Shane Horgan: Jordie Barrett could ‘complicate’ British and Irish Lions selection for Andy Farrell
Jordie Barret in action for Leinster and ex-Ireland star Shane Horgan.
Shane Horgan claims that Ireland’s British and Irish Lions “dreams” will be left in tatters should they suffer a poor 2025 Six Nations, while he also revealed the possible downside of Jordie Barrett’s arrival.
The former Leinster wing, who earned 65 caps for the national team, believes that their stock is certainly not as high as it was due to a mixed 2024.
At the start of last year, many Ireland players were clear front-runners looking ahead to the tour to Australia but they now find themselves under pressure going into the 2025 Six Nations.
They were unconvincing in the Autumn Nations Series, losing to the All Blacks before narrowly overcoming Argentina and Australia, and Horgan insists that they need a vast improvement in the upcoming tournament.
‘Expected more’
“As for Ireland, we all expected a bit more in the autumn. Six months ago perhaps 15 or more Ireland players would have been thinking they were in pole position to get a place on the Lions tour and plenty of them as nailed down starters,” he wrote in his Sunday Times column.
“But they know now they are going to need a good Six Nations both individually and as a team to get that number. There is nothing like a bad Six Nations to destroy your hopes and dreams in a Lions year.”
The Ireland players will naturally have an advantage with Andy Farrell leading the Lions in Australia, but Horgan insists that they still have to perform in the Six Nations.
He even suggests that Barrett’s arrival at Leinster could throw a spanner in the works for Farrell and the Lions hopefuls.
“The position of the Ireland backs will be interesting. There are several whose stock was perhaps a little higher a year ago,” he wrote.
“You would have thought Jamison Gibson-Park would have been a lock in to start at scrum half, but he didn’t have a perfect autumn series and has had injuries as well.
“In the centres you could easily make a case for Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw to all go, but not as strong a case as 12 months ago. Matters are further complicated for Ringrose and Henshaw by fighting to even start the biggest games for Leinster with Jordie Barrett’s arrival.
“Against Australia Hugo Keenan seemed to be back into the form we’d seen over the past 18 months but both (Mack) Hansen and James Lowe seem less certain right now in a position with plenty of challengers.”
Lions bolter
While some of the older players are perhaps seeking one last hurrah, there will inevitably be some youngsters pressing a late claim.
Once such individual could be Sam Prendergast, according to Horgan, after Leinster’s rising star ended 2024 as Ireland’s first choice fly-half.
“Finn Russell is the clear standout for me at fly-half but there is a huge opportunity for the Ireland number 10s. That’s why I was disappointed we didn’t see that Crowley v Prendergast match-up,” he said.
“We legitimately didn’t know who was going to be the 10 in the Six Nations and there was a chance to see a shoot-out to pick on form. Instead Prendergast appears to be the likely starter based on his man-of-the-match performances in Europe.
“With a good Six Nations he could make a case to be on that Lions tour, which is an optimistic thought to start the new year on.”
