On a Roll: British and Irish Lions Aspirants Make Their Case for the Tour Down Under

The Six Nations kicked off as anticipated.

Ireland commenced its quest for a consecutive championship by overcoming England with a brilliant display of controlled aggression for over 30 minutes in the second half, securing a remarkable comeback win of 27-22 in Dublin.

Meanwhile, France showcased their dominance by thrashing a struggling Wales 43-0, spearheaded by an outstanding performance from their captain, Antoine Dupont.

Here are the key insights from the opening round.

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Lions on the Radar

Numerous players who have yet to don the British and Irish Lions jersey made significant impressions as the tour to Australia approaches.

At Murrayfield, outside centre Huw Jones celebrated his first Test hat trick, while flanker Rory Darge was as industrious as ever.

Wales’ standout performer was flanker Jac Morgan, while England’s Tom Curry, a three-Test Lion who started alongside his twin brother Ben for the first time, excelled with three vital turnovers against Ireland.

Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park received the player of the match accolade in Dublin, but it was winger James Lowe who truly dazzled. After a two-month stint on the sidelines due to a calf injury, he proved his fitness with Leinster last weekend.

Lowe was electric for Ireland, using his power and agility to break tackles and set up three of Ireland’s four tries. He is rarely absent from the action.

Ireland and France Lead the Charge

Ireland and France have been the dominant forces in the championship since 2022, and the opening round indicated that this trend is likely to continue.

However, it’s not a two-horse race just yet.

A Scotland side that appears to be in its prime awaits the Irish at Murrayfield on Monday (AEDT).

Scotland must overcome the psychological barrier of losing its last ten matches against Ireland and a recent slump that allowed Italy to level the score late on in their game over the weekend.

The speculations regarding Ireland’s decline have not been overly exaggerated, yet the Irish managed to dismiss their recent struggles from the Autumn Nations Series with an impressive display, overpowering England to secure a 22-point lead and three tries.

England now has an opportunity to respond on Sunday (AEDT) at Twickenham when they face France, but Dupont’s stellar form is lifting the French side despite the absence of six key players and the expected suspension for their flyhalf, Romain Ntamack.

Wooden Spoon Battle Looming?

Defeats for both Italy and Wales confirmed that their match on Sunday (AEDT) in Rome will likely determine who takes home the wooden spoon.

Wales exhibited no signs of improvement in Paris, indicating they are likely to retain it.

The expected presence of experienced players like Liam Williams, Dafydd Jenkins, and Josh Adams was anticipated to bolster a novice Welsh side. Unfortunately, that did not materialise.

Injuries to Aaron Wainwright and Owen Watkin within the first 27 minutes only added to their woes.

Wales found themselves easily contained by a French side that scored seven tries while maintaining a comfortable pace.

The Welsh attack was lacking in creativity and incision.

Italy managed just a solitary intercept try against Scotland but, as has become customary, they displayed tenacity throughout the contest.

Italy found themselves level at 19-19 entering the final 20 minutes, only to lose that momentum following an astonishing 70-metre breakout try by Scotland.

Dupont’s Brilliance Shines

While it’s still early days in the Six Nations, Dupont has already staked his claim for a record fourth best player award with his exceptional performance on opening night.

His cross-field kick led to France’s initial try, followed by a break from a ruck and a deft sidestep that set up their third try, and his lob pass from a close ruck set up the fourth try—all in the first half.

According to statistician Opta, he’s the only player in the history of the Six Nations to assist on three tries in multiple games.

When substituted in the 50th minute at 28-0, both sets of fans erupted in applause.

Who’s Andy Again?

The relief and joy from the Irish coaching box at the Aviva Stadium was palpable as the final whistle blew.

High fives, hugs, and handshakes ensued as the victory over England provided reassurance to Irish supporters that Simon Easterby, who steps in as interim coach, isn’t set to take them off course while Andy Farrell focuses on the Lions.

Having earned 67 caps as a flanker for Ireland and the Lions and spent over a decade in the coaching setup, Easterby is low-profile yet holds significant esteem.

Even so, he must have felt a surge of anxiety during halftime with England leading.

Ultimately, all of his significant decisions — particularly the choice of flyhalf Sam Prendergast over Jack Crowley — and substitutions paid off.

When asked if he felt proud of his coaching debut, Easterby downplayed his role, stating, “It’s not really about me, is it? It’s about what the team achieved today in this opening round of the Six Nations and the importance of securing those five points.”