Starting the three tests of the British and Irish lions tour in 2021, the semi-fly was one of the most proud moments of my career.
The red shirt n ° 10 is delivered with a serious pressure and a significant weight of the story. Fortunately, I was used to that because it was the same with Wales!
Being Lions Fly-Half is also an incredible achievement and opportunity. This is what Finn Russell, late Smith and Marcus Smith can look forward to Australia this summer.
You are the team’s playmaker and the chief orchestrator. It is very shortly on a visit to the lions to prepare, so you have to put yourself at speed very quickly. It may seem difficult, but you play with the best of the best, so it is possible to gelify quickly.
What is different in this tour is that the team is a little younger than during previous trips, and this applies to half the fly.
In 2017, I went to New Zealand alongside Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell; Russell was a late call. I mainly kept tackle bags and drunk beer while having a few rounds in the games in the middle of the week!
Finn Russell is in pole position to be the British & Irish Lions Test Fly -Half – An incredible achievement. Red shirt no 10 is delivered with a serious pressure and a history weight
Marcus Smith is a race threat and was rightly selected after a few difficult months
End Smith is not as flash as Russell, but he manipulates the defenses with his death
Four years later, it was different with Johnny left out and I alongside Owen and Finn. All these guys have been experienced, which is important. And that is why I think Finn Russell is in pole position to be the half-forth of the test. It is a little ahead of the two Smiths in terms of international know-how and although it is not all about it, I would be surprised if he had not started the Australian series.
Russell is an exceptional actor. He was there and did it and played regularly against the big teams. Its shape was also good. Maybe he plunged a little into the six nations with Scotland, but he was excellent for Bath.
End is not a million kilometers from Finn in terms of style. He is not as flash, but he manipulates the defenses with his death. This is why I think that Andy Farrell did not choose Sam Prendergast. If he had left for Prendergast alongside Finn and end, I think the trio of half of the fly would have been too similar.
Marcus brings something completely different. There is a threat in progress and can walk and beat people in attack. I’m really happy that he was selected after a few difficult months. The fact that he can play in the full back is also another string at his bow.
Obviously, the fact that the end preceded Prendergast during the victory of the Northampton Champions Cup against Leinster played a role in the selection. End is a much better defender than Prendergast. It is an area of the game on which the Irishman needs to leave and work.
Under Farrell, the lions take the Irish road in terms of style of play. The approach of Ireland is very well defined with attackers’ pods in fixed positions. Everyone by their side knows where to be at any time.
With 15 Irish players, the Lions must continue on this path. It is important that they do it because as a coach, you have to play a style to which you believe. In 2017, Wales players knew what to expect because Warren Gatland and Rob Howley were in charge.
In 2021, it was different because Gregor Townsend led the attack and wanted a very Scottish style which was obviously new for me. I am sure that Farrell will sit very quickly with his three no 10 to clearly indicate what he wants. For example, Finn’s enormous force is his death. But it is not always as linked to each attacker’s pod as someone like Prendergast.
Instead, he clings a little and is looking for his moment to strike and pass the killer. It may be something on which he will have to work with Farrell because it is so important to have a structured form of attack.
Andy Farrell will sit very quickly with his three no 10 to clearly indicate what he wants
Russell is looking for his moment to hit and pass the killer but Farrell prefers a structure
It would not be a surprise if Smith contributes hard for a test point or even exceeds Russell
Finn is not as structured and Marcus is even further from that. He likes to play completely with the cuff. I think Farrell will like what the end brings. You have seen with Northampton how much fine is to withdraw the opposition defenders.
With Farrell and the assistant Andrew Goodman leading an Irish -based attack system, the Englishman Richard Wigglesworth can provide a good balance.
He will say it to the three braids with fly, as well as Jamison Gibson-Park, Alex Mitchell and Tomos Williams as the No 9, the best options to adopt a third of the land.
Overall, I like the team’s makeup. With what he has at his disposal in the back line, Russell has players who want the ball in their hands early. It will suit him. It is also an additional bonus that he plays with Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones – which will probably be the center of the center – with Scotland.
Things always change during a lions tour. Injuries occur.
End had a remarkable season, so that would really not surprise me if it is in a hard competition for a test place or even exceeds Russell at a given time in the tour.
For someone who is only 22 years old, End has played in many big games over a short period. I’m sure it will be an excellent asset for Lions, just like all players.
This is a team that should beat Australia 2-1.
