Lawrence Dallaglio: It's McCarthy v Beirne to partner Itoje in Lions Test side
Lawrence Dallaglio predicts a shoot-out between Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy to partner Maro Itoje in the Lions' engine room for the first Test against Australia.
But former World Cup winner Dallaglio believes Beirne's versatility will be an asset to Andy Farrell - and that the Munster skipper could pop up in the back row too.
After Beirne started alongside Lions captain Itoje for their tour opener in Dublin against Argentina, McCarthy will get his first chance to shine in the second row in Saturday's first game on Australian soil against Western Force in Perth.
But Beirne starts as the blindside flanker in a back row that also includes Ireland colleague Josh van der Flier and England's young No.8, Henry Pollock.
Dallaglio, who went on three Lions tours between 1997 and 2005, speculates that there will be "one or two surprises" in Farrell's first Test line-up.
"Hopefully all the players get the opportunity to push themselves forward," said the former World Cup winner with England. "I can sit here and say that Joe McCarthy might be a good foil for Itoje but, equally, it depends on how the back row play.
"If Andy Farrell decides to have a shorter back row than normal, then he might have to over-rely on the second row for the lineout.
"Tadhg Beirne could easily play in the second row alongside Itoje. I could make a strong case for telling you that he's a player that they would do well to leave out, so there's a number of different combinations for him."
The opening loss to Argentina was a blow to morale but Dallaglio insists that the only thing that matters is that the Test series is won by the Lions. "I think people have to remember that and keep that at the front of their minds when they think about selection," he told Betway.
"It's certainly the first time I can remember the Lions going down to Australia as favourites. Certainly, in the three series I played in, we were never at any stage regarded as favourites to win the Test series.
"Given where Australian rugby was maybe two years ago, the Lions are expected to win the series - certainly by a lot of people who maybe don't follow rugby union that closely.
"But anyone who is a big fan of the game would know how much Australia have improved over the last 18 months - certainly more recently under Joe Schmidt with various changes they've made.
"It won't be as straightforward or as easy as anyone thinks - when you play a team in any sport in their own country, it's always going to be tough.
"Do I expect the Lions to win? The answer is yes on paper, but will it be a straightforward win? The answer is no, and it never is. I would take any kind of win against Australia, especially away from home.
"The job of the coach, the job of a group is to come back as winning British and Irish Lions - this great team had not managed to win a Test series for 12 years so it is a responsibility. The onus is on this group of players to try and change that and to come back from Australia as winning Lions."
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