Ronan O'Gara leaves Adams, Biggar and Faletau out of his Lions XV
Rugby NewsThursday, 15 July 2021 at 16:22
Ronan O’Gara has recommended turning to English players as the Lions seek to pick themselves up off the canvas after their knock-down against South Africa A in Cape Town.
Ronan O’Gara’s Lions XV :
BACK-THREE:
Stuart Hogg (Scotland); Anthony Watson (England), Liam Williams (Wales)
“The back-three is so hard to pick,” said O’Gara.
“Josh Adams scores tries, and we are going to need to score a try or two, while Louis Rees-Zammit has probably been very unlucky.
“High ball is crucial and, for me, Liam Williams is different class there.
“Anthony Watson just seems to have unbelievable pace, while Hogg is hurting and this could be the opportunity to relaunch him.”
CENTRES:
Elliot Daly (England), Bundee Aki (Ireland)
HALFBACKS:
Owen Farrell (England), Conor Murray (Ireland)
O'Gara said: "“I don’t think he’s (Farrell) playing his top rugby. But I think he has the capacity to be at peak by Saturday week.”
FRONT-ROW:
Maki Vunipola (England), Jamie George (England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
SECOND-ROW:
Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
“He (Jones) goes straight into the engine room and you are hoping that he defies medical logic to do what he does best.”
BACK-ROW:
Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Hamish Watson (Scotland), Tom Curry (England).
Of Curry, he said: “I saw him live playing for England against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals and he blew me away.
“We came across him at club level this year and he’s a phenomenal player.”
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