'Imagine the furore': Nepotism call hovering over Lions as Farrell mulls Six Nations form swing

Ireland's Six Nations slide has added an extra layer of intrigue to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this year.

Ireland, the champions in 2023 and 2024, ceded the throne to France this year as they battled to third without their coach Andy Farrell.

To be fair, the men in green were still more than competitive under Simon Easterby, matching France and England with a 4-1 record.

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Bonus points proved the difference for free flowing France, who broke the tournament's record for most tries scored (30).

Farrell watched on from the sidelines in his 2025 role as Lions coach.

An Ireland Six Nations hat-trick would have made it easy to justify stacking the squad with players he knows intimately.

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But the rise of England, in particular, may force some selection rethinks at the selection table.

The Lions squad will be unveiled at London's O2 Arena on May 8.

"There might be a few Irish boys that were in that aren't now," ex-Wallabies back Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts.

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Choosing a squad and then a starting XV from four fiercely competitive nations has always been a highly divisive and political exercise which can tear Lions squads apart.

Free from any blowback, Between Two Posts asked former Wallabies scrumhalf Nick Phipps to choose his Lions lineup for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on July 19.

Phipps has strong knowledge of the northern hemisphere, having played under Les Kiss at London Irish between 2019-22.

The veteran of 72 Tests opted for a heavy Ireland contingent with Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe all getting the nod.

But perhaps Phipps' biggest selection curveball was picking England's Owen Farrell in the No.10 jersey.

Farrell, of course, is the son of league legend Andy and hasn't played for England since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The 33-year-old is no longer eligible to play for England as he plies his club trade for Racing 92 in Paris.

But there is nothing stopping Farrell from picking his prodigious progeny - the second highest points scorer in Test rugby history with 1271.

"I went Owen Farrell as my 10 but there's obviously room to move there," Phipps said.

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

"You've got (England's) Marcus Smith, he'll be on the plane… (Ireland's Sam) Prendergast, I think needs another couple of Six Nations to really cement himself as that top 10.

"(Scotland's) Finn Russell will obviously be on the plane as one of, if not the 10, but he struggled a little bit this series. The (2021) Lions series, he (Russell) 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.

"He has been in and out a little bit over in France, a few injuries this year, but he's the ultimate competitor, he's the ultimate professional.

"They'll pick a really big forward pack. Everyone would probably look at Australia, that we're a little bit light on in our forwards, and they'll just try and come and bully us in that 1 to 8 spot."

The Guardian's Robert Kitson also weighed in on the Lions playmaker debate, which will continue to rage over the coming months.

"Farrell Sr also has to trust his own eyes and acknowledge the transformative tactical effect Fin Smith has had on England since his promotion to the starting XV," Kitson wrote.

"Even three weeks ago Smith would have been down the pecking order, below the precocious Prendergast. Suddenly it would feel like a massive oversight if the young Englishman does not tour and a slightly controversial punt if the coltish Irish fly half is preferred.

"So where does that leave the increasingly versatile Marcus Smith, not to mention Farrell Jr, who will shortly be back in action at Racing 92? Imagine the furore if the former is omitted in favour of the head coach's son, regardless of the latter's current Test exile.

"A better bet, surely, would be to pick Russell plus both Smiths and place Owen on standby, in the knowledge the former England captain could fit in seamlessly at short notice if required."

The Associated Press' Foster Niumata also picked an interesting Lions XV based on Six Nations form.

Ireland get six players in with four each from England and Scotland and - as with Phipps' team - Jac Morgan is the lone Welshman.

The AP's team has only four players who have been Lions before: locks Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirne, flanker Tom Curry and Russell.

Tom Jordan, one of three New Zealand-born players, was the bolter after seamlessly fitting into the Scotland backline in place of Australian export Sione Tuipulotu.

PHIPPS' LIONS XV (15-1): Elliot Daly, Duhan van der Merwe, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe, Owen Farrell, Jamison Gibson-Park, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jac Morgan, Tadgh Beirne, Maro Itoje, Tadgh Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter

AP'S LIONS XV (15-1): Blair Kinghorn, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park, Caelan Doris (c), Jac Morgan, Tom Curry, Tadhg Beirne, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter