Farrell looking for 'dominant partnership' between Aki and Tuipulotu 

DOMINANT PARTNERSHIP: Lions head coach Andy Farrell is looking for a dominant partnership between Sione Tuipulotu and Bundee Aki. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Of all the combinations set to be unleashed by the British & Irish Lions against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night, their midfield of Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu looks one of the most Test-ready for the series against Australia.

Of course, there is a lot of water set to pass under all manner of bridges before head coach Andy Farrell commits to the starting XV to face the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19, not least five tour matches Down Under against Western Force, Queensland Reds, Waratahs, Brumbies and a Australia/New Zealand Invitational side seven days out from the first Test.

There are national partnerships to reignite, with Aki set be accompanied on tour by Ireland team-mate Garry Ringrose, while Tuipulotu has a potent combination with fellow Scot Huw Jones, if the latter can shake off the Achilles issue he has been carrying for almost three months.

England’s Eliot Daly will also harbour hopes of an opportunity to shine at outside centre, though his versatility across the backline makes him an option for Farrell in other positions.

Yet it is Aki at inside centre with Tuipulotu on his outside who get the first crack at making an impression when Los Pumas visit Aviva Stadium on Friday on the eve of departure for Australia.

When asked on Wednesday what he was hoping to see from the pairing, head coach Farrell said: “A dominant partnership, but we know that we're coming up against a side who are pretty good in those type of positions as well, you know.

“They've been great. Getting on the same page, sharing each other's strengths and weaknesses, etc, and trying to get across what is a new system to everyone. So very diligent and excited to see that partnership, along with a few others.” 

With a back three of Marcus Smith, and wings Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe, and a half-back pairing of Northampton duo Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith, Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth spoke on Thursday about his excitement at what the tourists were capable of producing against Argentina.

England’s attack coach, who appears to be sharing the Lions’ offensive coaching duties with Andrew Goodman in camp currently, picked out the Aki and Tuipulotu axis in particular.

“We’ve got power, pace, and no little skill in between,” Wigglesworth said. “I’m excited to see the centre partnership, as they can play through and around teams. They should create some space for those boys outside.

“We want to see how we connect on and off the ball with each other. We want to play to space, and play fast. Every Test match is different, so if we work hard with the players we’ve got we’ll create some stuff.” 

The centres, the Lions assistant added, were: “A second partnership. They can definitely test the gain line, but they've also got really high-level skill with a short passing game, balls out the back, so I think will hold the defence, and then we can create some opportunities off the back of it.” 

Wigglesworth also on Thursday issued another positive update on recoveries from injury for scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park (glute), full-back Hugo Keenan (calf) and the aforementioned Jones, all of whom Farrell predicted 24 hours earlier, would be available for selection to face Western Force in Perth a week on Saturday.

“They’re all not far away,” Wigglesworth said. “Jamison was running today. The others are close to running around with us next week.”