Many had coined last weekend's Six Nations action as Lions week, with the four home nations and their contenders for a seat on the plane to Australia all facing off against each other in a massive Saturday of rugby.
While England's battle with Scotland will have done Gregor Townsend's men few favours for Lions selection, surprisingly it wasn't only the Scots getting cut from Sam Warburton's Lions team, with the Welsh legend opting to drop Irish captain Caelan Doris as well.
Speaking on BBC Rugby Union Weekly, former Lions captain Sam Warburton updated his Lions selection from round one of the tournament, once again naming a seven-stong Irish representation in the starting XV he'd choose in Andy Farrell's shoes.
While their representation remained the same, Warburton did make two changes to the Irish contingent included in his admittedly impressive team.
His half-back partnership remained the same, with neither the experience of Finn Russell nor the up-and-coming stardom of Fin Smith able to usurp Sam Prendergast's growingly popular place alongside his international colleague Jamison Gibson-Park.
Unsurprisingly, Dan Sheehan, James Lowe and Bundee Aki all keep their place in Warburton's XV, while below-par outings from Blair Kinghorn have paved the way for the 'safe' option Hugo Keenan to come into the starting side at fullback. Tadgh Beirne was perhaps the most unfortunate to miss out, with Warburton replacing him with in-form Ollie Chessum.
Sam Warburton makes Irish switcheroo at eight
However, in a surprise few if any would have seen coming, Warburton dropped the largely tipped Lions captain in waiting, Caelan Doris from his side - replacing him instead with his international and provincial teammate Jack Conan.
For obvious reasons, the decision then led to Sam Warburton going well against the grain of public opinion and naming Maro Itoje as his preferred captain, citing the risk of the Irish captain not starting as the reason he couldn't take the position.
I'd say Itoje (is my captain). Doris is definitely captaincy worthy but I think the number one criteria for your captain is, he's got to be a banker to start. I think there's some really good number eights there.
I know this because I wasn't fit enough for the first test in 17, I was on the bench for the first test. Came back in time for the second and third, but I tell you what it puts an almighty pressure on you as captain, like horrendously uncomfortable. So I think Maro Itoje at the moment, of all the candidates which there's lots of credible ones who I'd stand behind, I would walk out to a first test behind Doris, behind Itoje, Morgan.
Warburton's fellow pundit, Scotland legend John Barclay also made the same selection, opting to drop Doris in favour of Conan, although he appointed Finn Russell as his captain.
The staggering call comes after Doris missed his first Ireland test since 2021 on Saturday against Wales, owing to injury.
While only a fool would scoff at the ability of Jack Conan and his experience on the 2021 Lions Tour, before Saturday Doris started an incredible 42 consecutive tests for Ireland, and has in recent months been exceptional both as a player and leader for an unbeaten Leinster side and a three-peat seeking Ireland team.
Conan too has been hugely impressive in his cameos off the bench and in his start against Wales, and either way it bodes very well for Ireland how highly Warburton and Barclay rank both Conan and Doris.
Sam Warburton's team in full is:
15 Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
14 Tommy Freeman (England)
13 Ollie Lawrence (England)
12 Bundee Aki (Ireland)
11 James Lowe (Ireland)
10 Sam Prendergast (Ireland)
9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
8 Jack Conan (Ireland)
7 Tom Curry (England)
6 Jac Morgan (Wales)
5 Ollie Chessum (England)
4 Maro Itoje (C) (England)
3 Zander Fagerson (Scotland)
2 Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
1 Ellis Genge (England)
SEE ALSO: Staggering BOD Analysis Highlights Difference Between Ireland and France's Round Three Performances
