Steve Borthwick believes several England players have strengthened their case for selection in the British & Irish Lions squad following a record-breaking 68-14 victory over Wales in Cardiff. Borthwick, pleased with the rapid progress of his team, also expressed confidence in Maro Itoje as a strong candidate for the Lions captaincy.
The Lions squad, to be named in early May, will be selected by Andy Farrell, who now faces a wealth of options following England’s dominant performance. Borthwick hopes the commanding display will provide Farrell with plenty to consider as he assembles a squad capable of taking on Australia in a three-Test series later this year.
Reflecting on the performance, Borthwick praised his team’s resilience and development. “The team has stuck with the process, and I’m really pleased for the players and supporters who are now seeing the rewards of their hard work. Hopefully, many of our players will be selected for the Lions.”
He acknowledged the selection challenge Farrell faces but emphasized the quality England’s players have demonstrated. “These are the kind of headaches you want as a coach—lots of players stepping up and proving they should be on that plane. Our role is to get as many of them there as possible, and I believe many England players will be heading to Australia in a few months.”
Borthwick also voiced strong support for Itoje as a potential captain for the Lions. “Maro has been outstanding. He leads by example and has taken his game to another level. He has improved in many areas this campaign, and I’d be fully confident in him leading the Lions if given the opportunity.”
Despite the personal praise, Itoje chose to focus on the team’s overall progress. “We have been building towards this and are showing a different side to our game. You have to remain consistent even when results don’t go your way, regardless of outside noise and scrutiny. Our challenge now is to grow and improve.”
Another standout performer in the tournament has been Ben Curry, who earned player of the match honors in Cardiff. Speaking after the game, Curry expressed his delight at being part of the squad. “This is what you dream of. I haven’t had too many opportunities over the last couple of years, and I love being part of this team.”
On the other side, Wales endured a demoralizing defeat, with interim head coach Matt Sherratt admitting that his side appeared fatigued after a grueling season. “It was one of those days when it looked like a game too many. The last couple of months have been emotionally draining, and the squad has been through a lot. Small moments went against us, and that opened up some wounds.”
Despite the disappointment, Sherratt maintained faith in his squad. “They’re a good group of lads, and there are some really talented players in the dressing room. With new appointments expected in the coming weeks, it’s about resetting and moving forward as quickly as possible. Today’s result was tough to take, and it’s devastating for the players.”
