LION IN WAIT

Six Nations failure puts pressure on Irish touring prospects

- BY DEREK FOLEY

THERE will be at least half-a-dozen Ireland internationals looking over their shoulders after what's been judged a poor Six Nations performance.

Sure, Simon Easterby's side travelled on the last day, Super Saturday, to play Italy in Rome still in contention.

And while they played first, won, and climbed to the top of the table at that point, few believed BOTH Wales and Scotland could beat England and France respectively in order for Ireland to remain on top.

Indeed, the results from both games added confirmation once removed if you like that Ireland, collectively, were off-key.

England hammered Wales 68-14 in Cardiff, reflecting badly on Ireland's hard secured 17-28 win at the same venue in round three; while Scotland's 16-35 defeat in Paris saw them cause France far more problems than Ireland had.

If Lions hopes had been abnormally high before the tournament began, that changed week by week as some Irish players were playing themselves off the team and others off the squad.

At the top end, it was felt Andy Farrell's green biro had Caelan Doris written in as 2025 Tour captain. But Maro Itoje's candidacy rose by comparison through the five rounds. He was almost omni-present at ruck time, a menace at stealing ruck ball, tackled like a back-row and proved excellent at the lineout.

Should Farrell be of two minds about the captaincy (and both Itoje (below) and Doris will be on the starting team for the First Test in Brisbane) he will be aware it is unusual for a player to captain the Lions on his first tour. Itoje toured in both 2017 and 2021.