Marcus Smith will start at full-back for the British & Irish Lions when they face Argentina in their pre-tour fixture in Dublin on Friday night. There are nine Englishmen in Farrell's starting XV.

Smith’s involvement in this year’s Six Nations came predominantly at full-back, with the 26-year-old forced to watch his younger namesake, Fin, take the fly-half reins in his stead.

After weeks of speculation, debate and intrigue about the choice of Lions playmakers, there was still a dramatic twist here on Thursday - Marcus Smith picked, but the door left ajar for Owen Farrell.