We are now more than halfway through the tournament which will help decide the bulk of the British and Irish Lions touring party.
With all the home nations facing off against each other, it was the perfect Six Nations weekend to stake a claim. Ireland overcame Wales in Cardiff and England squeezed past Scotland at Allianz Stadium.
TodayPriceNG’s Rugby Union Weekly pundits have had their say on who Lions head coach Andy Farrell will be keeping his eye on.
Former Lions captain Sam Warburton also gives his thoughts on who should be the squad’s captain.
Pick your Lions XV in the comments section below.
Fly-halves
The Calcutta Cup – a fixture Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has lit up in recent years – was seen as a perfect opportunity for the two-time Lion to restate his credentials as the starting fly-half.
Russell, especially in the opening half, looked back to his old self as he helped pick apart England’s defence with his wide passing game.
However, Gregor Townsend’s side failed to capitalise on their dominance and came up short 16-15, with Russell missing all three kicks he had at goal – including a last-gasp match-winning conversion from the corner.
Despite kicking at 38% in this year’s Six Nations, former Scotland captain John Barclay is not concerned and still backs 32-year-old Russell to start.
“I still think Finn Russell [is in pole position],” Barclay told Rugby Union Weekly.
“I am not bothered about his kicking. His kicking last year and across the season for Bath has been great. He is a good kicker.
“It was the best he has played in the championship. Look at how he got Scotland’s backline moving with his passing game. And his kicking game was good too.”
England fly-half Fin Smith backed up his player-of-the-match performance in round two against Scotland with another assured display.
The Northampton Saint is 10 years younger than Russell and stepped up to kick a pressure penalty from halfway to continue his bid for a spot as one of Farrell’s fly-halves.
Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast, who recently turned 22, is the least experienced contender and won only his sixth cap in Cardiff.
Ireland remains on course for a Grand Slam after Prendergast, who kicked 17 points, helped guide them through a tricky spell when Garry Ringrose was given a 20-minute red card in the 34th minute.
A particular standout moment came when he spiraled a 50-22 over the head of Wales full-back Blair Murray. The execution was “utter filth”, according to Barclay.
Having backed up his player-of-the-match performance against Scotland, Warburton believes Prendergast has edged into the top spot.
“Without putting too much pressure on him, I see a world-class top-level 10,” Warburton told Rugby Union Weekly.
“You just watch him play and you think ‘he is Test level’. There are still imperfections, but what he is displaying at 22, with how calm and composed he is, is that level.”
Utility backs
Versatility is vital on Lions tours as players often need to play a midweek game a few days after a weekend match.
That could help Marcus Smith, who for the second match in a row helped England to narrow wins from full-back.
The Harlequin started all England’s November Tests at fly-half and despite three defeats was a constant bright spark.
However, a missed tackle on Duhan van der Merwe resulted in Scotland’s second try to put questions over his physicality in defence.
Fin Smith’s form may have hit his chances of a starting spot at fly-half, but Marcus Smith’s ability to cover two positions could give him the edge over an out-and-out 10 if he can hit top form against Italy and Wales.
Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn, who featured at 10 regularly for his former club Edinburgh, scored a hat-trick against Italy from fly-half in the 2023 Six Nations, but now plays across the back three for Toulouse.
The 28-year-old’s passing lacked precision in the first half against England, with a forced one-handed pass hitting wing Kyle Rowe in the face.
“Kinghorn has played himself out of my team,” Warburton said. “He still goes on tour because he is versatile. I will go for Hugo Keenan as someone who is just really safe at the back.”
England wing Tommy Freeman has scored a try in all three rounds this campaign, and showed his power to crash over against Scotland from close range.
Former England wing Ugo Monye believes he is a “dark horse” to go on tour, with his ability to play centre also enhancing his chances.
“I am not sure why he is not in many Lions conversations. His error count is so low and aerially he is so brilliant,” Monye told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly.
“He scored England’s only try against Scotland, and changed the game against France with his aerial game to get above Louis Bielle-Biarrey [for his try].”
Captain – Doris, Itoje or Morgan?
England captain Maro Itoje led from the front by producing crucial turnovers to help his side win back the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020.
The 30-year-old second row took over as skipper from Jamie George before the Six Nations and is a two-time Lion with six appearances in Tests.
Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson told Rugby Union Weekly that Itoje, who in 2021 was voted by his team-mates as player of the series in South Africa, has “some super-human tendencies” which could make him a Lions captain.
“All of a sudden it feels like he has become the player we all thought he was going to be when he has got the armband on,” Dawson added.
Number eight Caelan Doris missed his side’s win over Wales because of injury, but given Farrell made him Ireland captain in 2024 is in a strong position.
Warburton says any of Doris, Itoje or Wales captain Jac Morgan would make a strong Lions captain, but is leaning towards Itoje.
“Doris is definitely captaincy-worthy but the number one criteria for your captain has got to be that he is a banker to start, and I think there are some really good number eights,” Warburton added.
“On form, who is inked in and who has worked with Farrell on Lions tours before? There is a relationship there which is important – that is why Maro is edging it for me.”
