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Lions team: Russell fly-half, Itoje captain & Murray at 15?

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Published in Rugby
Monday, 17 March 2025 23:27

Former Scotland captain Barclay has selected a team including five Englishmen, five Scotsmen, four Irishmen and one Welshman.

In total, he has made seven alterations from the side he picked after round one.

England's dominance in the set-piece has resulted in props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart replacing Ireland's Andrew Porter and Scotland's Zander Fagerson, the latter missing out despite making the fourth-highest number of carries (57) in the tournament.

"The main change is Stuart and Genge," said Barclay.

"[England produced] The best scrummaging performance throughout the championship. Stuart has such a low penalty count and gets through so much good work, and it's the same for Genge - the nuts and bolts of his game are superb."

The engine room in the second row remains the same, with Barclay suggesting England captain Maro Itoje is a Lions skipper in waiting.

In the back row, Barclay has named Jac Morgan in his side despite Wales' run of 17 consecutive defeats and a second Wooden Spoon in as many years.

Morgan made a tournament high 88 tackles, while only Itoje arrived at more rucks on both sides of the ball.

The Welshman replaces Scotland's Rory Darge, who made more cleanouts than any other player (45) but Barclay says Morgan could reach greater heights in the Lions set-up.

"I had Rory Darge in the back row but I think he has fallen off slightly. Jac Morgan has played in a Wales side that is struggling, but he has stood out. Imagine him with the quality of [Lions] players and that coaching structure around him."

In the backs, Barclay selected five Scotsmen, including Finn Russell at fly-half.

Centre Sione Tuipulotu was ruled out of the tournament with a pectoral injury but Barclay has opted for his countryman, who is expected to return before the end of the season, while England's Ollie Lawrence has dropped out of contention after suffering an unfortunate Achilles rupture.

Barclay has picked Tuipulotu at inside centre, outside Russell and inside Huw Jones in an all-Scottish midfield, with Blair Kinghorn selected at full-back and Duhan van der Merwe on the wing.

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