Ben Earl, the British and Irish Lions back-rower, has described the ongoing tour in Australia as the best experience of his career. In just five weeks, Earl believes he has gained more knowledge and insight than in the previous four years.

A Transformative Experience

Earl, who has been a consistent performer for England, playing the full 80 minutes in 24 of his 26 starts since 2023, finds it ironic that it is in Australia where he has learned to simplify his game. The hectic schedule of the Lions tour, moving between cities and facing new opponents every three days, has forced him to adopt a more straightforward approach.

"This tour has taught me one thing: just turn up and play rugby," Earl said. "If I think too much about it, what good am I going to be? You don't need to spend seven days in a monastery to come out and play on Saturday. You just have to work out what you're good at and try to do it."

Facing the Best

Earl, once described by World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea as "pretty swaggy with the ball," is set to face some of the toughest competition in the form of All Blacks' Shannon Frizell and Hoskins Sotutu. The Australian and New Zealand Invitational XV, which includes Pete Samu, who won the European Champions Cup with Bordeaux-Begles this season, will be a formidable challenge.

The Back-Row Dynamics

Earl will start alongside Wales' Jac Morgan and England teammate Henry Pollock. Pollock, who started the season on the bench for Northampton, has quickly risen to prominence with several standout performances. Morgan, who led Wales through a challenging 18-Test losing streak, is known for his fearless play.

"Henry is far more talented than I am," Earl admitted. "He is double the player I am and will continue to do great things in the game."

The Fearless Approach

Earl highlighted the different ways players show fearlessness on the pitch. "I'm yet to see a man who doesn't play like he's full of fear when wearing this shirt," he said. "Jac Morgan probably shows it in a different way, but seeing him before the Argentina game, I would say there's a man that plays with no fear."

Looking Ahead

According to Opta, Earl's performance against the Waratahs, where he beat nine defenders and made 21 carries, ranks among the best by a Lions forward since 2009. With Andy Farrell having a wealth of back-row options, Saturday's match could be crucial in shaping the Test team.

Conclusion

Ben Earl's journey on this tour has been nothing short of transformative. His ability to adapt and learn quickly has not only enhanced his game but also solidified his place as a key player for the British and Irish Lions. As the tour progresses, all eyes will be on Earl to see how he continues to rise to the challenge.