Ranked: British and Irish Lions positional depth chart ahead of Wallabies Test series with key risers identified
From left to right: Andy Farrell, Maro Itoje and Finn Russell
The British and Irish Lions are currently unbeaten on Australian soil, but Andy Farrell’s Test side still remains unclear heading into next week’s opener.
Four straight wins against the Western Force, Queensland Reds, Waratahs and the Brumbies have given them a much-needed confidence boost following the defeat to Argentina, yet they still haven’t quite mapped things out regarding Test selection.
While they have been wins, and comfortable ones on the scoreboard, the performances haven’t quite been what fans or pundits would have predicted. There are still players enduring quiet tours, struggling to replicate the form that got them on the plane in the first place, while others are finding themselves unable to fit the style of play Farrell wants from this Lions team.
But, there are still plenty of players emerging as genuine test contenders as well, with some even climbing up the ranks.
So, how does Farrell’s depth chart look heading into the first Test against the Wallabies next weekend? Well, here is our comprehensive breakdown of the British and Irish Lions squad in each position.
Full-back
First-choice: Blair Kinghorn
Second-choice: Marcus Smith – RISER
Third-choice: Hugo Keenan
Fourth-choice: Jamie Osborne
The positive injury update for Blair Kinghorn still keeps him in Test contention, and he tops our full-back depth chart. The Scotland back impressed in his brief cameo at 15 against the Brumbies, and also gave a good account of himself on the wing against the Waratahs, too.
Our first bold shout is Marcus Smith as the second-choice full-back, particularly after his impressive display against the Brumbies. This attacking structure is crying out for someone who can not only play as that extra link to the backfield, but also for a sprinkle of stardust, and that’s exactly what Smith brings, and in bucketfuls too. He has been used sparingly this tour, coming off the bench in all of his outings in Australia, but that in itself probably shows that he is close to the Test 23, and if Kinghorn is out for the first Test, then he could easily start at 15. Is he an out-and-out full-back? No, not in the slightest, and he could easily be exposed by Joseph Suaalii and Tom Wright under the high ball, but his attacking flourishes could light the touchpaper for the Lions’ attack.
On current form, Hugo Keenan will likely be Farrell’s third-choice 15. The Ireland international hasn’t had a smooth tour so far, being halted by both a late return from injury and then illness, but if he finds his feet quickly, then he will be a real asset to this side.
Fellow Ireland and Leinster star Jamie Osborne is likely sitting bottom of the pile, given he was a late precautionary call-up, but Farrell has proved he isn’t afraid to throw players like this into the Test cauldron. He did it to Osborne himself last year against the Springboks, to good effect too, and Gus McCarthy also won his first Ireland cap during his time as a ‘training panellist’. You’d be a brave person to bet on him making the squad for the first Test, though.
Right wing
First choice: Tommy Freeman
Second-choice: Mack Hansen
Right wing does feel a pretty open-and-shut case at the minute, with Tommy Freeman holding out Mack Hansen at the top of the depth chart. The Northampton Saints back has been one of the Lions’ best players this tour, even after a comparatively quiet game against the Brumbies. His explosive carrying and desire to pop up in different spots in the backline perfectly fits what Farrell wants out of his wingers within this new system, and he is just as good under the high ball too.
Ireland’s Mack Hansen will also likely be involved in the Test 23, albeit off the bench. He has actually had a pretty solid tour without shouting the loudest, and he does offer something completely different, given he likes to come off his wing and almost act as an extra playmaker too.
There is also a world where both players are on the pitch at the same time, given that Freeman can very easily switch to the left wing. Watch this space.
Outside centre
First-choice: Garry Ringrose
Second-choice: Huw Jones
13 is one of the biggest selection headaches Farrell faces, but we just – and we mean just – have Garry Ringrose ahead of Huw Jones. The Ireland star’s strong performance against the Brumbies was exactly what he needed to remind us all of his true quality, as he added some proper class within the backline. His carrying just added something extra to the attacking shape, and he also looked to link up with the likes of Freeman, M. Smith and Russell on multiple occasions as well, which would have pleased Farrell.
Jones is still certainly in the conversation, and could easily sway the debate with another strong showing against the AUNZ Invitational XV. Like Ringrose, he consistently looks to link up with those around him, while also having the ability to break the game open and change the manner of an attack in an instant.
It’s splitting hairs, really.
Inside centre
First-choice: Sione Tuipulotu
Second-choice: Bundee Aki
Third-choice: Owen Farrell
While 13 might be a tough ask, 12 seems a bit more assured, mainly because of what Farrell wants rather than actual performances. It’s clear that Farrell wants his number 12 to act as a link player within this attack, while still having the ability to punch a hole when needed, and that cries out for Sione Tuipulotu. The Glasgow back has become exactly that player for Scotland over the past year, providing some silky ball-playing moments interwoven with some outright brutality, and while he hasn’t quite shown his best work for the Lions to date, he fits what Farrell wants.
Bundee Aki can feel aggrieved to be our second-choice 12, but he simply doesn’t have the ball-playing skills Farrell wants out of his 12. Aki’s best moments on this tour are when he has gone route one through the middle, and to be honest, the Lions have actually looked better when he’s done that, but yet his attempts at offloading and pulling the ball back prove Farrell doesn’t want that smash-and-bash. That’s why he’s our number two number 12.
Man of the moment Owen Farrell sits in third in this depth chart, but again, he could genuinely force his way into the Test 23 given his ability to play 10 as well.
Left wing
First-choice: James Lowe
Second-choice: Duhan van der Merwe
While the number 14 jersey seems pretty secure, 11 is pretty open at the minute. Neither James Lowe nor Duhan van der Merwe have fully grabbed their spot in the Test team so far, with both men arguably off-form right now, but even with that in mind, we just have the Irish international as the first-choice.
Lowe does seem to fit this side more than van der Merwe, given his boot, but both serve as a power option out wide and would do a similar job in the side. It’s there for the taking though.
Fly-half
First-choice: Finn Russell
Second-choice: Fin Smith
Third-choice: Marcus Smith
Fourth-choice: Owen Farrell
Despite the quality in this area, this is a pretty open-and-shut discussion. Finn Russell is clearly the first-choice fly-half and the nailed-on Test starter. This attack does seem to be built around Russell’s skillset and general intent as well, given they are consistently looking to go wide and play to space, which indicates exactly what Farrell is thinking heading into the Wallabies series. Around that, he is truly a world-class player and has commanded a Test spot even before the tour got underway.
In our mind, Fin Smith is currently the second-choice number 10, given he’s the only other player who’s got a proper crack at fly-half. F. Smith has actually had a pretty tidy tour so far, particularly when playing alongside Alex Mitchell, and could very easily step into the Test side should Farrell call upon him. His attacking style is also fairly similar to Russell’s as well, even if it doesn’t appear that way on first glance, as he looks to attack space when it presents itself rather than take the pragmatic approach.
Marcus Smith has been deployed more at 15 this tour, but nonetheless is still a viable option at 10 if needed. His X-factor would also make him a nice option within this attacking shape, but you then feel it would need an extra playmaker within it at 12 or 15, too.
Rounding off the fly-half depth chart is new inclusion Owen Farrell, but don’t be surprised if he climbs this order soon. This squad is lacking someone with his sort of experience, given a lot of them made their Lions debuts on tour, and he knows exactly what it takes to beat the Wallabies on home soil as well.
Scrum-half
First-choice: Jamison Gibson-Park
Second-choice: Alex Mitchell
Third-choice: Ben White
Like 10, the scrum-half chart is already clear. Jamison Gibson-Park has hit the ground running since returning from injury, capped off by his Man of the Match display against the Brumbies last time out, but it’s his continued selection alongside Russell that indicates his standing more than anything else. Farrell loves to have continuity within his key units, and he’s building exactly that among his half-backs too, with the pair exclusively playing with one another since Gibson-Park’s return to fitness.
The injury to Tomos Williams means Alex Mitchell finds himself in the second-choice spot at scrum-half, but the Northampton man has also had a pretty tidy tour in his own right. He has featured in every game so far, be it from the start or off the bench, and has looked pretty comfortable within the system too, which is always a good thing for a nine.
Late call-up Ben White sits third in the depth chart at the minute, given he is yet to make his tour debut.
Number eight
First-choice: Jack Conan
Second-choice: Henry Pollock – RISER
Third-choice: Ben Earl
Number eight is a pretty interesting position, given Jack Conan is the only out-and-out number eight on tour, and while he has likely done enough to secure the shirt, he does face stern competition now.
Henry Pollock might seem a bold call as the second-choice, but he has featured at eight on multiple occasions this tour and seems to be in Farrell’s thinking to come in here. He offers something pretty unique within this pack, possessing raw speed and attacking IQ almost to the standard of any back, and his strong performances this tour have probably seen him climb into genuine Test contention.
Rounding off the number eight spot is Ben Earl, who has probably fallen down the order from where we thought heading into the summer. He hasn’t quite got going as of yet, which has let the other two leapfrog above him in the depth chart, but a big game against the AUNZ XV could see him move up as well.
Openside flanker
First-choice: Jac Morgan – RISER
Second-choice: Josh van der Flier
Third-choice: Henry Pollock – RISER
Fourth-choice: Ben Earl
Fifth-choice: Tom Curry
This was such a tough area to break down, but we just have Jac Morgan ahead in the pecking order. The Welshman endured a tough outing against Argentina, but against the Reds he showed his genuinely world-class talent with a mesmeric display. That display also proved he fits exactly what Farrell wants from a number seven, as he was given the freedom to go all out in the breakdown and in the carry too, and that should also balance out really nicely with the rest of the back-row around him as well.
Josh van der Flier is also very much in contention for the first-choice spot in this depth chart, given he hasn’t put a foot wrong this tour. His intent in the breakdown and defensive work make him a real asset to this side, and there is no doubt he will feature somewhere within the Test 23, it’s genuinely just a case of where. Could his best role be from the bench?
Henry Pollock is also a good shout for number seven, but he sits third in the order in our view. As mentioned above, his performances this tour have seen him climb up the rankings.
The same as above for Ben Earl, too, who sits fourth for us at the minute.
Sitting bottom of our number seven order is Tom Curry, who has had a pretty tough tour thus far. He seemed to be trying too hard against the Brumbies, which is when errors creep in, and that has probably dented his chances.
Blindside flanker
First-choice: Ollie Chessum – RISER
Second-choice: Tadhg Beirne
Third-choice: Jac Morgan
Fourth-choice: Henry Pollock
Fifth-choice: Tom Curry
Six is another interesting one, given that Farrell could go one of two ways with it. At the minute, it seems like he wants a utility lock/flanker slotting in here to boost the lineout, and following the Brumbies win, that leaves Ollie Chessum at the top of our chart. His industrious work on both sides of the ball and his desire to challenge for a charge-down on a box-kick makes him a really good option here, and his outing against the Brumbies probably saw him climb above the rest of the pack.
Tadhg Beirne is of a similar mould as well, but he doesn’t quite have the attacking intent that Chessum has and that could bump him down to second in the order.
If Farrell wanted to deploy two genuine flankers in his back-row, you’d think Jac Morgan sits in pole position to start at six, but it does still seem more likely to be a big lock/flanker here so we’ve got Morgan third.
Pollock has also featured to good effect at six, but again probably sits behind Morgan in that queue, while Curry again finds himself fifth-choice
Lock 5
First-choice: Joe McCarthy – RISER
Second-choice: Tadhg Beirne
Third-choice: Ollie Chessum
The number five jersey seemed Tadhg Beirne’s prior to the tour, but his Ireland teammate Joe McCarthy has probably climbed to the top of the order after some barnstorming displays thus far. He just adds another level of physicality and intensity on both sides of the ball, giving the Lions that enforcer figure to directly oppose Will Skelton. McCarthy’s inclusion also allows for Farrell to deploy a Chessum or Beirne at six.
As a result of McCarthy’s form, we have Tadhg Beirne sitting in second for the lock spot. While it might seem weird to have him above Chessum after we flipped the two at number six, Beirne is probably thought of more as a lock within this Lions side at the minute, given his style, with Chessum more of an attacking player. Beirne would also bring some nice leadership and experience to the side.
Chessum is also certainly an option to start at lock too, but with Farrell keen to play him at six, it seems he sits bottom of the lock stock barrel.
Lock 4
First-choice: Maro Itoje
Second-choice: James Ryan
Third-choice: Scott Cummings
This doesn’t even need an explanation, to be honest. Tour captain Maro Itoje sits at the top of the pile to wear number four.
Underneath him, James Ryan probably edges Scott Cummings into that second spot, but neither of them had made much of a dent on this Lions tour thus far. Both are good players within their own right, but haven’t put their best foot forward in the red jersey.
Tighthead
First-choice: Tadhg Furlong
Second-choice: Will Stuart
Third-choice: Finlay Bealham
Tighthead is another interesting spot, given nobody has really emerged to command that Test spot, but Tadhg Furlong is currently top of the depth chart here. The Irishman has been steadily building as the tour has gone on and seems to be forming a nice combination alongside Sheehan and Genge. His scrummaging has also been a strong point.
Underneath him, Will Stuart probably sits second, with Finaly Bealham in third. Both men have had flourishes of their usual quality in the loose this tour, and have done a pretty good job in the scrum, so it just depends on who finds a better combination with the front-row around them. Right now, that’s Stuart, who has been used with the likes of Kelleher and Porter more than Bealham.
Hooker
First-choice: Dan Sheehan
Second-choice: Ronan Kelleher
Third-choice: Luke Cowan-Dickie
Again, there’s no real doubt that Dan Sheehan sits as the first-choice hooker after his outstanding displays this series.
But, underneath him is a bigger debate. Ronan Kelleher and Luke Cowan-Dickie have had their moments this tour, but yet haven’t fully commanded a spot in the Test side. The lineout has been a major talking point this tour, but Kelleher has probably been a bit more accurate in that department than Cowan-Dickie, but the Englishman offers more around the park.
Loosehead
First-choice: Ellis Genge – RISER
Second-choice: Andrew Porter
Third-choice: Pierre Schoeman
England international Ellis Genge is arguably the biggest riser within this Lions squad, and he now sits top of the loosehead chart. The Bristol-native has been in remarkable form, both in the loose and in the scrum, this tour and seems to be forming a good connection with Sheehan and Furlong too.
Andrew Porter sits second in our pecking order, and he, too, has played some nice rugby this tour. Like Genge, he has looked to make a dent in all aspects of his game, which is exactly what Farrell wants from his loosehead.
Through no fault of his own, Pierre Schoeman probably sits third in the depth chart. He has done some trademark rumbles in the loose this tour and looks pretty solid in the scrum as well, but the form of the other two probably just pushes him down the list.
