Over the coming season, our Lions Selector Panellists will be taking turns to pick their ideal Lions starting XV so we can see how they evolve based on form throughout the campaign. First, it’s the turn of our English panellist Rich Church-Keen.
The Lions tour seems to be a hot topic this time round, seemingly, more so than usual.
Mainly the XV I'm choosing now will be the guys who excelled last season, although there may be a couple of inclusions of guys who were out of form or injured.
Internationally, they won't really get a chance to prove themselves until the autumn internationals and the 6 Nations come around, so I may make changes depending on form shown then, but so far, I think this would be our strongest British and Irish Lions squad.
15. Leigh Halfpenny - Wales - Versatile, consistent, kicking ability, line breaking, speed, this guy is the consummate modern professional. Not a lot will prove to me that there is a better fullback in Britain or Ireland, Kearney and Foden are both too inconsistent,whereas Halfpenny is improving every season.
14. Tommy Bowe - Ireland - Always underrated by us English and southern hemisphere sides, yet has proved himself as a world class winger time and time again. The RaboPro12 fans have seen him for years proving his worth, now its time for him to step up once more with the Lions and show the world.
13. Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland - No explanation needed. Even at 47 years old (roughly) he is still capable of unlocking defences and has one of the sharpest brains in Northern Hemisphere rugby.
12. Jonathan Davies - Wales - MASSIVE season last time out, JD and BOD in the centre would provide sharp, incisive running allowing room for the wingers to fly.
11. George North - Wales - Rapid rise to the top for big George, not quite the 'Welsh Jonah Lomu' he was tipped to be, but the potential is there for him to be the biggest star in world rugby, a dominant showing on the Lions tour would certainly help his cause!!
10. Owen Farrell - England - Plays quite a reserved style, which may hamper his claims, but Sexton, Priestland and Faz are exceptionally close for a starting berth, I'll just give the nod to Owen as he seems to not feel pressure, whereas I think the other 2 can often seem to get hit by nerves!
9. Mike Phillips - Wales - Literally head and shoulders above the other options, we'll need a big, strong, gobby 9 and the chance of someone like Youngs coming on against tired legs after Mikes worked the defence over could well be a game changer!
8. Jamie Heaslip - Ireland - Not a great season last time round, but on form, Heaslip is a monster, we'll certainly need his muscle and his immense leg work, and Morgan, Faletau and Denton are all way behind in my eyes!
7. Sam Warburton - Wales - Hampered by injury, but a true 7 and a total gamechanger when fully fit. There are several guys chomping at the bit for the 6 and 7 shirts, Sams leadership will be key though and could well be a choice for captain!
6. Sean O'Brien - Ireland - Arguably another 7 on the pitch, but Sean has earned his right to go on the Lions tour with a stellar couple of seasons and possibly is more of a 6 anyway!
5. Paul O'Connell – Ireland Surely the first name on the teamsheet, and another with a good shout of skippering the tour, never taken a backwards step, great lineout option and physicality is top notch, HAS to go on tour.
4. Richie Gray - Scotland - I'm yet to be totally convinced by him, but his athleticism and height may prove invaluable, needs to pick up his physicality, but I think he'll be there or there about when the squad gets announced
3. Dan Cole - England - Fearsome scrummager, vast improvement in the loose, awesome beard. Just gets the nod for the 3 jersey for his all round abilities. and his beard. His awesome, awesome beard!
2. Ross Ford - Scotland - I'm usually on my own, but I really rate Ross, and as I used to play hooker, i like to think i know what to look for. Hartley has an awful temperament, Bests lineouts can be iffy and Rees has a dubious injury record. Fords lineouts aren't always spot on, but in the scrum and the loose, he's hard as nails.
1. Gethin Jenkins - Wales - Like Cole, strong in the loose and in the scrum, he could anchor the front row brilliantly, and the balance and dynamism in the front row could well prove hard to match.
It will be interesting to look back next season and see how much my view changes on this. Certainly guys like Sexton, Priestland, Croft, Denton, Lydiate, Ashton et al will be pushing to grab these shirts, and the Irish underperformances in New Zealand may well see a few of their numbers wiped out if they are repeated, but I fully expect the side to have a very Welsh look about it!
My name is Richard Church-Keen, born in Coventry, live in Dudley, yet by God's grace, I'm a diehard Gloucester Rugby and also an England rugby fan (and yes, in that order.) I'm a rugby mad husband to a rugby mad wife with a rugby mad stepson and indeed, rugby has taken over every facet of my life. I am a chef by day, and #RugbyUnited’s charity director and blogger in chief by night. Oh. And a twitter addict (@RichC_K)!!!
Rich will be back to us in 4 weeks to let us know if he has seen anything to change his mind. Next week, we meet our Welsh panellist.
