After weeks of speculation, debate and intrigue on the choice of lions’ game leaders, there was still a dramatic turn here Thursday – Marcus Smith chose, but the door left Owen Farrell.
On the two Smiths of England for having carried 10 this season, the end was considered a certainty for the tour of Australia and perhaps even the new favorite on the test side, but the apparent free fall of Marcus meant that his inclusion was in a major doubt.
He cut the cut as a half-time that can cover the full back, which raised him above his veteran compatriot George Ford and the prodigy of Ireland Sam Prendergast.
At his nominal value, he also preceded Farrell Jnr, but he quickly became obvious that the former captain of England could still find himself. If he finds a complete physical form and a momentum at the end of the season with Racing 92, he can still win a call from his father, the head coach of Lions Andy.
What a boost, and perhaps even a shock, Thursday’s announcement had to be for Marcus Smith, following such a turbulent period for the 26-year-old.
Last fall, he was still the boy with blue eyes of the Twickenham hordes, even by weaving his magic in a series of losing causes. But in 2025, he was usurped at the end of Smith, went from 10 to 15 on the bench and at 15, before fighting to get out of the Harlequins of a border after six nations.
Marcus Smith fought in a turbulent period, so his lions call a huge boost
Smith is versatile and can provide magic from nowhere, clearly a precious goods
But it is nevertheless chosen, and Farrell said: “With Marcus – when you are a player who he is thought of in a few different positions, you sometimes think:” S ***, I want a position and be a starter “, because he (utility value) probably makes you a very good bench player. But when it comes to a tour like this, these are people who can slip into different positions.
Marcus does not compete with Sam Prendergast or George Ford or anyone, because he can play 10/15, 15/10. These guys would compete with end and Finn (Russell) – two real braids of flies, who play a fantastic brand of rugby.
Farrell quickly thanked that Marcus Smith has factor X to revive quickly when he was part of the Lions team, despite his tests and tribulations.
“I think we have all seen this,” he added. “He savor the opportunity and there is no bigger than a lions tour.”
Its selection is explained, in part, by the fact that Blair Kinghorn in Scotland – favorite to start in the back in the test series – is part of many lions who try to recover from an injury. Not only that, if Kinghorn resumes full shape, he is likely to join the late tour due to commitments with Toulouse, which is on the right track to reach the League final again.
George Furbank is another on the list of victims and the Lions need coverage at 15 years old.
As for Owen Farrell, his absence seemed to be a reasonable reflection of his disturbed injury season and the fact that at 33 years old, he has not played test rugby for more than 18 months. However, it appeared later that he was not out of race.
“He was in the conversation, of course – an experienced player like this one who makes his fourth tour,” said his father. “You cover all the bases, with the qualities of leadership and all this.
Owen Farrell did not have a coherent race and does not have proof of physical form as far as
Maro Itoje was the only candidate for captain once Caelan Doris suffered a shoulder injury
“But we have reached a point where, like a few others, we feel that Owen always tries to find his path a little in physical form. There are 38 picked, which leaves some slots for us on the track if and if necessary. Owen, like a few other guys, would be in this type of support.
“Obviously, I know where he is and what he builds and everything enters the mixture.” He came as if seats on the plane were detained for a M. O Farrell and another.
If the selection of Marcus Smith as one of the three 10 was a surprise, the coronation of Maro Itoje as captain was anything but.
He was the only candidate once the skipper of Ireland Caelan Doris suffered this cruel injury to the shoulder last weekend. Itoje will have to show the type of type of apparent state type when he approached a rally – including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – at 10 Downing Street on St George day last month.
When asked if this experience could help him with his speeches below, Itoje said: “I guess yes. All these things help in this regard. Communication is vital. It will be a large part of my role.
Itoje explained how important communication will be, after meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a reception for Saint-George last month
Pressed on his interaction with Mr. Starmer, Itoje added: “It was very brief, as you can imagine. The Prime Minister is a fairly busy man, but he was very grateful to be there and he appreciated the jokes I was doing! It was a very cool experience.
The king of the lion will marry Mimi Fall before leaving for Australia, then will have a ceremony in Nigeria after the tour. He had explanations to do when he attended the wedding of Brother Jeremy this week, because the Saracens teammates did not believe that people got married on Monday.
“I almost had to show video evidence, so they believe that it was not something to do with the Lions!” He said. “At that time, I hadn’t heard anything.
He heard the next day and, when he was presented at 2,000 fans here, his arrival was almost as well received as the selection of Henry Pollock, which dropped the house.
