In just six weeks Andy Farrell and his newly appointed cohort of Lions coaches will name a 40-odd-man squad to travel Down Under and try to defeat Joe Schmidt's Australia across three tests.
Despite the Wallabies' recent struggles, combining players from all four home nations, who all share different egos, expectations, and skills is no small task. Often, success rides not on the ability of the player, but on how a Lions squad gels together - a task Farrell's team will have to get correct if they're to enjoy a successful tour.
Speaking to Chris Ashton on the BBC Rugby Union Weekly, Andy Farrell's digs at the England great told us everything we need to know about what he's looking for in both his Lions squad and captain.
Farrell was speaking to Ashton after announcing his Lions coaching team, and the excitement was evident in his voice. As soon as he sat down, the playful slagging started, with Farrell jokingly letting Ashton know why he hadn’t called him for advice.
Thanks very much, Chris, great introduction. There's plenty of time for that, (taking the mick) let's see how we get on.
Of course, I've got people that I trust, hence why you've not got the phone call.
While it was all said in jest, the deeper meaning of what Farrell was trying to get at didn’t feel far away.
2 February 2024; Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Andy Farrell's Chris Ashton dig says a lot about the type of team he wants
The real gold came further down the line when Farrell was asked what the key characteristics he was looking for in his captain were. The opposite of Chris Ashton was his answer.
"He would never have been on that shortlist (to be captain), he would never have been anywhere near the list, so you can tell the type of people that are going to be out of the list anyway," joked Farrell.
Expanding on the topic, Farrell was recalling the characteristics of great bygone Lions, with Jason Leonard instantly jumping out of his mouth. Asked why his praise for Leonard was so high, Farrell's answer was no surprise - again he was the opposite of Chris Ashton.
Jason Leonard, because he's the opposite of you (Chris). He's a team player, it's a point of difference for you Ashy, because you were so selfish as a player, you only cared about scoring tries didn't you, and the rest of it was irrelevant. You've told me that, your missus has told me that, everyone's told me that.
It's not just him, people like him on tours, that are, selfless who give themselves to the team, who just muck in regardless of what's happening and make the experience what it should be.
If nothing else, Farrell's playful digs at Ashton, who he coached in England, reveal the exact characteristics he'll be looking for when he sits down to write out his Lions squad.
Selflessness, leadership, and determination to 'muck in' regardless of whether they hold the same starting position or status that they enjoy with their country - a drop in which has been known to be a bone of contention on past tours.
READ ALSO: The Ireland U20s 'Gritty Warrior' On Track To Be Munster's Next Peter O'Mahony
READ ALSO: The 23 Irish Players Nailed Onto Andy Farrell's '75' Man Contenders List
Fortunately, Andy Farrell seems in no danger of being solely swayed by the playing ability of his captain or squad, also considering how they will fit into the notoriously fragile ecosystem that is combining 40 arch-rivals together and ensuring they don't just play nice, but thrive together as well.
Farrell's comments should bode well for Ireland, who are rarely known for their stardom or celebrity status, but instead more commonly praised for their unity as a team and their hard work.
Unfortunately for Wales, Farrell's reasoning for selecting Lions coaches might not bode so well. Detailing how he went about putting the team together, Farrell revealed that he was looking for coaches who had experience with players likely to be touring.
Not purposely no, it's just best fit for the here and now - coaches that know the people that we're going to coach.
Andy Farrell selected three Irish coaches, one Scotland coach and one English coach, but so far there are no Welsh representatives on the side. A staggering thought, that likely reflects the wider consensus that very few, if any, Welsh players will be going to Australia.
Andy Farrell is set to announce his squad at a 'razzmatazz' filled event in London on May 8th.
SEE ALSO: England Legend Believes Key Lions Selection Factor Will Book Sam Prendergast A Seat To Australia
