As the dust settles on the British and Irish Lions tour, it's time to assess the performances of the forwards who battled through the intense fixtures in Australia and Dublin. Here's how they stacked up:
Props were a mixed bag. Finlay Bealham started strong but faded, ending with a mediocre display against the FNP, scoring a 5. Ellis Genge, dubbed the 'Baby Rhino', impressed with his scrummaging and dynamic play, earning an 8. Veteran Tadhg Furlong showed his worth despite fitness concerns, also scoring a 6, while Andrew Porter's lack of scrum discipline saw him notch a 5. Pierre Schoeman was consistent but overshadowed, taking home a 7, and Will Stuart's vital contributions in the second Test helped him secure a 6. Rory Sutherland and Tom Clarkson, both training cover call-ups, had limited minutes but showed potential, scoring 5 and 7 respectively.
Hooks had their challenges. Luke Cowan-Dickie's tour was marred by injury and inconsistent lineout throws, resulting in a score of 4. Ronan Kelleher was solid in open play but struggled with lineout accuracy, scoring 5. Dan Sheehan stood out, delivering impactful performances and scoring an 8 despite a controversial moment in the second Test.
"I'm gutted about how the tour ended, but proud of how we played together as a team," said Sheehan, reflecting on his mixed feelings after the tour.
The locks saw Maro Itoje excel with a 9, consistently delivering outstanding performances, while others like Ollie Chessum and Joe McCarthy showed solid form, both scoring 6 and 7 respectively. Scott Cummings and James Ryan had tougher tours, each earning a 6, and Gregor Brown, a debutant, managed a 5.
In the back row, Tadhg Beirne was a standout, earning an 8 and the Player of the Series title. Tom Curry matched the high standard in key matches, also scoring an 8. Jack Conan was consistent, earning a 7, while Ben Earl and Jac Morgan showed their worth with scores of 7. Henry Pollock impressed as a young bolter, scoring a 7, but Josh van der Flier found it tough to shine, scoring a 6.
"We achieved what we set out to do, and it's a testament to the hard work of the entire squad," Andy Farrell remarked, summing up the tour's success.
Each player's contribution painted a vivid picture of a tour filled with high expectations and challenging encounters, setting the stage for future battles in the iconic red jersey.