Farrell happy to have Lions selection headaches for Wallabies Test / Photo: © AFP
Farrell happy to have Lions selection headaches for Wallabies Test
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is welcoming the selection headaches posed by their demolition of a combined Australia-New Zealand side in Adelaide, saying it was "exactly what we want".
In their final assignment before next Saturday's first Test against the Wallabies at Brisbane, the Lions were clinical in a 48-0 rout, running in eight tries, three of them to Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe.
After an upset loss to Argentina in Dublin, then five straight wins since arriving in Australia, Farrell must now decide who makes his starting XV for the business end of the tour.
Plenty of players put their hand up on Saturday evening, with some tough calls now needed.
"That's exactly what we want, people putting their hands up," Farrell said.
"I just said to the players that selection is going to be unbelievably difficult.
"That's how it should be. I know that we've got a group that's as cohesive as it gets and they're all rowing together, no matter what, because it takes a squad to win a series," he added.
"The lads who get picked in the first Test, they'll be the lucky ones to represent the group, but they've also got to earn the right to keep that jersey for the second Test as well."
While a handful of positions will be locked in, injury worries have complicated matters.
Centre Garry Ringrose has been ruled out of the first Test after being placed in concussion protocols, while hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is also a doubt after a head knock.
Ringrose and Irish teammate Bundee Aki were shaping as the likely midfield pair, but it now seems Scottish counterparts Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu may get the nod.
With concern lingering over a knee injury to Scot Blair Kinghorn, Ireland's Hugo Keenan did his chances no harm in Adelaide of starting at fullback against Australia.
Who wears the number seven shirt is another conundrum for Farrell, with Jac Morgan of Wales, England's Tom Curry and Ireland's Josh van der Flier all in the mix.
"When we get to Brisbane, we'll have a coaches' meeting like we always do and discuss how the week is going to unfold," said Farrell.
"We train Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll get to a performance day on Wednesday and everyone will know where they're at."
D.S.Robertson--TNT
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