British and Irish Lions: The seven luckiest inclusions as Andy Farrell makes ‘most staggering’ call in famous touring side’s history
Garry Ringrose, Henry Pollock and Scott Cummings in action for Ireland, England and Scotland respectively.
After head coach Andy Farrell named his squad for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, we look at the players who are perhaps fortunate to be included.
Elliot Daly
It is fair to say that the experienced back proved a lot of people wrong with his performances for England in the Six Nations and he will be hoping to do the same for the British and Irish Lions. While Daly might not be a favourite for some supporters, he is for many coaches and Farrell has followed the likes of Warren Gatland, Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick in placing his trust in the 32-year-old.
The Saracens star did not have the greatest start to the season but he found his form at just the right time, earning him selection for the Six Nations, where he scored the winning try against France. Farrell’s decision to bring him to Australia remains a surprise, though, despite his versatility and big boot – two big facets which evidently went in his favour.
Mack Hansen
There is no doubting that the wing is a very, very classy operator but he was one of those Ireland stars to lose form in the Six Nations, while he also missed two matches because of injury. Hansen was better in the final encounter against Italy but you feel that this is very much a decision based on Farrell’s knowledge of the player and what he can offer the Lions.
Hansen has also featured just three times since that tournament and is currently on the sidelines with another issue, adding to the list of injuries he has picked up over the past two years. There is certainly doubts about his fitness but Farrell understandably rates him highly.
Scott Cummings
Not someone many people expected to see on the list, as evidenced by the subdued crowd reaction when his name was read out. While the majority of players were greeted with cheers the fans seemed shocked when Cummings appeared, before applause eventually broke out. It was rather harsh on the Scotland second-row, who is an exceptional player, but it rather summed up the surprise.
Few had him in their Lions squads but, with George Martin out through injury, his name perhaps should have been mentioned more often. However, he did not play in the Six Nations due to injury and that could have opened the door for the likes of countrymen Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist, as well as Wales duo Dafydd Jenkins and Will Rowlands. The France-based David Ribbans was another to be highly touted given his exceptional form for Toulon, but Farrell is obviously a fan of Cummings.
Garry Ringrose
A year ago and the Ireland centre would have been a certainty, perhaps even for the starting XV, but his form has dipped over the past few months. He is perhaps fortunate that there are a lack of alternative options at 13 with Ollie Lawrence suffering a serious injury and Wales in the midst of a horror run.
Ringrose still has the class and, after missing out in 2017 and 2021, he is perhaps due this one, but there needs to be a significant improvement in performance when the tour comes around as he will face fierce opposition from Huw Jones and perhaps even Tommy Freeman for the outside centre jersey.
Marcus Smith
Like Ringrose, many fancied him to start for the Lions prior to the 2025 Six Nations after an outstanding 2024, but Smith has rather drifted down the pecking order, to the extent where he probably only just sneaked in.
The Harlequins playmaker has not been helped by his England head coach Borthwick, who has switched him between fly-half and full-back, but that versatility has just about got him the nod over the other 10 options.
Henry Pollock
The name on everyone’s lips and quite rightly so, but if you look at the bare facts of Pollock’s inclusion, it is arguably one of the most staggering inclusions in British and Irish Lions history. The 20-year-old has only been a regular for Northampton Saints since October and was still playing for England U20s in February. He would graduate to the senior team for the Six Nations finale and impressed by scoring two tries, but that did come against a dreadful Wales team.
However, it is his performances since then, and more specifically Northampton’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final victory over Leinster, which has got him on the plane. It is still a big, big call from Farrell, but it is exactly the type of pick which makes the Lions special and why it is so cherished.
Tadhg Furlong
Will Stuart and Zander Fagerson were pretty much the certainties at tighthead and it was just a matter of who out of Furlong and Ireland team-mate Finlay Bealham would get the nod for the final spot.
In truth, it would not be a surprise if Furlong actually ends up starting the Tests but, given his recent injury record, this is not exactly a selection on form. Bealham has deputised superbly in Furlong’s absence for Ireland, starting eight of their past nine internationals, but that was not enough to get in ahead of his countryman when it came to the Lions.
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