Lions - Six Nations 2025 Auditions

[Smurfy]

Yeah, Darge carries that Scotland backrow. It's very balanced and fluid which let's them perform but with a ceiling. I wouldn't be crazy about Dempsey or Fagerson.

England are / have been kind of the opposite. Backrow talent for days but have not found much in the way of balance over the last year.

If seven backrows travel, I expect Doris, VdF, Conan, T Curry, Darge and then probably English and Welsh options battling to make the numbers up.

In the absence of an outstanding six I could see Beirne being used there, in which case case Chessum, Martin, Ryan and McCarthy would probably be fighting it out for a second row spot alongside Itoje. I also think Morgan has been outstanding and will travel, especially as it is inconceivable that the Lions will travel without a Welsh player, and there aren't a lot of other outstanding Welsh candidates putting their hands up.