Lions watch: Two Smiths, a handful of Scots and a former Balmain Tiger step up
The Six Nations is reaching its conclusion, meaning time is running out for Britain and Ireland’s top players to show their ability on the international stage before the squad is announced.
It was a tough and chastening weekend for Ireland, who were humbled by a rampant France side in Dublin, while Scotland survived some jitters to condemn Wales to yet another defeat.
England, meanwhile, were excellent in powering past Italy at Twickenham and remain on course for an unlikely title should the Scots do them a massive favour in Paris next week and they can survive the red-hot Cardiff cauldron against an increasingly desperate Wales team.
Here’s who stood out and who stood down in round four of the Six Nations.
Scotland’s backs
Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn needs to be in the Lions starting XV. (Getty Images: SNS Group/Ross Parker)
Yes, Wales are pretty rubbish (although they are getting better).
And yes, Scotland switched off in a big way in the second half.
But when the Scottish backs were fizzing in the first half, it was absolutely sensational.
Led from the back by the best fullback in the British Isles, Blair Kinghorn, and a vastly improved Finn Russell with a handy reminder of his ability, the Scottish backs made a mockery of the level of their Celtic cousins at a raucous Murrayfield.
Quick hands, quick decision making, quick points.
In the sort of form that the Scots showed in the first half, you’d just pick all of them for the Lions and plug the injury gaps with the best of the rest.
Fly halves step up
Sam Prendergast (left) may be playing himself into the outter as Finn Russell (centre) and Fin Smith (right) both starred. (Getty Images)
With Russell once again showing his class in the 10 jersey for Scotland, it might seem as though he has once again leaped into the running as the Lions’ first choice.
That looks even more likely given just how lost Sam Prendergast looked in the face of the raging French in Dublin.
The 22-year-old is a fine player, as he showed in dismantling England, but there’s been a suggestion that his elevation to the top job ahead of Munster’s Jack Crowley was too soon and in his last couple of matches that appears to have been proven with a couple of lacklustre displays.
Given just how brilliant England’s own 22-year-old fly half Fin Smith has been and was again against Italy, Prendergast’s star appears to be falling.
What to do about Marcus Smith?
Ollie Lawrence suffered an Achillies injury that may rule him out of a Lions spot. (Getty Images: Shaun Botterill)
When Ollie Lawrence went down with an Achillies injury early — which could yet be devastating for the Bath centre’s hopes of touring — an incongruously large cheer soon rippled around Twickenham.
The prodigal son and one of the most exciting players in world rugby, Marcus Smith, was stripped in the London sunlight, ready to come on after just eight minutes.
England don’t really seem to know what to do with Smith’s mercurial talent, so he was dumped onto the bench against Italy, with the brilliant and versatile Elliot Daly taking up his position at fullback.
And, given England’s clear shift to prioritise the running game in this match against Italy, it was the perfect platform for Smith (Marcus) to show off what makes him so thrilling.
The versatile Daly switched to outside centre and was magnificent, doing his touring hopes no harm at all, but Smith sparkled in both attack and defence.
Jack Dempsey heading back Down Under?
Jack Dempsey was relentless for Scotland. (Getty Images: PA Images/Steve Welsh)
It wasn’t just in the backs where Scotland excelled.
Jack Dempsey was immense at number eight for the Scots, only Caelan Dorris’s brilliant performance for Ireland in defeat keeping him out of our team of the week.
The Sydney-born ex-Waratah is sticking his hand up for a trip back to the land of his birth, running relentlessly against the Welsh with ball in hand and powering through in defence as well.
He was given able support from back row partner Jamie Richie and lock Jonny Gray, as well as the bullocking efforts from props Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman, who both took the game to the Welsh early on in the loose.
Of course, if he wants to be picked though, he’ll have to make a case that he’s better than England’s phenomenal back row, who were once again magnificent.
Jac Morgan deserves better
Jac Morgan is by far Wales’ best player. (Getty Images: Stu Forster)
Jac Morgan was the top tackler in the competition heading into the fourth round, showing the sort of grit that Welsh forwards of old would savour.
Even Wales and Lions veteran Taulupe Faletau is working himself back into contention with some eye-catching runs and was a touch unlucky perhaps to have his late try ruled out after livewire fullback Blair Murray illegally jumped over a tackle.
But his endeavour and work-rate shine through like anthracite in the coaldust-filled murk that is this frankly horrible Welsh team, winning turnovers aplenty and putting a lot of his teammates to shame.
WillGriff John’s sin binning for raising his foot to disrupt a ruck was just the sort of mindless idiocy that highlights Wales’ current plight and Ben Thomas was probably lucky not to get a straight red for senselessly clawing at the eyes of Duhan van der Merwe early on.
Sure, former youth Welsh international gymnast (yes, really) Dewi Lake was solid at hooker when he came on for Wales in what was his first appearance since 2022, Cardiff lock Teddy Williams also played well when he came on.
Harlequins centre Thomas took his try well, as did Gloucester’s Max Llewellyn, but both also had some really poor touches in a match where the scoreline flattered Wales.
Coaches need vetting, too
Shaun Edwards said he would swim to Australia to be a part of the Lions. (Getty Images: Sportsfile/Seb Daly)
Understandably, most of the attention during the Six Nations is on the players.
But Lions coach Andy Farrell also has to confirm his coaching set up — and a former Wigan teammate of his has put his hand up in a big way.
Sean Edwards, France’s defence coach, told the Times that he would “swim it to Australia if [the Lions call]”.
It probably shouldn’t come to that, as his France side gave a stunning illustration of how it can shut down teams in Dublin.
Ireland’s attack has been sublime in this year’s Six Nations — but for 70 minutes against France they could find almost no way through.
Edwards is a former Great Britain rugby league international alongside Farrell, who spent a season with Balmain in the NSWRL in 1989.
Shaun Edwards (front row, third from left) won the Challenge Cup with Wigan and Andy Farrell (back row, fifth from right). (Getty Images: PA Images/John Giles)
If a Lions team were picked today…
What the players are all hoping to wear Down Under. (Getty Images: David Rogers)
- Pierre Schoeman (SCO)
- Dan Sheehan (IRE)
- Zander Fagerson (SCO)
- Maro Itoje (ENG) (c)
- Jonny Gray (SCO)
- Tom Curry (ENG)
- Jac Morgan (WAL)
- Caelan Doris (IRE)
- Alex Mitchell (ENG)
- Finn Smith (ENG)
- Ollie Sleightholme (ENG)
- Tom Jordan (SCO)
- Huw Jones (SCO)
- Darcy Graham (SCO)
- Blair Kinghorn (SCO)
Replacements: Jamie George (ENG), Will Stuart (ENG), Ollie Chessum (ENG), Jamie Ritchie (SCO), Jack Dempsey (SCO), Ben Earl (ENG), Finn Russell (SCO), Marcus Smith (ENG).
>read more at © abc news
Views: 0