Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly and lone Welshman make ex-Wallaby’s Lions XV

Former Wallabies scrum-half Nick Phipps has tipped Owen Farrell to be the British & Irish Lions’ first-choice fly-half when the highly prestigious representative side returns to Australia for the first time in 12 years.

Farrell hasn’t played an international Test in 510 days, with the playmaker last taking the field in England’s famed white jersey in the bronze final 26-23 win over Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup on October 28.

With the three-time Lion heading offshore after the showpiece event to pursue an opportunity in France’s Top 14 with Parisian side Racing 92, Farrell became ineligible for national duty while the likes of Marcus Smith and Fin Smith have since stood tall at No. 10.

But for Farrell, the door’s not shut on a second Lions Tour of Australia.

After the final round of the Men’s Six Nations, Phipps called for Lions coach Andy Farrell – who is the father and former Saracens teammate of Owen – to select the former England captain with others like Scotland’s Finn Russell and Ireland’s Sam Prendergast failing to fire.

“I went Owen Farrell as my 10 but there’s obviously room to move there,” Phipps said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts Extra while picking a Lions XV to face the Wallabies.

“None of the other 10s have put their hand up massively this season.

“You’ve got Marcus Smith, he’ll be on the plane… [Sam] Prendergast, I think needs another couple of Six Nations to really cement himself as that top 10.

“Finn Russell will obviously be on the plane as one of, if not the 10, btu he struggled a little bit this series. The Lions Series, he came on in that third game and was phenomenal.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Farrell was picked in the squad somewhere. Firstly, who doesn’t like a bit of nepotism? Get him in there. And he’s a proven winner and drives a super hard standard.”

Farrell’s inclusion wasn’t the only surprise in Phipps’ hypothetical XV, with the Australian rugby veteran of more than 70 Tests also selecting England’s Elliot Daly and Wales’ Jac Morgan in the starting side to take on the Wallabies – let alone tour Australia in the squad.

Daly started England’s last two matches against Italy and Wales to round out the Six Nations, and the utility started all but one match in the Six Nations campaign in 2024. The now 32-year-old was also a regular in the run-on side during England’s promising World Cup campaign.

Phipps has selected Daly in an outside backs trio that includes Ireland’s New Zealand-born speedster James Lowe and Scotland’s powerful winger Duhan van der Merwe. Scottish duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones have been picked in the midfield.

There wasn’t a place for Ireland’s Bundee Aki.

New Zealand-born scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is one of eight Irish players in the 15-man list, which also includes front-rowers Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, and Tadhg Beirne at No. 5 lock.

England captain Maro Itoje is the other member of the tight five in Phipps’ Lions XV. The backrow consists of former World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier, 2024 Player of the Year nominee Caelan Doris, and Wales’ sole selection in Morgan.

Morgan played all five Six Nations matches for Wales, starting at either openside or blindside flanker. These were all 80-minute shifts, and while Wales’ losing streak has continued while they struggled on the world stage, the backrower has been a shining light.

“I thought Morgan, if he’s that good in a team that’s getting beaten by 60 then wouldn’t it be great to put him in a team with some superstars around him.

“He was phenomenal for Wales, he was a real standout. No matter how they were going, he was always turning up.

“He’s tough, gets his head in some tough spots, makes a lot of tackles, always [puts his] hand up for a carry.”

The British & Irish Lions will announce their squad on May 8.

Nick Phipps’ British & Irish Lions XV

1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
6. Jac Morgan (Wales)
7. Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
8. Caelan Doris (Ireland)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
10. Owen Farrell (England)
11. James Lowe (Ireland)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
13. Huw Jones (Scotland)
14. Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
15. Elliot Daly (England)