Lions talking points - Irish record, Doris injury & Prendergast out

Even given a disappointing end to the Six Nations and Leinster's shock Champions Cup semi-final exit, Ireland were always going to be healthily represented in Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad.

As it stands, 15 of Farrell's 38-strong panel are Ireland internationals. It's a mightily impressive Irish contingent, eclipsing the 14 that were initially named in Sir Ian McGeechan's 2009 squad.

Some were sure bets, some got in after a nervous wait and some missed out.

Before delving into the selection, the 15 Ireland players are:

There were no great shocks from an Irish perspective, but still some intriguing talking points. Let's get stuck into them now.

For a long time, it seemed as though Farrell was shaping Caelan Doris into a potential Lions captain.

Farrell was appointed Lions boss in January 2024. Four weeks later, Doris captained Ireland for the first time, leading the side out against Italy in the Six Nations.

Then, having been named Leinster skipper before the 2024-25 season, Doris was handed the permanent Ireland captaincy, replacing Peter O'Mahony.

While the early stages of Doris' captaincy have included some stinging defeats (New Zealand, France), he has instantly commanded respect.

With that, the 27-year-old back row was locked in a dead heat with Maro Itoje for the Lions captaincy until he injured his shoulder against Northampton Saints last weekend.

It has, for now, wrecked his Lions dream. Unless he recovers in time and is called up at a later date, he may not become a Lion until he is 31, which seems cruel for such an accomplished Test player.

Ironically, his absence will benefit another Leinster man in Jack Conan, who now has a strong chance of adding to his three Test starts in 2021.

Like Doris, Farrell put a lot of eggs in the Sam Prendergast basket in the long build-up to Thursday's squad announcement.

But while Doris has missed out because of fitness issues, Prendergast simply didn't make the cut with Farrell opting for Finn Russell, Fin Smith ad Marcus Smith as his three fly-halves.

Seven months ago, Prendergast hadn't even made his Ireland debut, but after dislodging Jack Crowley and starting in Six Nations wins over England, Scotland and Wales, he was a prominent figure in the Lions fly-half debate.

Ireland's miserable loss to France seemed a significant turning point, however, and while he has since played his part in some big Leinster wins, his defensive frailties again being badly exposed by an adventurous Northampton side perhaps put paid to his hopes.

Prendergast, 22, has had an intense season for club and country. It will now be interesting to see if interim head coach Paul O'Connell picks him for Ireland's summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal.

It's impossible not to talk about Leinster's dominance because, even without Doris and Prendergast, they are comfortably the most well-represented club in Farrell's squad.

With 12 players, the Dublin-based province make up almost a third of Farrell's squad. They will be the 'Leinster Dozen Down Under'. The next best represented clubs are Glasgow and Northampton with four apiece.

For context, Leinster had four players (Porter, Furlong, Conan and Robbie Henshaw) in Warren Gatland's initial squad in 2021.

It means Joe McCarthy, Dan Sheehan, James Lowe, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Ryan, Hugo Keenan and Garry Ringrose are Leinster's first-time Lions.

Van der Flier, Ryan and Ringrose all missed out in 2021, so it is especially satisfying for them especially after a disappointing Six Nations.

Beyond Leinster, the three other Ireland players are Munster's Tadhg Beirne - the first name read out by Lions chair and tour manager Ieuan Evans on Thursday - and Connacht duo Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki.

Given their recent troubles, the lack of Ulster representation is not surprising. It is still worth noting, however, that it is the first Lions squad without an Ulster player since 2005.

Mack Hansen's inclusion wasn't as nailed-on as his Connacht team-mate Bundee Aki.

Hansen hasn't played since 12 April and earlier this week Connacht confirmed he will miss another five weeks with an ankle injury.

There will be those, especially of a Scottish persuasion, who will feel Hansen is fortunate to have been given the nod over Darcy Graham.

But Farrell has always been a big fan of Hansen, and what he lacks in blistering pace he makes up for in work-rate and big-game nous.