A mighty squad of players.
With Andy Farrell’s 38-man squad named, we have put ourselves in the head coach’s chair and had a crack at selecting what we believe is the best 23 the Lions can put out against Australia.
Front row
A one-two punch of Andrew Porter and Ellis Genge seems like the play here; the Irishman making hay with his immense power for 50-odd minutes, before setting free the Baby Rhino.
Tighthead is a tougher call, with both Will Stuart and Zander Fagerson in top form, while Tadhg Furlong is Tadhg Furlong.
The Irish legend, going on his third tour, has struggled with injury and form and 25 minutes off the bench might be the best use of his skills.
Stuart vs Fagerson is a 50/50 call, but the latter’s crazy-good fitness won’t be as important with Furlong wearing 18.
For many, Dan Sheehan is world’s best hooker, but there is an argument to start him on the bench and unleash like Ireland did to great effect against England in the Six Nations.
Luke Cowan-Dickie vs Rónan Kelleher could go either way with both players playing their best rugby.
Second row
In Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirne, the Lions have two of the best players of their generation at their disposal.
The bench isn’t as clear, with Ollie Chessum and Joe McCarthy both quality impact options.
Back row
The injured Caelan Doris was the only sure bet in this area, with a host of tantalising combos to choose from.
Jack Conan is, by some distance, the most experienced at No 8, and coupled with form and his previous Lions-test experience, he is favourite to start at the base of the scrum.
Henry Pollock is looking simply too good not to start, while Tom Curry is still the outstanding 6/7, and marginally ahead of Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier.
Scrum-half
Unless there’s an injury or Tomos Williams, who is a tidy player in his own right, ups his game considerably, Jamison Gibson-Park will start with Alex Mitchell off the bench.
Out-half
Finn Russell is still the man in possession of the jersey, but Fin Smith is making up serious ground.
And it may be the case that one of them either starts or is out of the match-day squad completely, considering the game-breaking attributes of Marcus Smith and his ability to cover 15.
Centre
Although he missed the Six Nations through injury, nobody has matched the level that Sione Tuipulotu has brought over the past two seasons.
Bundee Aki has shown flashes, notably his cameo against Wales, and he is an option for the No 23 jersey.
Garry Ringrose and Huw Jones will be fighting tooth and nail for the outside centre slot, and while the latter has been more consistent and has rapport with Tuipulotu, Farrell’s familiarity with Ringrose probably makes him favourite to start.
Back three
Tommy Freeman and James Lowe are overwhelming favourites to start on the right and left wings.
Both Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn have their cheerleaders, but the Irishman has proven time and again that he is at his best when the stakes are higher.
Lions 23 for first test:
- Andrew Porter (Ireland)
- Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
- Will Stuart (England)
- Maro Itoje (England)
- Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
- Tom Curry (England)
- Henry Pollock (England)
- Jack Conan (Ireland)
- Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
- Finn Russell (Scotland)
- James Lowe (Ireland)
- Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
- Huw Jones (Scotland)
- Tommy Freeman (England)
- Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Ben Earl (England), Marcus Smith (England), Bundee Aki (Ireland).
