Farrell finds balance with Lions selection but change inevitable

It all started last December with an initial list of 74 men, and got whittled to a point where they thought they knew 90% of those travelling, before Henry Pollock was one of those who made a late burst from the fringes to centre stage.

TOURING SIDE: Andy Farrell went for a touring squad boasting 15 men from his own Irish side, 13 Englishmen, eight Scots and just two Welsh for a ten-match tour that will start against Argentina in Dublin on June 20th and end against Australia in Sydney on August 2nd. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Andy Farrell walked onto the stage at the Indigo Theatre in the iconic O2 just after lunchtime on Thursday to an audience all but holding its breath. It would be another four hours before white smoke was seen in the Vatican, but this was to be his moment of truth.

So silent for so long since his last act as Ireland boss in late November, now was the moment for the British and Irish Lions head coach’s big reveal, the interminable build-up of the live show in East London only adding to the sense of expectation.