British and Irish Lions squad: Andy Farrell springs some surprise selections in 38-man group including bolter Henry Pollock
England, Northampton Saints and now Lions flanker Henry Pollock, and head coach of the touring side Andy Farrell.
Henry Pollock was Andy Farrell’s big selection bolter as the head coach named his squad for the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia.
The 20-year-old has burst onto the scene this season after being part of England’s World Rugby U20 Championship success last year.
Pollock has starred for Northampton Saints but he has only earned one cap for England, which was a two-try debut in their dominant victory over Wales in their Six Nations finale.
Since then he has helped Northampton Saints into the Investec Champions Cup final, with his stunning performance against Leinster at the weekend no doubt playing a key role in him being selected in the squad.
He joins an incredibly strong group of back-rowers which includes countrymen Ben Earl and Tom Curry, and Ireland duo Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan, but there is no place for the injured Caelan Doris.
Jac Morgan also makes it and is one of just two Welsh representatives among the 38-man group, with the other being scrum-half Tomos Williams.
“Since we met as a coaching unit for the very first time six weeks ago we have been discussing more than 75 players of interest,” Lions boss Farrell said.
“But the key job is getting that squad balance right as we prepare for a long and demanding tour that finishes with a Three Test Series against the Wallabies.
“I am very excited about working with this group and believe they have the capacity to achieve something special and add to the Lions legacy.”
Captain Maro Itoje
The squad will be led by England lock Maro Itoje, who becomes the first Englishman to skipper the famous touring side since Martin Johnson in 2001.
“It feels amazing to be named Lions captain. I’m deeply honoured, humbled and I will do my best to do the role justice,” Itoje said.
“I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great Tour. I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can’t wait to play my role.”
Itoje is part of an intriguing second-row cohort which includes Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Scott Cummings.
The Scotsman gets in ahead of Wales’ Dafydd Jenkins while George Martin was ruled out due to injury.
In the front-row, there are fewer surprises, although Luke Cowan-Dickie is preferred to countryman Jamie George and Tadhg Furlong goes instead of Finlay Bealham despite his injury issues this season.
Behind the scrum, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith, like Pollock, perhaps played their way onto the plane following Northampton’s display against Leinster.
Mack Hansen and Sione Tuipulotu are selected despite nursing injuries – with the latter missing the entirety of the Six Nations – while the biggest selection surprise in the backline is arguably Elliot Daly, who goes on a third tour.
Of those to miss out, Darcy Graham and Tom Jordan are unfortunate having consistently impressed for both club and country, while Sam Prendergast is perhaps the most significant omission having been first choice Ireland fly-half over the past few months.
That leaves Finn Russell and the two Smiths, Fin and Marcus, as the playmaking options with Farrell deciding not to select his son, Owen.
Andy Farrell’s 38-man British and Irish Lions squad
Forwards: Maro Itoje (c), Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier
Backs: Bundee Aki, Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Tomos Williams
READ MORE: British & Irish Lions squad announcement, LIVE: Our blog of a massive day at The O2 in London
