The Lions selection battle has only just begun. After Andy Farrell named a squad of 38 (or should that be 40?) to tour Australia this summer on Thursday, the next step is picking a starting team.
The three-Test series against the Wallabies begins on July 19 in Brisbane, so who should start at Lang Park and lead the Lions to glory Down Under?
Australia have won only one series against the Lions in the last 95 years, coming out on top 2-1 in 2001. But with the likes of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii coming through, they will be no pushovers this summer.
Here, our expert team – including a former Lions head coach and former starting Test fly-half – make their picks to make history.
Chris Foy, Rugby Correspondent
This line-up is based on a potent blend of power, pace, aerial and breakdown presence, and a core of native talent – rather than having an over-reliance on the many southern hemisphere imports in the Lions ranks.
That is just a gut-feel selection call about preserving the spirit of a British and Irish side. The inclusion of Scotland’s Australian captain, Sione Tuipulotu, is a non-negotiable reflection of his status as the best inside centre, while James Lowe – Ireland’s Kiwi wing – edges out the giant South African Scot, Duhan van der Merwe.
The inclusion of Scotland’s Australian captain, Sione Tuipulotu, is a non-negotiable reflection of his status as the best inside centre
Alex Mitchell could rival Jamison Gibson-Park for a place at scrum-half in Andy Farrell’s first-choice XV and he makes it into mine, as a classy controller and a sniping threat
Blair Kinghorn is worth waiting for at full-back after his Toulouse season comes to an end
Otherwise, the team comes from these islands, as it should. Alex Mitchell could rival Jamison Gibson-Park for a place at scrum-half in Andy Farrell’s first-choice XV and he makes it into mine, as a classy controller and a sniping threat.
Outside him, for now, Finn Russell remains the favourite at 10, but don’t rule out Fin Smith usurping him by the time the Test series starts.
Elsewhere, Blair Kinghorn is worth waiting for at full-back, Andrew Porter just shades it over Ellis Genge at loosehead, but that is a tight call, while it is also a toss-up in the second row, with Tadhg Beirne over Ollie Chessum – just.
My back row is set up to be fast, multi-dimensional and a nightmare for the Wallabies at the breakdown, with Henry Pollock primed to run riot off the bench.
Blair Kinghorn (Sco), Tommy Freeman (Eng), Huw Jones (Sco), Sione Tuipulotu (Sco), James Lowe (Ire), Finn Russell (Sco), Alex Mitchell (Eng); Andrew Porter (Ire), Dan Sheehan (Ire), Will Stuart (Eng), Maro Itoje (Eng, capt), Tadhg Beirne (Ire), Tom Curry (Eng), Jac Morgan (Wal), Ben Earl (Eng).
Sir Clive Woodward, World Cup-winning coach and 2005 Lions head coach
I’m sticking to my guns that Finn Russell should be the Lions Test No 10. But I think he is going to come under serious pressure for his position from Fin Smith.
Northampton’s Smith has had an amazing year, becoming first-choice England fly-half. A lot of the talk after Saints’ win over Leinster was about Henry Pollock and rightly so. But Smith was just magnificent in that game, completely outplaying Ireland’s Sam Prendergast. Russell will be well aware Smith is the coming force.
With Caelan Doris out injured, the Lions need someone to really step forward at No 8 and I think Ben Earl can be that man. I’ve been critical of Earl at times, but he has really grown into a player of true international and Lions stature.
I’m sticking to my guns that Finn Russell should be the Lions Test No 10
But Russell will be well aware that England and Northampton’s Fin Smith is the coming force
I’ve been critical of Ben Earl at times, but he has really grown into a player of true international and Lions stature
Jack Conan of Ireland is a more specialist No 8 and it’s a tight call between him and Earl, but I think the Englishman just edges it.
I would have selected Jack Willis. With Willis absent, I’d start Pollock at No 7 on current form. If fit and firing, Duhan van der Merwe is on the wing with an all-Irish front row of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong.
I’ve been so impressed with Alex Mitchell I think he can leapfrog Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park (Ire); Ellis Genge (Eng), Sheehan, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Beirne, Curry, Josh van der Flier (Ire), Earl.
Dan Biggar, 2021 Lions starting Test fly-half and 112 caps for Wales
It’s vitally important for the Lions to get Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu fit. If he is – and all signs point to that happening – then he’s a really key figure because of the power he brings to the midfield.
The Lions have lots of different options and a number of versatile players like Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Elliot Daly and Marcus Smith among others. I think that’s what Andy Farrell has gone for in this squad.
I think there’ll be a big emphasis on guys like Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan to do a lot of the carrying with players like Tom Curry and Josh van der Flier doing the scavenging work in the back row.
Tom Curry will be doing a lot of the scavenging work in the back row
Jack Conan will be tasked with a lot of ball-carrying as the No 8 in my side
I think Farrell will want to go for familiar combinations in the centre, which means Tuipulotu with Huw Jones and Bundee Aki alongside Garry Ringrose. That familiarity will be key to the Lions.
I do like this Lions squad, it’s a mix of guys who are bang in form like Tommy Freeman and Henry Pollock with players from Ireland who Farrell knows and trusts. That’s why Farrell has gone for 15 Irishmen.
My Lions team and this squad is good enough to beat Australia 2-1 in the Test series. Tadhg Furlong is just in at tighthead prop on the proviso he’s fully fit.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong (Ire), Itoje (capt), Beirne, Curry, Van der Flier, Jack Conan (Ire).
Nik Simon, Rugby Reporter
A lot of rugby’s number crunchers have been studying cohesion data, using the Treble-winning Manchester City team to highlight the importance of familiar playing partnerships.
For Northampton and England, Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman have been developing a partnership like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski had at the New England Patriots.
They are on the same wavelength for every play and the tries are coming thick and fast. But I have been firmly on board the Finn Russell hype train for years so he gets the nod, linking up with all his Scottish team-mates in the backline.
Northampton team-mates Smith and Tommy Freeman (both jumping) make my Lions starting XV
The squad is light on Lions experience so Tadhg Furlong, even if he is past his prime, anchors the scrum
The squad is light on Lions experience so Tadhg Furlong, even if he is past his prime, anchors the scrum. His Ireland team-mate Tadhg Beirne packs down behind him on the tighthead side, with Ellis Genge and Maro Itoje on the loosehead.
It is not the quickest group so Ben Earl and Henry Pollock add their pace in the back row, joined by the familiar battling presence of Tom Curry. It’s a team full of ballers who could score tries to send the YouTube highlights packages into meltdown.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (capt), Beirne, Curry, Henry Pollock (Eng), Earl.
Alex Bywater, Rugby Reporter
I’ve selected my team based on current form. That means Fin Smith ahead of Finn Russell at No 10 and breakthrough tyro Henry Pollock in the back row.
To beat Australia, the Lions need to play with serious pace and a loose forward trio of Tom Curry, Pollock and Ben Earl can do just that.
I’m amazed Jack Willis hasn’t been selected, however. In my opinion, he is the best forward in Europe.
I’ve selected my team based on current form. That means breakthrough tyro Henry Pollock in the back row
The Lions lack pace out wide – Freeman (right) is now a certain starter with James Lowe (left) on the other wing
England’s Ellis Genge also deserves to start in the front row as he’s in fine form
I do think the Lions lack pace out wide with wings Duhan van der Merwe and Mack Hansen currently injured. That makes Tommy Freeman, who has been on fire for Northampton, a certain starter.
Sione Tuipulotu is confident of an imminent return to fitness and he will bring some much-needed punch to the midfield.
Ellis Genge also deserves to start as he’s in fine form. One area of concern in my team is whether or not it has enough forward carriers, so it’s a tight call between Ollie Chessum and Tadhg Beirne as the lock partner to captain Maro Itoje.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Fin Smith (Eng), Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Beirne, Curry, Pollock, Earl.
