Peter Jackson: Irish dominance whittled down to two certain Lions

A year ago Ireland would have had the Lions' share of any selection, but perhaps not any more.

DAN THE BAN: Ireland's Dan Sheehan after scoring their side's third try during the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Picture date: Saturday March 15, 2025.

This time last year a putative Lions Test team would have amounted to Ireland and a few of The Rest, a prognosis designed to turn the old red jersey into 40 shades of green.

If it sounded a bit too good to be true back then when Peter O’Mahony raised the Six Nations trophy towards the heavens, it sounds all the more so now; about as implausible as you-know-who making a public apology to the people of Ukraine.