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24th November 2020
11:15pm GMT
Caelan Doris has impressed in the Leinster and Irish back row all year. (Credit: Sportsfile)[/caption]
On the previous episode, former England and Lions winger Ugo Monye suggested at least six of the English pack could start the Lions' Test Series against the Springboks. On the evidence of England's latest powerhouse victory, it could well be more.
"The English back row is incredibly strong at the moment," says Madigan, "even if you look at the guys that aren’t in the squad or even the guys that are coming off the bench. The likes of Ben Earl – you see him coming on and it’s just endless, the talent they have there. "But, at the same time, you look at Caelan Doris at the weekend and he was a real stand-out performer. He’s someone that every time he carries the ball, he seems to find an extra three, four, five yards and engages contact, which creates quick ball, go-forward ball for the backs for the forwards that are carrying again. He’s someone who, if he can keep building on the early form he’s shown this season, there’s no reason why he can’t put his hand up for Lions selection. "There’s obviously a couple of forwards in the Irish pack that I think [could be Lions]. In the front row, I thought (Andrew) Porter was very good again. He went the full stretch at 80, which shows how fit he is. Cian Healy would be right there again, without doubt. But it is tough off a game like that, where England had physical dominance for large parts of it, to figure out how Ireland can make up that gap."Returning to Doris again, later in the show, Madigan stated that it has reached the stage where the Leinster man needs to start, and the rest of the Ireland back row can be built around him. There was a lot more besides on the latest House of Rugby Ireland episode, including:
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