Lions great Sam Warburton outlines Fin Smith task as "best winger" misses out

Daily Mirror

29-05-2025

The battle for the British and Irish Lions 10 shirt could hot up before the Australia Test series as Fin Smith looks to usurp the current favourite, Finn Russell
Sam Warburton believes some stunning form from Fin Smith in the British and Irish Lions ' warm-up games can see him usurp Finn Russell as the man to start at fly-half against Australia.
The Bath No 10 is seen as the most likely man to start Down Under and could make the trip off the back of Premiership success. Russell has commanded Scotland's fly-half spot for a decade and is now involved in his second Tour after appearing back in 2021.
Smith is tipped to provide the most competition having made himself the first choice 10 for England under Steve Borthwick. The young Northampton star has also guided the Saints to the European Cup final, falling narrowly short at the weekend.
His control and composure has seen some call for him to start ahead of Russell, who himself has just won the Challenge Cup with the Premiership play-offs to come. Warburton insists Andy Farrell and co will have an idea of the Test team already, but outstanding performances in the weeks beforehand cannot be ignored.
Two-time Lions skipper Warburton told Mirror Sport: "The coaches will have an idea what the Test team is now. So right now you might think Finn Russell starts at 10, but if Fin Smith is pulling up trees in those warm-ups he has to start. If Gibson-Park plays 8/10 and Williams plays 8/10 they'll go with Gibson-Park.
"I think everyone should feel like they've got a chance to start a Test. The coaches will have their favourites right now, but the warm-ups will dictate who starts Test matches."
One Englishman who won't be heading to Australia is Exeter winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, whose injury denied him a chance to stake his claim. The youngster has enjoyed a rapid rise and Warburton believed he was a "banker" to be part of the Lions squad. He will instead to be part of England's summer tour, but with injuries part of the game Feyi-Waboso could still receive a call with the Wales legend admitting he would've included him despite the winger only just regaining his fitness.
"I would've picked Feyi-Waboso," said Warburton. "I just thought if he gets two games under his belt I think there'd be enough to have him in contention for a Test match. I would've had him in my squad, back in the autumn he was the best winger in the four islands. He's been unfortunate and if he'd stayed fit he was a banker to go on tour."
One of Farrell's big tasks through the tour will be whether to stick with tried and tested or consider experimenting with combinations - Warburton advising on the latter. The four centres are split - two Scots in Sione Tuipilotu and Huw Jones and two Irish in Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose - with the international duos proving they can play effectively together.
Whilst that cohesion is huge, Warburton insists trialing the new combinations could unearth the type of partnership that blossomed in 2009 when Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll proved to be a match made in heaven.
"The partnership thing is big," said Warburton. "(Jonathan) Davies and Roberts. That's why it was so unusual in 2009 to see Roberts and O'Driscoll do so well. I think you've got to try the combinations. Going into the Test you know Sione and Huw Jones and play together. You know the Irish lads can play together. I'd love to see them experiment with those combos, but it wouldn't surprise me if we saw the international pairings come the Tests."
One Irishman who isn't present is Caelan Doris - the Leinster No 8 who was tipped to be captain. Maro Itoje will fill in there, but it leaves a back spot open. Warburton confessed his admiration for Ben Earl, but aired concerns over a lack of height. Especially if, say, Tom Curry and Jac Morgan played on the flanks.
It leaves Jack Conan potentially stepping up for his compatriot. The bolter Henry Pollock is capable of packing down at 8 and has enjoyed a meteoric rise. The Northampton ace was playing for the U20s only months ago. He's passed every challenge thus far, but Warburton insists the "litmus test" will come against the elite nations - but acknowledged that the 20-year-old " does things that you don't see 7s do" as he drew comparisons with World Player of the Year Ardie Savea.
Sam Warburton was speaking at Canterbury of New Zealand's Train Like a Lion event. To purchase Canterbury's new Red Dahlia Boots, as worn by Canterbury ambassadors and Lions squad members, Mack Hansen and Andrew Porter, click HERE.