LIONS BOSS ANDY Farrell was watching on at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening as a host of potential tourists battled it out in their Six Nations opener.
Farrell will also have closely studied Wales’ heavy defeat to France and Scotland’s win over Italy to assess the performances of a crop of other Lions candidates.
Here, our rugby writers pick out six players who may have impressed Farrell in round one.
James Lowe
There were calm overhead catches, powerful right-handed fends, battering carries, probing kicks, and three try assists in a superb display by the Ireland left wing against England. This was only his second game back from the calf injury he sustained in November but Lowe is clearly in excellent nick.
His all-action showing combined athletic power with composed skills as he delivered several game-breaking moments. Farrell is already a big fan of Lowe’s combativeness and there were plenty of signs of his trademark spikiness too. This was big-boy stuff from the hard-working, balanced Irish left wing. Murray Kinsella
Jac Morgan
The Welsh skipper was the only silver lining as the clouds continued to assemble above Warren Gatland’s all-time-awful side. At the Stade de France, Morgan made a whopping 15 carries for a team-leading 83 metres on a night in which Wales were otherwise starved of go-forward ball.
The Ospreys man put his team on his back, and put a few French defenders on theirs too: he completed 21 tackles amid relentless French pressure. He had a spotless game discipline-wise, too, and was unfortunate not to be rewarded on a couple of attempted poaches. Very few Welsh players look like they’ll cut the mustard on a Lions tour but Morgan would complement any Test 23 rather than being a tokenistic pick. Gavan Casey
Dan Sheehan
When Sheehan tore his ACL last July there was every reason to fear for his Lions prospects. It was going to be a difficult road back and we’ve all seen enough ACL injuries to know there was no guarantee of a smooth recovery. What the hooker has done since is simply remarkable. The seven-month turnaround is a feat in itself, but the way Sheehan has come back has been astonishing to watch.
He was sharp for Leinster against the Stormers, but on Saturday he changed the game for Ireland. The pace and power were still there, and his handling was world-class. In 30 minutes, Sheehan put himself in pole position to be the Lions’ starting hooker. Catch him if you can. Ciarán Kennedy
Marcus Smith
While Smith is a shoo-in for squad selection, his attacking display against Ireland furthered his case for starting a Lions Test, not to mind backing up Finn Russell as a 10/15 option off the bench. Smith turns 26 this month and recent evidence would suggest his prime years will yield prime form.
His broad palette of passing and transition attack dissected Ireland at the Aviva during the first half in particular, the Harlequins man identifying and exposing several disconnects in the hosts’ line. While Henry Slade had an excellent game at 12 in his own right, the prospect of Smith playing with either Sione Tuipulotu or Bundee Aki immediately outside him in Australia is enticing. GC
Huw Jones
A Six Nations hat-trick is a good way to catch the eye of the Lions’ coaches. With Sione Tuipulotu sidelined Jones needs to be a leader in the Scotland backline and he did just that against Italy.
The 31-year-old has a razor-sharp attacking edge and ran good support lines for his first two tries, but his third was the pick of the bunch, calmly stepping inside two defenders and showing good strength to score. That’s now 22 tries in 54 caps for Scotland. The battle for those Lions centre spots is going to be tasty, but Jones’ name is right in the mix. CK
Jamison Gibson-Park
Already the clear favourite to wear the Lions’ number nine shirt this summer, Ireland’s scrum-half underlined his claim with a strong showing in their bonus-point opener. There were a couple of misplaced passes early on but Gibson-Park quickly got to the pitch of the game and helped Ireland to shine.
The side-stepping finish for his first-half try was classy as he was rewarded for smart support play, while his decision-making with his passing began to cause real problems for the English defence. Throw in some good kicking and defence and this was a fairly complete performance. MK
Mcllroy is like pogba, brilliant when it doesn’t count but when he needs to be brilliant, crumbles.
@John Norton: yeah, 25 career wins, 4 majors, a real bottler.
@Bob Cummings: I’m talking about Major titles for the talent he has, not mickey mouse wins like Canada. No win since 2014 and hasn’t been in real contention for a win in a long time. He turn it on when out of the running
@John Norton: he won The Players, 3rd in the world, are you sure you’re getting this John?
@Bob Cummings: players isn’t a major ffs Bob
@John Norton: hasn’t been in real contention? He had the most runner up positions on last year’s tour.
@John Norton: Hard to disagree, good point.
@John Norton: Has won more majors and PGA wins than anyone on this Island and he’s just 30! Yeah you’re right. More begrudgery and wishing in misfortune of others on the comments page. God we love to knock in this country. Very sad to read.
@John Norton: nothing Mickey Mouse about a cheque for over a million dollars.
@John Norton: do people here not have a clue about golf. The obsession with Mcilroy so called under performing is mind boggling. Every top golfer in the world can shoot -5 to be followed the next day by +5. I think the begrudgers on here think it’s so easy to win a major yet the long time no.1 in DJ has just one.
Every single golfer in the world’s top 10 bar Koepka, has there for under achieved the last few years. Nobody is dominating golf but Mcilroy is by far the most consistent golfer on the pga tour by far.
@TheHospitalPass: I know, regarded by all as the 5th major.
@John Norton: pogba won a world cup. Few players can claim that
@Bob Cummings:
Better to ignore the Rory-haters.
@John Norton: How dare you insult my adopted country.
Well Done Shane Lowry, you did Ireland proud.
Koepka is on fire so far. Set up for a great final day. Pity its on so late, no way I’d be able for work in the morning if I watched til the end!
@Gareth Keenan: I’m sure Brent would leave you like in! Go have a few lagers with Finchy!
@Jeremiah A Craic: I did. We ended up in Chasers. Had a cider.
McIlroy…BOTTLER
@Desmond Cassidy: spot on.
@Desmond Cassidy: 3rd in the world, 4 majors……..
@Bob Cummings: Luke Donald was world no 1 and never won a major , golfing greats are judged on major wins.
@John Norton: and like he said…4 majors won
@John Norton:
Competition is at its highest now. There are new major winners every year. Not many golfers are gonna dominate the sport like Tiger and Jack and the likes.
@Nollaig Elliot:
True! 2019 Pebble Beach US Open 31 players under par, in 2000 just Tiger, and with his score of -12 he won by 15 shots. Rory McIlroy has done brilliantly with 4 majors so far, and he’s just 30. Jack Nicklaus won his final Major at 46 in 1986. In current very competitive world of golf, it’s highly unlikely that anybody will surpass Jack’s 18 Majors.
@Bob Cummings: in 10 years 4 majors …hmmm
@Rory J Leonard: ok..his lazt @46…at what age was his penultimate ? ;-)
@Desmond Cassidy: I’m sure Rory gives much thought to how you feel about him.
@Desmond Cassidy: you do know that top 10 players in the world have gone a lifetime with zero majors. Monty, Donald, Westwood spring to mind.
fantastic final putt! great way to win it!