With Saturday’s remaining spherical of Six Nations fixtures presenting a remaining alternative for gamers to place their palms up for British and Irish Lions choice, Sky Sports activities assesses who must ship a giant efficiency to get themselves into the image…
Hugo Keenan
With simply two spots prone to be on provide for full-backs in Andy Farrell’s squad, competitors has been as intense in that place as another.
Earlier than the beginning of the Six Nations, Keenan was extensively thought-about a number one candidate, given his kind and relationship with Farrell, however he is been outshone by Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn all through the event and outscored within the rankings by England’s Marcus Smith since he was switched to full-back in spherical two.
What Kinghorn and Smith have had that Keenan hasn’t is the chance to rack up the rating factors towards Italy. That chance is available in spherical 5 in Rome, the place Keenan can underscore his candidacy with an influential efficiency.
Tomos Williams
The performances of Tomos Williams have been a constant supply of positivity all through a tumultuous marketing campaign for Wales, however the scrum-half heads into Tremendous Saturday with work to do within the race for Lions choice.
Scotland’s Ben White tops the charts after 4 matches, outscoring Jamison Gibson-Park, who’s the main candidate to begin the primary Check towards the Wallabies.
Williams additionally sits behind England’s Alex Mitchell however with Wales internet hosting England in Cardiff in spherical 5, he can enhance his possibilities whereas denting one among his rivals’ prospects had been he capable of orchestrate a Wales victory.
Mack Hansen
Eire wing Mack Hansen faces fierce competitors for Lions choice out large
After simply two appearances from 4 throughout this yr’s Six Nations, Hansen has floor to make up in a fiercely aggressive race for a spot on the wing for the Lions.
The performances of Eire’s James Lowe and Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe, not solely throughout this yr’s event however all through the four-year cycle between Lions excursions, has seen all of them however safe two of the seemingly 4 positions up for grabs.
England’s Tommy Freeman, the highest-ranking winger within the 2025 Six Nations, is true within the combine, whereas accidents haven’t prevented Scotland’s Darcy Graham from holding himself within the equation.
Unleashed from the beginning towards Italy in Rome, Hansen is offered with a possibility he should seize.
Jack Crowley
Can Jack Crowley step out of Sam Prendergast’s shadow?
Having performed each minute of Eire’s title-winning marketing campaign in 2024, Munster fly-half Crowley has had a watching transient all through this yr’s Six Nations.
With Leinster playmaker Sam Prendergast beginning Eire’s previous six Check matches, Crowley’s Lions prospects have been dented, identical to Eire’s Grand Slam had been towards France. However he may have the prospect to show himself after changing Prendergast for Eire towards Italy.
With England’s Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, Scotland’s Finn Russell and Eire team-mate Prendergast all above Crowley within the rankings, an enormous efficiency is required from the 25-year-old to power his method again into the dialog.
Josh van der Flier
The Lions could not journey to Australia with out 2022 world participant fo the yr Josh van der Flier, might they?
It might be a exceptional change in fortunes, however might the 2022 World Rugby Participant of the 12 months be deemed surplus to necessities to the Lions?
Josh van der Flier’s pedigree goes with out saying, however his performances through the 2025 Six Nations haven’t lived as much as his world-class repute. He sits behind a number of back-row choices within the rankings – Ben Earl, Tom Curry and Tom Willis from England, Eire team-mates Jack Conan and Caelan Doris, Scotland’s Rory Darge, and Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau from Wales.
With aggressive within the again row so fierce, Van der Flier is probably not the one participant to overlook out, with Ben Curry and Matt Fagerson up towards it regardless of not placing a foot unsuitable via the event. However with one sport left to play, all three have a remaining probability to stake their claims.
Lions Rankings XV of Spherical 4
Backs: 15 Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), 14 Tommy Freeman (England), 13 Huw Jones (Scotland), 12 Tom Jordan (Scotland), 11 Ollie Sleightholme (England), 10 Finn Russell (Scotland), 9 Alex Mitchell (England).
Forwards: 1 Cian Healy (Eire), 2 Dan Sheehan (Eire), 3 Will Stuart (England), 4 Teddy Williams (Wales), 5 Ollie Chessum (England), 6 Tom Curry (England), 7 Ben Earl (England), 8 Tom Willis (England).
General Lions Rankings primarily based on stats
- All statistical claims relate to British and Irish Lions eligible gamers enjoying within the 2025 Six Nations for England, Eire, Scotland and Wales.
British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities
Sky Sports activities will completely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Assessments towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven completely dwell.
