How the Lions XV looks after the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations
Rugby NewsSunday, 02 February 2025 at 21:23
The 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour is fast approaching, with the squad set to take on Australia in a three-Test series.
Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
Head coach Andy Farrell will have tough decisions to make, but after an intense opening round of the Six Nations, some players have already put their hands up for selection.
With France, Scotland, and Ireland all securing bonus-point victories in the first round, it’s no surprise that Irish and Scottish players dominate the early Lions XV. Meanwhile, England struggled in Dublin, but a couple of their stars still make the cut.
Six Nations Round One Recap
The weekend kicked off with woeful Wales being brushed aside in Paris, as the returning Antoine Dupont ran the show in a seven-try rout. France underlined their pre-tournament favourite status with a statement win.
Then at Murrayfield, Huw Jones bagged a hat-trick as Scotland held off an impressive Italy comeback to secure victory. The Scots looked sharp in attack, but defensive lapses will be a concern.
Finally, in Dublin, defending champions Ireland had to come from behind to defeat England. Cadan Murley’s debut try helped England to an early lead, but Ireland’s relentless second-half display sealed the win.
Looking Ahead to Round Two
Next weekend is shaping up to be a cracker:
- Wales are desperate to end a record 13-game losing streak when they take on Italy in Rome.
- England host France at Twickenham in a crucial clash, hoping to bounce back from their Dublin defeat.
- Ireland travel to Murrayfield to face Scotland, with both sides eager to maintain their perfect starts.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS WATCH – ROUND 1 XV
1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
3. Zander Fagerson (Scotland)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
6. Tom Curry (England)
7. Rory Darge (Scotland)
8. Caelan Doris (Ireland)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
10. Finn Russell (Scotland)
11. James Lowe (Ireland)
12. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
13. Huw Jones (Scotland)
14. Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
3. Zander Fagerson (Scotland)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
6. Tom Curry (England)
7. Rory Darge (Scotland)
8. Caelan Doris (Ireland)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
10. Finn Russell (Scotland)
11. James Lowe (Ireland)
12. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
13. Huw Jones (Scotland)
14. Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
This lineup could shift as the Six Nations unfolds, but after Round One, these are the standout performers making early claims for Lions selection.
Editors Picks:
- Scotland forward was banned from Twickenham after heated scrap with Owen Farrell
- Finn Russell’s Missus Shuts Down Trolls with Savage Response
- England Rugby stars wife shows off stunning body transformation after losing 26kg
- Four players Wales must drop – and who should replace them
- Finn Russell’s Missus Shuts Down Trolls with Savage Response
Four players England should drop – and who Steve Borthwick should replace them with
For England, it’s a sixth defeat in seven matches under Borthwick and a baptism of fire for Maro Itoje in his first game since replacing Jamie George as captain.
With a crucial clash against France at the Allianz Stadium up next, here are four changes Borthwick must consider.
#1. Freddie Steward
Telegraph 4/10: "His worst nightmare of facing a scrum half in open space recurred as Gibson-Park did him dirty as badly as Grant Williams had. England need more than a safety blanket at full back."
Replacement: George Hendy
#2. Cadan Murley
Planet Rugby 4/10: "Had a great moment early on when he scored a debut try but a bit rabbit in the headlights after that. Made a couple of errors no Test player should ever really make, quite frankly. Murley should be backed next weekend as you can see the talent and potential, but it was a big learning curve in Dublin"
Guardian 5/10: "Quickly snaffled a try on debut, but later invited pressure on teammates twice with a serious lack of composure in defence."
Telegraph 4/10: "After what set to be a dream debut, scoring a try after eight minutes, Ireland turned his life into a nightmare, forcing into some horrible naive errors."
Evening Standard 5/10: "Got off to a flyer on his debut by scoring inside the opening 10 minutes. Had a tough second half, though, and was shaky on kick defence. Did assist Curry’s try."
Replacement: Tom Roebuck
#3. Alex Mitchell
Planet Rugby 5/10: " Kicking was good in the first half and he brought some good tempo to the game, but Mitchell struggled to control the game after the interval."
Telegraph 5/10: "Done all ends up after showing Lowe the outside for Gibson-Park’s try. A few other uncharacteristic errors but then England’s attack stopped functioning when he went off."
The Sun 5/10: "Returning scrum half brought calmness but the missed tackle on Lowe, just as Smith was getting ready to return, was critical."
Replacement: Harry Randall
#4. Ben Earl
Mail Online 5/10: "Dropped restart after England's early opener but one strong ruck clear-out showed his menace. Made way for Saracens team-mate Tom Willis."
Rugby Pass 5/10: "The third openside in the England back row, he was eclipsed by what the Curry twins achieved and gone by the 56th minute. While a show of wheels helped lead to the penalty that got England 10-5 up just before the break, some rearguard work wasn’t up to scratch. For instance, his soft knock-on at the 7-0 restart. There were also too many missed tackles."
Replacement: Tom Willis
PREDICTOR GAME:
You’ll have to be red-hot to get 15/15 in this 2010s Six Nations quiz
The Six Nations Championship, Europe’s premier rugby tournament, has delivered unforgettable moments and showcased some of the game’s greatest players.
From stunning tries to epic battles, the 2010s were packed with rugby brilliance.
Can you name the players who lit up the tournament during this golden decade? You’ll need to be on top form to get 15/15—are you up for the challenge? Let’s kick off!
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