Rugby World Cup winner Lewis Moody today named his starting line-up for the first British & Irish Lions Test against Australia – and there’s plenty to get emotional about.
Unsurprisingly, a key area of focus for the 46-year-old former flanker, capped 71 times for England and three times for the Lions, is the back row.
Ben Earl at no.8 – speed and power
“Tom Curry was such a menace in the Six Nations. Jackalling, tackling, carrying – he’s the real deal so he has to start at open side,” said Moody.
“I’m picking Caelan Doris, the Irish skipper, but not at no.8 where he plays for Ireland and Leinster. He’s at 6, blindside flanker. Oh, and he’s also captain. He’s a great leader.
Caelan Doris is my skipper – not Maro
“Maro [Itoje] is phenomenal, and I know he’s most people’s pick for skipper, but for me it’s Doris.
“And the reason Doris isn’t at no.8 is because I want Ben Earl, the speed and power machine, at no.8. He’s been sensational there. He brings something really different to other eights.”
While there are four Englishmen in the pack, there is only one in the backs, Tommy Freeman, on the wing, and a more than capable centre should the need arise.
No Wales players – I wish them well with their rebuild
There are no Welsh players picked for Moody’s starting Lions XV to face Australia at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday July 19.
Despite Wales’s dire performance in the Six Nations, wooden spoonists for a second year on the bounce, others have given Dewi Lake a berth at hooker and Gareth Davies at scrumhalf.
Moody said: “There are better options for those positions from other nations, and we can’t go down the road of token picks just so we avoid not having any Wales players. If they’re good enough, they get selected, but right now Wales are in a bad place and I wish them well rebuilding.”
Lewis Moody’s starting British & Irish Lions XV for the first Australia Test:
- Ellis Genge (Eng)
- David Cherry (Sco)
- Tadhg Furlong (Ire)
- Maro Itoje (Eng)
- Joe McCarthy (Ire)
- Caelan Doris (Ire) – captain
- Tom Curry (Eng)
- Ben Earl (Eng)
- Jamison Gibson-Park (Ire)
- Finn Russell (Sco)
- Duhan van der Merwe (Sco)
- Bundee Aki (Ire)
- Huw Jones (Sco)
- Tommy Freeman (Eng)
- Blair Kinghorn (Sco)
