Our powerful Lions starting Test XV after three games

Some side!

Three games in and the Lions Test side is starting to take shape.

Some have risen in the pecking order, while others have blown their chances already.

Needless to say, whatever the selection from Andy Farrell, it will be one hell of a team.

Front row

Dan Sheehan is probably the most nailed on starter in the squad; a world-class operator, who is head and shoulders above Luke Cowan-Dickie and Rónan Kelleher.

Andrew Porter came in as the favourite to start at loosehead, but Ellis Genge’s dismantling of the Argentinian scrum, coupled with Porter’s struggles at set-piece against the Reds, has the Englishman ahead.

Tight head is up in the air, but we are still backing Tadhg Furlong to get back to somewhere near his best with more game time under his belt.

However, if you were to go purely on current form, Finlay Bealham would get the nod.

Second row

Captain Maro Itoje solidified his Test place earlier today with a monstrous display against the Reds.

Joe McCarthy’s POTM performance against the Western Force also makes him hard to leave out, with his power game giving him a serious point of difference.

However, one big showing from Tadhg Beirne and he will be in the starting XV, either at 5 or 6.

Back row

Henry Pollock’s game-breaking ability makes it hard to leave him. The facets of the game he excels at just have a bigger impact than what the other backrows bring to the party.

Tom Curry has played himself out of the Test team with two average performances, leaving Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier to fight it out.

Morgan was a deserved POTM against the Reds, while VDF was on par with McCarthy against the Force.

Both are world-class options, but Morgan’s jackal threat is too valuable to ignore.

With Jack Conan being the only proper No 8 in the squad, added with leadership and Lions Test experience, the Leinster man looks more than likely to start against the Wallabies.

Half-back

Like Itoje and Sheehan, Finn Russell is well clear of the competition.

The Scot is in the prime of his career, and superior to both Marcus and Fin Smith in nearly every facet of out-half play.

Alex Mitchell impressed against Argentina, but, after returning from injury, Jamison Gibson-Park showed that he is still the man in possession of the 9 jersey.

Centre

Along with backrow and lock, these are the most open positions in the side.

What we have learned is that it will be one of Sione Tuipulotu or Bundee Aki at 12, and one of Huw Jones or Garry Ringrose at 13.

Tuipulotu has been the form 12 in the world over the past two seasons, a long-term injury aside, but Aki’s carrying makes him a more reliable choice.

Jones showed flashes of his attacking spark against the Reds, but Ringrose’s defensive attributes have him just ahead at the moment, while he has that Irish connection with Aki.

Back three

James Lowe is close to being nailed on at left wing, with his monstrous left boot top of a fine list of attributes he posseses.

Mack Hansen showed in the second half against the Force that he will provide stiff competition for Tommy Freeman, but the Englishman has not let up with his own form.

Three games in and neither Hugo Keenan or Blair Kinghorn have played a minute of rugby.

Elliot Daly has taken full advantage of their absence and is more than a real contender for a Test place.

However, the Englishman picked up what could be serious injury, and if his tour is over, we would opt for Keenan.

Lions 23 vs Australia:

1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Jac Morgan
7. Henry Pollock
8. Jack Conan
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Garry Ringrose
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Elliot Daly/Hugo Keenan

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu.

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10