Jones & Kinghorn picked in Six Nations team of the championship
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Telegraph
05-08-2025
- Telegraph
Here is what the 2029 Lions team will look like
I was tasked with picking a British and Irish Lions team to take on New Zealand in 2029. And so giving myself the criteria of selecting the players currently under 30 who would be in pole position, this is the 15 who could topple the All Blacks. 15. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) We have not yet seen the best of Kinghorn – although, after a few errors against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, the Scot was strong off the bench in the second Test and started the third after a delayed start to his tour. A year younger than Hugo Keenan, Kinghorn has the potential to go from strength to strength in the coming years. Playing club rugby at Toulouse always helps, too. 14. Tommy Freeman (England) There is no reason why Freeman, ever-present in the 2025 Tests, will not end up on the right wing once again in 2029. Quick, strong and aerially astute, he kept his place in the side on the back of his strong showings in the warm-ups rather than excelling in the Tests. But it shows how much credit he had in the bank that Andy Farrell stuck with him. One of the first names on the England teamsheet in an area of real strength. 13. Ollie Lawrence (England) There is every chance that Jamie Osborne could feature in the midfield, but alongside Tom Jordan and Sam Prendergast the back line would need some ballast; an out-and-out running threat. Lawrence's chances of touring in 2025 were cruelly ended by an Achilles injury suffered on England duty in the Six Nations, at a time when he had established himself as his country's premier centre. Aged just 25, there is no reason why that could not continue for another four years. 12. Tom Jordan (Scotland) In another world, Jordan may well have been a Lion in 2025. Not just with the early injury to Elliot Daly – Jordan's ability to cover 10,12 and 15 made him a prime candidate as replacement – but the Scot must have been in with a shot at making the original squad given his versatility and general excellence. Ahead of a move to Bristol – if he can nail down a starting spot with Scotland, which will be easier said than done – he can have every hope of touring the land of his birth in 2029. 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England) As with Jordan, in another world Feyi-Waboso could have been a Lion this summer. Had injury not put a premature end to his season – he returned in June only to be sent off and banned in England's uncapped match against France – then he would have been right in the selection picture given his strike-running threat and willingness to hit things very hard on both sides of the ball. Maybe, given the signs of rustiness on his June return, he will be better for not going. 10. Sam Prendergast (Ireland) Prendergast was chucked in at the deep end for last year's Six Nations. It showed he has some maturing and growing to do – both mentally and physically – but the talent and potential is palpable. Should he bulk up a touch then there is no reason why he could not tour with the Lions in four years' time. Were he in the frame for the 2025 tour, it might well have been for the benefit of his future development that he did not feature. 9. Alex Mitchell (England) Although Mitchell featured in every match-day 23 of the 2025 tour, it would be fair to say that he never really grasped the nettle. Jamison Gibson-Park always looked like the Test starter and, before his injury, Tomos Williams looked as if he had the bench spot sewn up, too. Ben White also finished the tour in great form but after another four years of experience Mitchell will surely fancy his chances of achieving something he could not this year: a Test start. 1. Andrew Porter (Ireland) A year younger than Ellis Genge, Porter gets the nod at loosehead. England are starting to unearth some fabulous props who could well end up usurping the Irishman – who, admittedly, struggled in the final Test – but Porter has the jersey and so is a sensible choice for 2029. Although the likes of Fin Baxter and Genge might have something to say about that. 2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland) The easiest pick of the lot. One of the Lions' outstanding contributors on the 2025 tour who played as well as anyone in the travelling party. Sheehan captained the Lions in an early tour match and, depending on the form and fitness of club-and-country-mate Caelan Doris, he would surely be a candidate to lead more regularly in 2025. One of the world's outstanding hookers and comfortably the best among the home nations. 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (England) Given his development this season, this could quite easily read Joe Heyes but the frightening thing about Opoku-Fordjour is that he is still just 21 years old. And he plays both sides of the scrum, which is a massive bonus on tour. There are high hopes for Thomas Clarkson, too, after his cameo on the 2025 tour. 4. Joe McCarthy (Ireland) Completely deserving of another run after impressing this summer. No one would have said that his inclusion was a surprise pre-tour, even if he was susceptible to the odd brain-fade. But the way that he took hold of one of the starting Test jerseys in the second row from his first appearance on tour was commanding and somewhat unexpected. He could easily do the same in four years' time. Maro Itoje could well be there again, too, but misses out on this selection because of age. 5. George Martin (England) Had injury not severely disrupted the end of Martin's season, he would have been a shoo-in for the Australia tour. As it was, his last appearance for club or country came in February. If he can get fit and stay fit then his ballast and muscle would offer so much where the Lions currently lack. The tourists (just about) got away with it against Australia, but against better opposition, who knows? 6. Ollie Chessum (England) With such a heavyweight second row, there would be a real need for a line-out-jumping six. Chessum did his chances of touring in 2029 no harm at all this year, featuring off the bench in two Tests and starting in one. Over the coming years, it looks as though he will become a central part of plans for both club and country, and might even develop into a central leadership figure, too. 7. Tom Curry (England) It is amazing when you think he is only 27 – by the time of the next tour he will be 31. There were eyebrows raised when he was selected in the Test team for 2025 but Andy Farrell was clearly aware of his value and his selections were fully vindicated. Expect Jac Morgan to still be knocking on the door, too. 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland) The forgotten man of this year's Lions tour and, goodness, how they missed him. Injury this year robbed him of representation, but he may well have been captain – who knows – and we can say with certainty that he would have started at No 8. Do not forget, like Curry, he is only 27. It is worth noting, too, that Ben Earl is the same age.
The Guardian
01-08-2025
- The Guardian
Tommy Freeman hands Lions major injury scare on eve of third Australia Test
Tommy Freeman has handed the British & Irish Lions a major injury doubt before their third Test against Australia. The 24-year-old winger, who has started the first two Tests, sat out the captain's run on Friday and it is understood he is struggling with a back injury. The Lions are targeting a first clean sweep since 1927 and a first unbeaten series since 1974. On Friday the Lions were adamant that Freeman would be fit to play in Sydney, claiming his absence was down to his workload being managed. It is understood, however, that contingency plans have been drawn up that could see Huw Jones moved to the wing and Owen Farrell coming into the starting XV. Mack Hansen would be an option if fully fit but he has missed the first two Tests with a foot injury and was deemed '85%' fit earlier in the week. Other options include Duhan van der Merwe and James Lowe with Blair Kinghorn switching from the left to the right wing. Jamie Osborne could also be a consideration. This season Freeman has featured in 33 matches, surpassing the 30-match limit mandated by the Rugby Football Union. 'He was just doing the light walk-throughs,' said the assistant coach John Dalziel. 'Wingers will do a lot of high-intensity running so he had the morning off. He's got to view a stadium which is hopefully going to come to life tomorrow. 'There's no easy way to be a winger when you are chasing kicks and balls up in the air in the way the first two Tests have gone, so it's quite easy for those guys to get their metres up.' Tadhg Furlong, meanwhile, has called on the Lions to make lasting memories as the tourists seek to wrap up a first clean sweep since 1927. The Ireland tighthead prop will make his ninth consecutive start for the Lions, moving to joint fifth on the all-time list and though the 32-year-old did not entirely rule out the 2029 trip to New Zealand, he conceded the clash in Sydney is likely to be his last for the touring side. 'You're still playing for the Lions, it's not hard to motivate yourself,' he said. 'My motivation is obvious. I'm not going to say I won't [but] I probably won't play for the Lions again. It's been very good to me. It's been very good to my career. You want to play well in it. 'Without being clinical about it, you want to give the best version of yourself to it. Sometimes the last memory is the lasting memory you have in a jersey. I want it to be a good one. I think you can use [that] towards your advantage, just the appreciation of it. Understanding what makes the Lions so special or why it's so special to you. You don't want to get too caught up and emotional about it because you have to do a job. 'Lions tours are some of the best days of your career and I'm delighted to be able to go again.' There were question marks over Furlong's fitness at the start of the tour after he arrived into camp in June with no game time since early May due to a calf problem. 'It wasn't a big enough injury to warrant [thinking I wouldn't make it],' he added. 'It was like, we need to get back and play here, lads, because it's on your calendar. You want it so badly. I think the cruel thing is when you go on one, you just want to go on more. You go on that first one and you take it all in. 'The second one, you want to perform and the third one you just want to appreciate it all because you don't want it to pass you by. There was a stage this season where we were having conversations with medical staff. It's like, what is going on here? We need to nip this stuff in the bud.' While Furlong forms part of an unchanged all Leinster and Ireland front row, Australia have changed two-thirds of theirs with Taniela Tupou coming in at tighthead and Billy Pollard promoted to the No 2 jersey after a late injury to Dave Porecki. Tupou nicknamed 'the Tongan Thor' has endured a difficult season in Super Rugby and will head to Racing 92 next season but Furlong is only too aware of the threat posed by the 23-stone prop. 'I first came across him in 2018, he was a young fella breaking through,' said Furlong. 'He was coming off the bench for Australia. He is what he says in the tin. He's incredibly powerful. He's dangerous in the scrum. Very aggressive. He poses his own threats around the park. He's a good carrier, explosive.'
Times
01-08-2025
- Times
Tommy Freeman a doubt for final Lions Test with back injury
Tommy Freeman is a doubt for the British & Irish Lions' third Test against Australia with a back injury. Freeman, the 24-year-old England wing, missed the touring side's final training session before they face the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday. Although the Lions' assistant coach John Dalziel insisted that he stood down from the captain's run session at Accor Stadium only as a precaution, it is understood there are growing fears that Freeman may miss the game. The Times understands that Huw Jones, the Scotland centre, filled in on the wing during Friday's session. James Lowe, the Ireland wing, could be reinstated to the team, having been dropped and replaced by Blair Kinghorn, if Freeman is out. Mack Hansen is another option after recovering from a foot injury — Andy Farrell, the head coach, said he was only '85 per cent' fit on Thursday but could recover fully in time for the Test on Saturday.
