The reasons why Ian McGeechan wants nine Ireland players starting for the British and Irish Lions against the Wallabies
Ian McGeechan has backed Tadhg Furlong to start in the Lions' Test side
Former British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan has named his preferred first Test XV, including nine Ireland players to start versus the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.
McGeechan, who coached the Lions to Test series successes in 1989 and 1997 having twice toured as a player, chose five Irish backs and four Irish forwards in a team that also comprises four England players and one each from Wales and Scotland.
Much of the selection speculation about who will make Andy Farrell’s Test team has focused on tighthead, back row, midfield and full-back, and McGeechan has heavily favoured Ireland players in these areas.
Working on Sky Sports as a pundit on the 2025 tour, he was asked after Wednesday’s 36-24 win over the Brumbies to name the team he believes should tackle Australia in the series opener in 10 days.
“There is a physicality there and there is a power…”
Happy that he isn’t on social media and would avoid directly receiving any online flak for his selection preferences, McGeechan plumped for Tadhg Furlong at tighthead, a back row made up of Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan and Jack Conan, an all-Irish midfield of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose, and Hugo Keenan at full-back.
McGeechan said about his pack: “There is a physicality there and there is a power. McCarthy is playing well, and you have got good ball carriers.
“We have talked about Dan Sheehan, but you are then looking at McCarthy, Itoje, Chessum, Conan, Genge, they will all carry ball if it’s right. If they can stay on their feet, taking contact and keeping the move going forward, then it causes problems.
“We have talked about a big six just because it is extra pressure on the Australian lineout. Make life as difficult as possible in the set-piece in Test one.”
Switching to his backs, McGeechan said Wednesday’s curtailed 25-minute appearance from the injured Blair Kinghorn was a factor in why he chose Keenan to start for the Lions in the Test series opener on Saturday week.
“Hugo Keenan needs a good game on Saturday (against the AUNZ XV in Adelaide), but you are bringing him in, he has got the experience and obviously he fits in. You are looking at the Irish, you have got a continuity through the backline of decision making, support lines.
“I thought Ringrose played well today, and Aki is carrying ball over the gainline, particularly first phase. That coordination, midfield with back three, will be favoured with Keenan and Lowe in the back. They will read it, they’ll come off line, and they will be wrong side of the pitch as it were.
“The back three are likely to be found on the same side of the pitch sometimes, which causes problems, all-in-play.
“And I think when you look at Freeman, he is good on the high ball as well, which is another key element that I think Australia will target. Early on, there will be a kicking game where the Lions will be challenged under the high ball.”
Ian McGeechan’s preferred Lions first Test XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Tadgh Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ellis Genge
