Andy Farrell is set to select the Lions squad for their 2023 tour of Australia, with many players plying their trade in France vying for a spot. Blair Kinghorn's strong performances for Toulouse could see him selected at full-back, ahead of Hugo Keenan.
The first thing to remember is that selection is purely down to the head coach, Andy Farrell - he is not under any pressure to fill quotas or anything of the sort. The second is he was watching Ireland beat Australia in November - but it needed a converted try seven minutes from time overhauling a four-point deficit. Farrell will also be spending time in France looking at those who are eligible for the Tour.
Unlike England and Ireland who won’t pick foreign-based players for the national side, the Lions have no such barrier. Blair Kinghorn, Jack Willis (Toulouse), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Kyle Sinckler, Dave Ribbans, Lewis Ludlum, Dan Biggar, Ben White and soon-to-arrive Zach Mercer (Toulon) are at top three clubs in the Top 14. Others such as Jack Nowell (La Rochelle), Harry Williams, Sam Simmonds, Stuart Hogg (Montpellier), Owen Farrell, Henry Arundel (Racing 92) and Joe Marchant (Stade Francais) might catch the eye. There is still a fair way to go the opening Lions game, against Argentina in Dublin on June 20, but the big conversation is the XV to face Australia in the First Test in Brisbane on July 19. At full-back, BLAIR KINGHORN, based at Toulouse, may well be playing for the back-to-back European and Top 14 champions which will mean he has had the better of Hugo Keenan at club level — again. Keenan would be as good a full-back as the Lions have ever had and indeed, may be just pure unlucky here, while England supporters will be talking up Tommy Furbank, albeit the Northampton player is not as good under a dropping ball as either Kinghorn or Keenan
LIONS TOURING AUSTRALIA FRANCE SELECTION
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