**Lions Coaches Reach Verdict on Jac Morgan as Breakdown Performance Looms Large over Test Selection**
As the British and Irish Lions gear up for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane, all eyes are on head coach Andy Farrell’s squad decisions — with Welsh flanker Jac Morgan at the centre of intense speculation. The conclusion of selection meetings has left players, supporters, and pundits alike awaiting news that could have major ramifications on longstanding national traditions as well as the team’s competitiveness against a menacing Wallabies outfit.
Secrecy has shrouded the selection process. The Lions’ coaching staff have remained tight-lipped, offering little more than perfunctory responses when pressed about meetings and deliberations. Despite media curiosity, concrete information has been scarce, underlining how pivotal these choices are for the coaching cohort. While it has yet to be officially confirmed, the team’s training patterns suggest that many within the squad already have a sense of their fate ahead of Wednesday’s player briefings.
For Wales, the question is especially pointed: Will Jac Morgan be on that Test team sheet, continuing a proud legacy that stretches back to 1899, with at least one Welsh Lion present in every Test since? The answer will not just matter to Morgan and his advocates; it is emblematic of Wales’s place in the Lions’ storied history.
Competition in the Lions’ back row is as intense as ever. Ireland’s Josh van der Flier and England’s Tom Curry are both proven, world-class opensides. Ben Earl, Jack Conan, and Henry Pollock provide further options. Additionally, Farrell faces a tactical decision on whether to insert a hybrid second-row such as Ollie Chessum or Tadhg Beirne at blindside flanker, a move that would tweak the balance of his pack and could squeeze out a specialist like Morgan.
There is, however, an aspect of Morgan’s game drawing increased attention: his efficiency at the attacking breakdown. On-field statistics reveal that in the matches Morgan has started in Australia, the Lions have conceded just one attacking ruck. By contrast, in games where he was absent, that figure balloons to 14. While breakdown metrics are influenced by multiple factors, this suggestion of Morgan’s stabilising effect has not gone unnoticed.
This attribute may be crucial, as the breakdown is expected to be a fierce battleground. The Australian side, under the guidance of Joe Schmidt, boasts formidable disruptors, with Fraser McReight poised to exploit any weakness. Speaking to the press, Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth acknowledged, “The breakdown and aerial game will be huge, but we back ourselves there as well. If you don’t get the breakdown right, no team in world rugby looks good. It’s a massive area of focus for us.”
Wigglesworth elaborated on the subtleties that define breakdown contests, highlighting reaction speed, body position, aggression, and decision-making under duress. He credited gradual improvement in recent matches, particularly after the Lions’ display against the AUNZ XV, which suggested a growing cohesion in ruck work. The coaching staff have made it clear that continual progression in this area is non-negotiable if the Lions are to succeed in Australia.
Looking at individual numbers, Morgan has outpaced Curry in attacking rucks hit per 80 minutes since the beginning of 2024, with figures suggesting he’s involved in approximately seven more per match. Van der Flier boasts even higher involvement but, intriguingly, this hasn’t translated into the same team-wide efficiency as when Morgan features. Analysts theorise that this may be due to different back row configurations, as van der Flier frequently lines up alongside a hybrid blindside.
Morgan’s endeavours on defence are also notable; his defensive ruck contributions lead both Curry and van der Flier, adding another point in his favour. As Wales head coach Wayne Pivac once emphasised, the outcome of hundreds of breakdowns substantially overshadows that of set-pieces such as scrums and lineouts over the course of a match.
Ultimately, whilst the Lions coaches alone hold the verdict to Morgan’s inclusion, it is clear that the analysis has gone far beyond surface-level statistics. The impact of his breakdown efficiency could prove the deciding factor as the Lions seek to outfox both the Wallabies and their canny head coach. With official announcements imminent, supporters will soon discover whether this under-the-radar skillset has earned Morgan the Test jersey — and preserved a slice of Welsh rugby history in the process.