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“Just watching the live stream, and want to double-check,” writes Matthew Moore. “White smoke means the cardinals have chosen a new fly-half, right? Habemus Finnam?”
Thankfully, the Vatican conclave has opted not to overshadow the squad announcement this afternoon.
Daniel Stephens is ready to talk bolters – the players who will make a late surge into the Lions squad. There’s room for an extra three today, with Farrell expected to pick 40 players rather than 37.
Daniel says: “Blair Murray (Wales), Courtney Lawes (England) and Jamie Ritchie (Scotland) will all be selected and raise eyebrows this afternoon.”
“I’m having a vision of the Lions No 10s as a 1958 Fairlane 500 convertible,” writes Carl Gladwell. “In other words, a Ford with a pair of Fin(n)s.”
Our rugby union writers make their picks here …
Preamble
Lions szn is officially here. The first Test against Australia in Brisbane is just over a couple of months away, and the curtain-raiser against Argentina in Dublin will be upon us in six weeks’ time.
This is the biggest milestone on the road to opening night, as Andy Farrell picks an expected 40-man squad from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales’ finest. It’ll be a career highlight for many players, and a day of great disappointment for others.
Maro Itoje is set to be named captain for the Lions’ first tour since South Africa in 2021. Many of his England colleagues, including Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith and George Ford, face a nervous wait to see if they make the cut. Farrell Sr is forecast to pick 22 forwards and 18 backs.
We’ll get the full lowdown at 1.30pm BST, when Lions chairman (and former tour winner Down Under) Ieuan Evans announces the squad. There’ll be 2,000 fans gathered at the O2 to give their collective verdict, and you can let me know your predictions/selections here.
