Much like it is in Ireland, the backrow will be one of the most fiercely contested areas for players looking to earn a seat on Andy Farrell's Lions plane to Australia this summer.
Come May, Farrell will be tasked with whittling down a list of very accomplished back rows from across the Home Nations and regardless of who gets the seat, there will be some very big names left disappointed.
On the open side alone, Wales captain Jac Morgan, 2022 World Player of the Year Josh Van der Flier, the two Curry brothers and Ben Earl are all competing not only to start but to claim a seat on the plane.
Despite being the World Player of the Year just three seasons ago, there is no guarantee Ireland's Van der Flier will get one of the coveted seats on the plane to Australia, let alone secure a place in Andy Farrell's starting XV for the first test.
As it stands England's Tom Curry, who enjoyed a sensational Six Nations campaign appears to be the only player nailed on to start for the campaign.
Fortunately for Van der Flier, Leinster will likely be competing at the business end of the club season and provided he impresses there that should be enough to see him go on tour.
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15 March 2025; Josh van der Flier of Ireland after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Dan Cole suggests Lions tactic to get Josh Van der Flier into starting XV
While few, if any pundits have included the ever-consistent but rarely magic Van der Flier in their Lions XV over Tom Curry, England legend Dan Cole has suggested an unusual tactic that could see both players start the first Lions test on the 19th of July.
Speaking on his podcast For The Love of Rugby, Cole, who earned 116 caps in the pack for England thought it imperative that the Lions target Australia's breakdown and suggested including both Van der Flier and Curry in the backrow to counter Australia's breakdown prowess.
I had Curry at six and Van der Flier at seven, because I think Australia they've got (Fraser) McReight and people like that who are really good over the ball.
To counter that I'm targeting the breakdown I'm playing two sevens, however, that's my tactic.
Then my eighth is Doris and he can jackal the ball but he can be a bit more of a carrier and a bit rangier.
Ultimately Cole would be outvoted by his fellow pundits Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson who eventually settled on a backrow of Tom Curry (6), Jac Morgan (7) and Caelan Doris (8). Although there was little doubt among the trio that Van der Flier would be one of the Irish men on the plane.
All in all their joint Lions XV selection included a healthy seven Irish players and a further one in their 23. Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Beirne all secured places in their pack, while Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Bundee Aki made up the Irish backline inclusions. Connacht's Finlay Bealham also got the backing of Cole for a place on the bench.
By their own admissions, Hugo Keenan, Van der Flier and Tadhg Furlong were all unfortunate to miss out but were pipped in selection.
The For The Love of Rugby Lions XV in full is:
1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
3. Will Stuart (England)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
6. Tom Curry (England)
7. Jac Morgan (Wales)
8. Caelan Doris (Ireland)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
10. Finn Russell (Scotland)
11. James Lowe (Ireland)
12. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
14. Tommy Freeman (England)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
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