British & Irish Lions news: Player watch – Premiership, United Rugby Championship semi-finals

With three of four semi-finals across the English Premiership and United Rugby Championship involving constituent nations of the British & Irish Lions, several members of Andy Farrell’s squad for the upcoming tour to Australia had a welcome run-out in pressure matches.

In the Premiership, we saw two games of the highest quality as Bath hosted Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks travelled to Leicester Tigers, with physicality, tactical nous, and outright talent on display from all involved.

Over in the URC, two South African giants in the Bulls and Sharks clashed, while defending champions Glasgow Warriors took on Leinster in a match-up that involved numerous Lions players.

Here, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett reviews the weekend’s action and considers which Lions players put their hands up to start against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies side.

Bath 34-20 Bristol Bears – Premiership Rugby

A real war took place under Friday night lights at the Recreation Ground.

After a strong start from the Bears that was topped off with a trademark screamer of a try, a big half-time break came calling for the favourites of both the game and the tournament as a whole.

Johann van Graan duly provided the necessary as the hooped jerseys came out firing in the second half, scoring within minutes.

28 unanswered points then saw Bath stroll their way into the final, with a Bristol try in the dying minutes softening the blow of a heavy scoreline.

In terms of Lions to watch, there is really only one place to start: the stand-out Finn Russell.

The Scottish fly-half was on fire as he set up multiple tries, the highlight moment of which was a diving pass to Ted Hill that gave the Bath flanker a walk-in.

And by landing a perfect kicking record, sinking 14 points for his team, Russell put his critics to bed in the biggest of pressure situations.

Another Lion on display for Bath was Will Stuart, who had a quiet game relative to his recent excellent form.

However, considering the Lions’ ongoing injury issues at number three, Stuart’s spot in Andy Farrell’s team seems nailed on regardless.

For the Bears, Ellis Genge was a proper pantomime villain at the Rec thanks to his pre-game comments, although he was also his usual quality self.

Offering trademark physicality with ball in hand, he pulled off some deft touches and even provided a high-quality assist for James Dun’s try with a skip pass that most professional fly-halves would be pleased with.

In the end, it was a great game for the English loosehead and one that will certainly put a tick next to his name when it comes to selection for the Lions’ matchday squad.

READ MORE: British & Irish Lions news: A backline of players not selected by Andy Farrell for Australia tour

Leicester Tigers 21-16 Sale Sharks – Premiership Rugby

It was another bruising affair in the East Midlands, involving two teams that pride themselves on up-front defence and physicality around the park.

Leicester got off to a flyer courtesy of a double from Adam Radwan, one of which was an unbelievable diving effort following a questionable cross-field kick by an unusually poor Handré Pollard.

Much like Van Graan, Alex Sanderson had a massive half-time team talk on his hands as the Sharks barely fired a shot in the opening 40 minutes.

They did at least come out swinging in the second half, their talismanic outside-centre Robert du Preez bulldozing over from seven metres out.

Sensing a mood shift, the Tigers made some changes shortly after, bringing on veterans Ben Youngs and Dan Cole for solidity plus Australian Izaia Perese as a ‘game-breaker’.

And with his first touch, he tore through Sale’s backline and scored what would end up being the match-winning try.

Only two Lions took to the field at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with Tiger Ollie Chessum the pick of the two.

Chessum was a true standout for his team and led from the front superbly, both at set-piece time and in the loose.

His improvement in the carry was particularly noticeable every time he had the ball in hand, and his aerial work and ability to call lineouts put the Tigers in some brilliant positions.

With fellow Englishman, Maro Itoje, a guaranteed starter Down Under, the question is: who will be his partner?

All things considered, Chessum made a serious claim for that second lock position on Saturday afternoon.

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Leinster 37-19 Glasgow Warriors – United Rugby Championship

After question marks were raised following a dramatic Investec Champions Cup exit at the hands of Northampton Saints, Leinster and coach Leo Cullen made a statement by blowing away the defending URC champions at the Aviva on Saturday.

Despite Glasgow clearly putting the emphasis on physicality, the men in blue repeatedly found holes in the visitors’ over-eager defensive lines.

And with two excellent try assists off large skipping passes which got rid of several inside defenders and set up walk-ins, it is hard to look past Jamison Gibson-Park when it comes to Lions players.

There was some noise around Alex Mitchell possibly taking the number nine shirt in Andy Farrell’s team, but Gibson-Park has now likely solidified his starting spot for Australia.

Shifting focus to the losing side in Dublin, Warriors star Sione Tuipulotu stood out.

His ability to break tackles is nothing short of elite – as evidenced by his waltz through the Leinster defence for a consolation try – and he remains the front-runner for the inside-centre spot come the first Test, especially considering his past experience on the fast, dry pitches of Australia.

MORE FROM JACOB GARRETT: British & Irish Lions news: Six Wallabies to look out for on the eagerly awaited tour to Australia