Andy Farrell admits Jac Morgan was ‘as close as you could imagine’ to being selected in the British & Irish Lions’ starting XV for the opening Test against Australia this weekend.
An in-form Morgan produced a man-of-the-match display against the Queensland Reds and had been tipped by many to start at seven over the more experienced Tom Curry, who is enjoying his second Lions tour.
But the 25-year-old flanker, the only Welshman remaining following Tomos Williams’ return home through injury, misses out altogether for the first contest against the Wallabies, with Farrell instead opting for a back-row of Tadhg Beirne, Curry and Jack Conan.
England duo Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl have been selected on the bench at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, where the Lions will look to take a 1-0 lead in this summer’s eagerly anticipated three-match series.
Elsewhere, Farrell has named an all-Scottish fly-half-centre combination of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, while Ireland’s Joe McCarthy has been given the nod at lock alongside captain Maro Itoje.
On his decision to go with a back-row of Beirne, Curry and Conan, Farrell explained: ‘I suppose that’s the hotly contested one.
‘It’s the part of the side that has been talked about for quite some time and rightly so because of the quality that we’ve got there.
British & Irish Lions starting XI for first Test
Starting XI: Keenan, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong. Itoje, McCarthy, Beirne, Curry, Conan
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Aki
‘Obviously, we feel that’s the right balance for the first Test and the combination of Tadhg being the player that he is as far as his quality in the set piece, but also his all-round ability on the floor as a jackler or a ball-playing six.
‘I think he complements Jack [Conan] in a similar regard, but Tom being the engine that we all know you need in Test rugby.’
Asked how close Morgan was to being included, Farrell replied: ‘As close as you could imagine. Look, you’re actually gutted for players like that.
‘Josh [van der Flier] as well, and Henry [Pollock] as well, because they’re playing good rugby and could easily be in this side on Saturday. But I suppose that shows the good place that we’re at as a group.’
Bundee Aki – who is on his second Lions tour – has to settle for a place amongst the substitutes in Brisbane. Meanwhile, there is no place for Garry Ringrose in Farrell’s 23 following his concussion in the win over the ACT Brumbies.
On his starting centre partnership of Tuipulotu and Jones, Farrell said: ‘It isn’t just the combinations, it’s what is happening off the bench and the impact they can have at any given time.
‘I’ve said before that there’s absolutely no doubt that Bundee can play with Huw and he’s obviously played with Sione as well, but it’s just making sure we get the impact that we need at any given time as well.
‘I suppose those three that are starting do know each other, but they also know the way that this team wants to play.’
Having received a late call-up Down Under, Owen Farrell impressed coming off the bench for his first match of the tour against AUNZ Invitational.
But Farrell has been overlooked for the first Test and it appears the veteran England fly-half could be in line to start against First Nations & Pasifika XV next week.
‘He was in contention as far as it was there for a debate, in regards to should he or shouldn’t he, just like the rest of them,’ Farrell responded when asked whether his son was in the mix for the 23.
‘But we feel that Tuesday will be good for somebody like Owen.’
Farrell’s men do battle with a First Nations & Pasifika XV next Tuesday before resuming the Test series with Australia in Melbourne on July 26.
Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies side will then play host to the Lions for the third and final Test of the tour in Sydney a week later.
Should Jac Morgan be starting the first Test?
-
Yes
-
No
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.