Itoje likely Lions king as Aussies wait to learn fate

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Itoje likely Lions king as Aussies wait to learn fate

Maro Itoje is expected to be named captain of the British & Irish Lions team heading for Australia while a few Aussies themselves are hanging on anxiously waiting to learn whether they’ll also be heading home as part of the touring squad.

The eagerly awaited announcement of the Lions’ squad to tour Australia in June, July and August will be made at the O2 arena in London in front of a crowd of around 2000 on Thursday with Englishman Itoje forecast widely to be appointed skipper of Andy Farrell’s squad.

He would be the first English captain of the Lions since Martin Johnson led them to a 2-1 defeat to the Wallabies in 2001, but looks the strong frontrunner following the shoulder injury sustained by Ireland skipper Caelan Doris which seems set to rule him out of the trip altogether.

Only the captain will be present on stage when the squad is announced, with players not knowing their fate until their names are revealed on Sky Sports.

That will mean an anxious wait for four ***********-born players, who have pushed themselves into contention for a place with performances for two of the four home nations.

They’re Scotland’s Melburnian captain Sione Tuipulotu and Sydney’s former Wallaby Jack Dempsey, as well as Ireland’s Canberra duo of Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham.

Tuipulotu, who qualifies for Scotland through his Greenock-born grandmother, may well have been considered a challenger for the captaincy himself until his pectoral injury forced him to miss the Six Nations but, now set for a return, his form had been so impressive that he’s a strong fancy to be included as a centre.

Back-rower Dempsey may be more of a long-shot to make the squad but his chances at No.8 have increased after the dreadfully-timed injury to Doris, which also opens the opportunity for Welshman Taulupe Faletau making a fourth tour.

Both winger Hansen and prop Bealham have been stalwarts in the Ireland team overseen by Farrell before he stepped down from his role in Dublin to concentrate on his Lions’ stewardship.

Another major talking point will be whether Englishman Farrell will select his son Owen Farrell, the former England skipper and three-tour Lion who’s had an injury-hit season in France playing for Racing 92.

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