Andy Farrell accused of 'devaluing the Lions' with latest selection call

Another day, another British & Irish Lions call-up stirring debate online.

Early on Sunday morning, UK time, Andy Farrell named tighthead Tom Clarkson as the latest call-up to his squad ahead of Saturday’s First Test against Australia, marking the second Ireland international parachuted into the camp in quick succession after Jamie Osborne arrived in Brisbane earlier.

Clarkson, who scored in Ireland’s 106-12 demolition of Portugal on Saturday, is the third Irish tighthead to make the touring party after Finlay Bealham and Tadhg Furlong.

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The 25-year-old has won eight senior caps for Ireland but featured prominently during the Six Nations when Furlong was sidelined.

But if you were expecting social media to applaud the decision, think again.

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Fans weren’t exactly subtle in their assessment.

“I’m afraid Farrell has turned the Lions into a bit of a pantomime at this stage and dare I say it reduced the value of Lions shirt,” wrote one furious supporter. “Using the Lions tour as a development pathway for Clarkson is a disgrace.”

One parody account took aim at Clarkson’s relative obscurity outside Irish circles: “You’ve never heard of Thomas Clarkson, but he occasionally makes the matchday squad for Leinster so he must be better than your prop who has 50 caps.”

And while some tried to rationalise the call, many questioned whether being third-choice at Leinster now counts as a valid criterion for Lions inclusion.

“Remember when you had to be world-class to be selected for the Lions? Now you just have to be 3rd choice for Leinster,” read one post. “You can argue the Owen Farrell call up but Jamie Osborne and now Clarkson, it’s just devaluing the Lions.”

One fan pointed out that Toulon and former England tighthead Kyle Sinckler – currently in Australia and a veteran of two Lions tours – might have made more sense.

“Personally would have gone for Sinckler given his Lions record, form for Toulon and that he’s out in Aus already,” wrote one user. “But it’s not the end of the world. Might get 10 minutes off the bench in the last midweek game if he’s lucky.”

Yet another fan pointed out that current England tightheads Joe Heyes and Asher Opoku-Fordjour could rightly feel aggrieved: “On one hand, I kind’ve get it, like Osborne over Jordan, being Ireland-Leinster he doesn’t need to learn a new system. On the other hand, the most that happens is he is on the bench in a midweek nothing game between two tests. Joe Heyes and Asher Opoku-Fordjour must be seething, especially while they’ve absolutely dominated an opposition scrum with a big international reputation while Clarkson packed down against … [checks notes] … Portugal!”

Not everyone was sharpening pitchforks, however. A few rallied behind Clarkson, pointing to his solid Six Nations campaign when Ireland swept aside England, Scotland and Wales.

“Thomas Clarkson played the whole 6 Nations when Furlong was injured and played well,” argued one defender. “Better than any of Scotland or Wales tightheads (bar Zander who’s injured). Only other guy in the debate is Joe Heyes.”

With the Lions unbeaten on their five-match tour so far and front row attrition rates historically high, Farrell’s move may be as much about adding depth as a sneaky attempt at Irish talent pipeline development.

The backlash over Clarkson’s selection echoes the 2017 “Geography Six” controversy, when Warren Gatland drafted in six Welsh and Scottish players based purely on proximity rather than merit. Just like then, critics argue the integrity of Lions selection is being compromised for convenience – or in this case, familiarity.

“Calling a bloke up to probably be a bench sitter for last midweek game? Reminiscent of Gatland & Geography 6 from 2017?,” wrote another fan. “Gats got lots of stick from other nations for that. Will Farrell? Debatable whether Clarkson deserves it. Done over by Smith in Wales [Six Nations] game.”

For a tour that’s meant to unite four nations, the optics of Ireland’s dominance are beginning to grate for some.

One glum Wales fan wrote that he couldn’t blame Farrell while observing: “If you ever wanted to know how low down Wales players are in Farrell’s estimations. He’d rather ship across Ireland’s 3rd choice TH from Portugal than Wales’ 1st choice from Japan (I don’t blame him).”