Ex-Munster and Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan gives his opinion on Friday night’s fixture, the selection of Mack Hansen and points to the two Irish stars who can make the Lions’ first Test team against Australia.
Alan Quinlan says that the Lions’ historic first game on Irish soil is primarily about money.
And the former Munster great believes that current Ireland star Mack Hansen, who is nominated to the bench against Argentina, had a 50-50 chance of making Andy Farrell’s travelling team.
There has been widespread criticism of the ticket prices for Friday night’s 1888 Cup match between the Lions and Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, which will not be considered a full Test.
However, the game will be a sell-out at the 51,700-capacity stadium in Dublin 4 as the Lions play their first game before heading to Australia for the tour on Saturday morning.
Quinlan told Grosvenor Sport that putting together a Lions trip costs a lot of money, including paying players, coaches, match expenses, and hotels.
“I realize there are a lot of sponsors, but it has to earn some revenue. I’m certain this fixture is about that. The Argentina game is enjoyable for the players, but it doesn’t really get the blood going, does it?”
Quinlan, a former Ireland flanker, was unable to join the Lions on their tour of South Africa in 2009 due to a 12-week ban received in the Heineken Cup semi-final loss to Leinster.
“He was someone who was possibly 50-50,” Quinlan remarked. “He sustained a few injuries and missed some games during the Six Nations. I’m not arguing that any of these Irish guys didn’t deserve to be selected.
“Obviously the head coach, who’s been involved in numerous other British and Irish Lions tours, has the credibility to make these selections and make these calls based on the players he knows.”
While the majority of Leinster’s URC final-winning squad will be watching from the stands (only Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong are on the bench), Quinlan believes that countrymen Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier will start in the back row alongside England’s Tom Curry.
“I think the way the game has gone, there’s a lot of guys who can play second or back row, Ollie Chessum, Tadhg Beirne among them, even Maro Itoje,” he joked.
“Jack Conan is perhaps your most natural out and out eight. Ben Earl has played there and done exceptionally well for England. Curr (Tom Curry) has also started as a Seven.
If you were to pick a Test team tomorrow, I believe you would go with Curry, Conan, and possibly Josh van der Flier on fast tracks in Australia.
“I believe they all have valid reasons in their own way, and on paper, you could choose a variety of candidates who would most likely do an excellent job and have a solid case for being there, which is a nice situation for this Lions squad to be in.
“They have six warm-up games in which players throw their hands up and permutations occur. Farrell will mix and match.
“I don’t think there are too many nailed down positions for the Test side; probably three or four, with the rest up for grabs.” Itoje is one, of course. Dan Sheehan is another one. He’s probably the other nailed-on person there, along with Finn Russell and Tommy Freeman.
In terms of the upcoming Test games against the Wallabies, Quinlan expects Joe Schmidt to prepare the hosts for the task, but he believes Farrell’s team will win the series.
“I think the Lions will be favourites,” he added. “Knowing Joe and witnessing what he accomplished with Ireland and New Zealand at the World Cup, he undoubtedly created a few opportunities and strikers against Ireland, which cost them in the quarter-finals.
“He’s just so dedicated in everything he does, and he’ll have a strategy here, and I believe he’ll want to go on a high note. Joe’s analysis will be complete given his expertise of Northern Hemisphere rugby and his familiarity with the majority of the Lions’ players.
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