Former British and Irish Lions skipper Sam Warburton has selected an unexpected Test squad for this summer’s tour, featuring newcomer Blair Murray as the fullback.
The Scarlets player and Wales representative earned his first cap during the autumn, yet following impressive performances in the Six Nations, he has positioned himself as a contender for the Lions team.
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Warburton, who captained the Lions Following their series victory over the Wallabies in 2013 and the drawn series against the All Blacks in 2017, they have taken bold decisions by selecting the injured Scottish captain Sione Tuipulotu along with Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong – who just came back from an injury during Ireland’s last Test match against Italy – at centre and in the front row respectively.
Speaking on the BBC’s Six Nations Rugby Special Warburton outlined his reasoning for the decisions: "I've opted for Furlong; typically, I wouldn't consider him at this stage of the domestic season based on recent performance. However, players who have earned credibility should be acknowledged."
He commented, "With plenty of rugby scheduled before the tour, should he secure five matches with Leinster and three mid-week tour games, he'll accumulate a total of eight matches. Should he regain fitness, his potential will surpass that of every other prop."
His thinking was identical when it came to Tuipulotu: "Even if he returns and manages to play just a bit, that would be sufficient."
The most daring move of them all is undoubtedly putting Murray at fullback. Warburton highlighting his qualities will ensure he becomes an excellent addition to the Lions team.
Prior to the tournament, when asked about my top choice for a new player, I mentioned Blair Murray. He impresses me as an outstanding athlete with strong counter-attack skills, excels at handling high balls, and shows courage in defense.
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Between Him and Blair Kinghorn, it's essentially a flip of the coin. While Kinghorn has performed admirably and improved throughout the tournament, he remains an unpredictable choice for the number 15 position.
As of this writing, Murray has earned eight Test caps for Wales.
Sam Warburton’s British and Irish Lions Team in Full
15 Blair Murray, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Tom Curry, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ellis Genge
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