughout the tour, Farrell went with his instincts and probably even what he saw before the tour.
“Curry rewarded him with eight carries, 11 tackles, a try and, in a brilliant passage of play shortly after half-time, a clever lineout steal and smart offload to send Dan Sheehan across the line. Beirne, his fellow flanker, was named man of the match.”
Later in his column, Dallaglio added: “As well as Curry and Beirne, Joe McCarthy was superb and (some people in South Africa might not like me saying this) I thought Sheehan looked like the best hooker in the world right now.
“When you have that kind of dominance, and outstanding half-backs in Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell, that is very difficult to play against. Gibson-Park also looked world-class: his decision-making and box-kicking alone would have won him the man-of-the-match award in any other contest. Russell is simply outstanding.”
Dallaglio now expects the Lions to clinch the series with a follow-up win in Melbourne next Saturday. “Ask yourself this: do you truly believe in the British & Irish Lions and their future?
“If the answer is an emphatic yes, like me, then stop moaning about Farrell and selection and start getting behind him and this entire group, because regardless of selection and who they are playing, they deserve our full support. The future of the Lions depends on it.”
