Lions XV pecking order shaping up nicely for Ireland stars

Patrick McCarry

The biggest calls need to be made in the back three.

Just one change to our Lions XV pecking order for the Test Series, but a couple of new faces in with the back-up options.

The Lions followed up an eight-try win over the Sharks, last Wednesday, by running in 11 more against the same opponents. Even though the Lions racked up a bigger score, the second victory over Sharks was a sterner test and the first half provided the tourists with a few scares.

Given the daily upheavals and uncertainties of tour life in Covid-hit South Africa, Lions head coach Warren Gatland has been proud of the way his squad have rolled with the punches.

“There has been chaos,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s then about adapting to that and then changing. That’s been the mantra. I thought we handled it during the week. I see it as a positive.

“If there’s anything wrong with us, that doesn’t upset us. We’re able to make decisions quickly and move on. We’ve just got to go with the flow and react to whatever is thrown at us. If anything else happens on the tour that is as chaotic as this week has been, that would probably surprise me.”

Jack Conan of the Lions takes on Dylan Richardson (L) and Wiehahn Herbst during the match between the Cell C Sharks and the British & Irish Lions at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The last two games have not altered our Lions XV pecking order too much since last weekend’s win over the Sigma Lions. If anything, it has further cemented our views on players we feel are guaranteed Test starters.

To us, the nailed-on starters are: Furlong, Itoje, Henderson, Beirne, Faletau, Murray, Biggar and Williams. Robbie Henshaw too, if he gets another warm-up game in before the Test Series.

The front row is not quite locked down – aside from Furlong – while Chris Harris is doing all he can to feature in either the 12 or 13 jersey. Selecting two wingers from the in-form quartet of Anthony Watson, Josh Adams, Duhan van der Merwe and Louis Rees-Zammit will take some doing.

To make things easier on himself, Gatland may now look at Liam Williams as direct fullback competition for Stuart Hogg. Marcus Smith arrives from England later today and will be hoping for some game-time on Wednesday – South Africa ‘A’ the likely opponents – to stake his Test claims.

Below is our Lions XV, with back-up options in brackets and newcomers in bold.

Lions XV pecking order

15. Liam Williams (Stuart Hogg)
14. Anthony Watson (Louis Rees-Zammit)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Elliot Daly)
12. Bundee Aki (Chris Harris)
11. Josh Adams (Duhan van der Merwe)
10. Dan Biggar (Owen Farrell)
9. Conor Murray (Ali Price)

1. Wyn Jones (Mako Vunipola)
2. Jamie George (Ken Owens)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Kyle Sinckler)
4. Maro Itoje (Jonny Hill)
5. Iain Henderson (Adam Beard)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Courtney Lawes)
7. Hamish Watson (Tom Curry)
8. Toby Faletau (Jack Conan)