"Bolter" - Henry Pollock named in the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad
Rugby NewsMonday, 05 May 2025 at 07:42
With Andy Farrell set to reveal his British & Irish Lions squad this Friday for the 2025 tour of Australia,
Telegraph columnist and former England hooker Brian Moore has unveiled his final prediction — and there are some significant shifts in his thinking.
Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
Since publishing his post-Six Nations selection, Moore has made eight changes to his 36-man squad, including a new wildcard, the return of key back-row names, and a change at fly-half. Caelan Doris remains his captain, and the Irish-English axis continues to dominate.
What’s changed since the Six Nations?
Moore’s updated squad reflects both form and fitness — and a few surprises:
✅ IN:
- Scott Cummings (lock)
- Jack Willis, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan (back row)
- Fin Smith (fly-half)
- Robbie Henshaw (centre)
- Tommy Freeman, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (back three – Feyi-Waboso as the new wildcard)
❌ OUT:
- Iain Henderson, Grant Gilchrist (locks)
- Tommy Reffell, Matt Fagerson (back row)
- Sam Prendergast (fly-half)
- Huw Jones, Mack Hansen (backs)
Finn Russell: Locked in as Test 10?
Moore still backs Finn Russell as his Test fly-half. The Bath playmaker is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, and Moore believes his “consistently good club form” is enough to lead the Lions attack. That’s despite Scotland’s Six Nations slump.
Farrell out, Fin Smith in
Owen Farrell’s omission remains stark. Moore argues the former England skipper has “not done enough to demand selection,” especially after an underwhelming stint at Racing 92 and a recent head knock that ruled him out of a Challenge Cup semi-final.
In his place, Moore now brings in Fin Smith, who guided Northampton to a famous away win at Leinster last week. Moore notes that Smith’s composure and form could be “favoured if a 5:3 bench split is used.”
Sam Prendergast dropped — Marcus Smith holds on
After a Six Nations squad nod, Prendergast was seen as a potential bolter. But Moore has now cooled on the Leinster youngster, pointing to defensive frailties and a lack of standout club performances since.
Marcus Smith, though, retains his spot thanks to his versatility. If Farrell goes with a 6:2 split, Moore says Smith is the ideal bench option: “He has proved he can play at 10 and 15 at international level.”
A shake-up in the back row
The biggest changes come in the back row. Jack Willis returns from injury and claims the wildcard tag from Feyi-Waboso, while Tom Curry and Jac Morgan are recalled. Out go Tommy Reffell and Matt Fagerson, despite strong Six Nations form.
Moore defends the changes by suggesting that big-game pedigree and adaptability may have won out. His inclusion of six back-rowers suggests he expects physical, attritional battles in Australia.
Centre debate: Henshaw in, Jones out
Robbie Henshaw is back, replacing Huw Jones, who had featured in Moore’s post-Six Nations 36. The Irishman’s defensive reliability and versatility across 12 and 13 likely swayed Moore’s call — especially if Farrell wants a balance between flair and structure.
Feyi-Waboso’s rise continues
The new wildcard is Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, whose form for Exeter and England has made him one of the fastest-rising stars in British rugby. Moore admits he’s a bolter — but one who “has real momentum.”
Out goes Mack Hansen, with Moore perhaps concerned about the Connacht winger’s injuries and inconsistent 2024 form.
Pollock bolter
Moore stated: "Henry Pollock’s recent form has led to him being a ‘bolter.’ For me, the whole issue of ‘bolters’ is mystifying, although I accept it is a ubiquitous obsession."
Brian Moore’s final 36-man Lions squad (May update)
Props (7): Andrew Porter, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Will Stuart, Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Finlay Bealham
Hookers (3): Dan Sheehan, Jamie George, Dewi Lake
Second Rows (5): Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings
Back Rows (6): Jack Willis, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, Ben Earl
Scrum-halves (3): Jamison Gibson-Park, Tomos Williams, Alex Mitchell
Fly-halves (3): Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith
Centres (4): Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw
Back Three (5): James Lowe, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan
Wildcard (2): Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Pollock
Hookers (3): Dan Sheehan, Jamie George, Dewi Lake
Second Rows (5): Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings
Back Rows (6): Jack Willis, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, Ben Earl
Scrum-halves (3): Jamison Gibson-Park, Tomos Williams, Alex Mitchell
Fly-halves (3): Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith
Centres (4): Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw
Back Three (5): James Lowe, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan
Wildcard (2): Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Pollock
5 Players who flopped in their final Lions audition
With the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals serving as the last big shop window before Andy Farrell starts sketching out his British & Irish Lions depth chart, a few hopefuls picked the worst possible time to go missing in action. Here are five contenders who flopped when it mattered most…
Sam Prendergast (Leinster/Ireland) – Lamb to the slaughter
Hailed by many as the next big thing in Irish rugby, Prendergast’s audition for Gatland turned into a horror show. Within eight minutes, he’d been caught napping for a turnover and then served up a gift-wrapped try for Northampton with a poor kick.
The Saints back row swarmed him all game, and while he did land a beauty of a pass to send Tommy O’Brien over, he was then embarrassingly burned on the outside by teenager Henry Pollock. Missed vital kicks too — including one that could’ve tied the game in the dying minutes. Harsh lesson on the big stage.
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/Ireland) – Mr. Reliable unravels
Normally so dependable at the back, Keenan chose the worst time to have a rare off-day. While he showed flashes going forward, it was his defence that let him down.
His fumble under a high ball handed Tommy Freeman a third try on a silver platter. For a man pencilled in for a Lions shirt, this was an uncharacteristic — and untimely — dip.
Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Ireland) – Big man, big letdown
The hype train around McCarthy has been building all season, but he failed to get out of first gear here.
He lacked his usual bite in the contact area and was far too passive in defence, slipping off tackles and looking off the pace. If he wanted to throw his name into the Lions mix, this did the opposite.
Darcy Graham (Edinburgh/Scotland) – Starved and stifled
Always electric, always dangerous — but this just wasn’t his day. Graham was constantly hunting for work but saw precious little quality ball.
His defensive work was solid, notably a try-saving tackle on Will Muir, but this was billed as a chance to dazzle. Sadly, he never got the chance to ignite.
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh/Scotland) – Fire without the fury
No shortage of aggression from the Edinburgh skipper — he was in the thick of multiple scraps, including a meaty confrontation with Sam Underhill.
But fire alone won’t get you a Lions jersey. Ritchie couldn’t influence the breakdown battle and never truly stamped his authority on the contest. For someone once seen as a frontrunner, his stock is sliding.
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