British and Irish Lions: Ronan O’Gara reveals Test squad – ‘I’d leave best players like Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong on bench’ | Rugby Union News

The British and Irish tourist of Lions Ronan O’Gara revealed his first XV test to face Australia, saying that he would leave the best players on the bench to make them finish the match: namely Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.

O’Gara, part of Sky Sports’ The exclusive coverage of this summer lions tour was a player in the 2001, 2005 and 2009 tour.

At the back of the other Sky Sports analysts, Sir Ian McGeechan, Will Greenwood and Sam Warburton choosing their Lions testing sides, the current head coach of La Rochelle O’Gara did things with his left lands, starting Ronan Kelleher, Twead, Will Stuart and a row in Recent.

“I guess the first thing is, where is Tadhg Furlong and where is Dan Sheehan?” O’Gara said on Sky Sports.

“For me, these are the two best in the world in their position, so I would like to finish the match with them just to have this safety to find out that a test game is generally won in the last eight to 12 minutes, because a team rarely has two scores in advance.

“In this regard, I went with this logic.

“It can be separated, of course, but I just think for me, I prefer to finish with the stronger 15 rather than starting with that. But maybe Sheehan and Furlong can spend 80 minutes, there are tiny margins.

“Andrew Porter is an exceptional loose head, I think it’s a massive force area. I left with familiarity in the rear row [Ireland trio Beirne, Van der Flier, Conan]Because I think the impact of the bench of Ben Earl and Henry Pollock adds a lot, probably with the benefit of their coverage as centers. I like what they do as hybrids. “”

In the background line, the old half Fly O’Gara went with a programming very similar to the previous selections with a big change: instead of going entirely or in Ireland in the center, it mixes and corresponded to the matching of the midfielder to go with Huw Jones and Bundee Aki.

“In the back, it’s quite simple. There is obviously a great debate in terms of who play at 12 years if you go with Huw Jones at 13, because Garry Ringrose is excluded by an injury,” he said.

“Are you going to Sione Tuipulotu? Are you going to Bundee Aki? You could go in both directions.

“Do you support yourself and go ahead:” Go boy, go play. Show what you are good at. “I think thati is the best in the world to win the gain line.

“It increases the ball on the ball in the second phase by winning a gain line. The game is so easier when you win collisions.”

Regarding his tactical selection, O’Gara admits that there are potential traps and he cannot see the head coach Andy Farrell follow the same route.

The Irishman also reveals that he would have chosen two players based in France in the flank of Toulouse Jack Willis and Toulon Tighthesad Kyle Sinckler in his Lions 23 test were the selector.

“The danger with this is that if Australia begins quickly and that they are increasing 10-0, you go a sort of: where is Furlong, Sheehan and wear? Because if you go up on the fray, it puts a different image in the head of the referee.

“The domination of the melee generally is equivalent to the domination of the game, which means that you probably get the advantage of creating your maul. I do not know particularly well Stuart and Ellis Genge, but as players, they seem very, very impressive.

“Andy Farrell will not go with it, but when you look in someone’s eyes in a test game after 43 minutes and you see Dan Sheehan coming – Imagine what it does to the opposition? Imagine the free point to see Furlong after 42 minutes. Imagine the Tighthead see wear.

“Imagine that you have Ben Earl wearing the ball. You just have to make sure you know what the role of beginners is when you have a 6-2 split.

“If Blair Kinghorn was available, I would have taken 7-1 with him able to cover position no 10 because his goal gives very good kicks for Toulouse.

“If I chose the team, I would also have started Jack Willis and Kyle Sinckler in the 23.”

Biggar: I expect the lions to choose their strongest XV from the start

Companion Sky Sports The analyst and the former lunch of the Lions fly, Dan Biggar, gave his opinion on the selection of O’Gara on Saturday, and admitted that he thought that Andy Farrell and her staff would go to a different route.

“Just a little in the Rog team in terms of who you start. The logic in what Rog says is absolutely of the first order, but I think that Australia obtained a very good record at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

“They tend to start there, to go up to the top, and I think the Lions will not want to give the Australians of IS in the game.

“This is why I think they will start with their strongest possible row, the second row, the rear row and try to remove the game from them. Try to take out a few melee penalties, breakdown penalties, rather than inviting them a little in the game.

“If you choose Owen Farrell on a 6-2 bench, you are light in terms of back cover.

“But he [Owen Farrell] looked good. Clearly, next Saturday will be a huge step in place compared to today. “”

Visit of the British and Irish Lions in Australia on Sky Sports

Sky Sports will exclusively show the tour of the British and Irish lions in 2025 in Australia, with the three tests against the Wallabies and six warm -up matches to show exclusively live.

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