It’s one of the hottest debate topics egg-chasing has to offer.
Given we live in something of a green goldfish bowl on these Irish shores, there’s no harm getting input from elsewhere. And so we have the HarpinOnRugby Lions Selector Panel, made up of one fan from each nation, with even the Irish panellist based abroad.
With the Autumn Internationals coming to a close, we kick-off the 4th round of selections with our English panellist Rich Church-Keen.
Its great that the Internationals have finally come around, we've seen the potential British and Irish Lions pit themselves against the worlds best, and generally, fail.
England have seemed hell bent in turning down chances to win, Ireland finished on a high with a cracking victory over Argentina (having unearthed some cracking talents at International level!), Wales and Scotland have both been poor. I certainly think (even with the weekends games to go) that the Irish will have most to smile about.
As I try to pick my Lions squad on form and fitness, the Autumn Internationals will have massively changed the look of the side. Realistically, this side would have very little chance of being the final XV, so I'm going to do select two sides, one based on form and then my overall selection.
The side representing Form….
15 Zebo (Ire) or Goode (Eng) - I can't decide between these, both have had solid Autumns, Goode has fit in nicely with England and Zebo is a huge talent, but possibly more suited to the wing. I'll name both, form would possibly just tip the balance to Zebo though.
14 Bowe (Ire) – Do I need to explain this?
13 Tuilagi (Eng) - If he ever learns to pass, he will be one of the all time great English players. Has broke the gainline so many times in a dire England backline that its hard to ignore him. But please, Manu......Learn to pass!
12 D'Arcy (Ire) - On Autumn international form.... who else is there to pick?
11 Gilroy (Ire) - Yeah i know.... 1 cap, 1 try..... BUT, masterful performance in the non cap game Vs Fiji, where he got a hat trick, and workrate, defence and willingness get him the nod over Visser, who's game seems to involve standing around and waiting for the ball. I believe England forgot to pick any wingers after the Fiji game as i didn't see any after then, and no other players with any kind of form in the wing positions.
10 Sexton (Ire) - I was going to put Priestland in as a joke here, just to see how many people spat coffee on their laptops. Flood injured (and his form not 100%) as well as Biggar, Scotland lack genuine class at 10. Sexton, for me, a shoe in.
9 Murray/Care/Phillips (Ire/Eng/Wal) - a position where no-one is setting the world alight. Take your pick.
8 Heaslip (Ire) - JUST tips in over Ben Morgan due to more game time, Faletau and Denton haven't showed up over the Autumn games
7 Henry (Ire) - Captain Cymru has lost all form, Robshaw isn't a 7 and Scotland can't decide on a regular back row.
6 Strokosch (Sco) - Ally is a never say die player, incredible workrate, strong tackler atc and deserves more than his Scottish teammates will offer him. Peter O'Mahony a very similar player, but i'm a huge fan of Strokosch, he'll never let the side down! (and to be fair, i don't think Irish fans will mind one controversial, personal choice as they are OWNING this selection at the moment!!)
5 Launchbury (Eng) - Baptism of fire for young Joe. Handled it very well and performed well enough as a sub to shoehorn his way in to the starting line up.
4 Ryan (Ire) - Seems PO'C's injury wasn't as much as a problem as first feared with the emergence (internationally) of the 'other' Donncha.
3 Cole (Eng) - Not seen anyone show any form that would make me replace him in the starting XV.
2 Strauss (Ire) - Tom Youngs....No. Rees.....No. Scottish front row have all been poor..... so a collective no. That makes it a lot easier. Strauss it is!
1 Healy (Ire) - See Dan Cole.
So that team selection will make me a public enemy in Wales and Scotland!!!
My latest full Lions XV…
15 - Kearney (Ire) - This will solely depend on 6 nations form now. Halfpenny has done himself no favours over the Autumn, especially with his 'Bananaman AirSwim' vs Samoa and Kearney, through not playing, has probably gone above him in the pecking order!
14- Bowe (Ire) Made EVERY selection so far, I see no reason to change!
13- O'Driscoll (Ire) Guile, craft and flair that is hard to match. We'll need that to unlock stubborn defences.
12- Davies (Wales) Davies is slippery and elusive, Roberts is like a brick wall defensively. Both would work well with BOD.
11- North (Wal) The 6 nations will show me if he's been 'found out' or not. Certainly not the daunting prospect of last season, and several guys chasing him down now.
10- Sexton (Ire) Almost a shoe-in. It'll take a miraculous recovery of form (Priestland, Flood), a new face bursting on the scene (Freddie Burns?) or an injury to take him out now.
9- Phillips (Wal) Not everyone’s cup of tea, but his feistyness alone may well get him the nod!
I'm going to select the forwards as 'units'...
8- Heaslip 7-O'Brien 6- Ferris (all Ire) As a unit, superb, individually, superb. Warburton, Robshaw, Faletau, Denton et al will fight all the way, but at the moment, these 3 are the back row for me!
5- O'Connell (Ire) 4-Gray (Sco) - if fit, a daunting pair, but they will know that there are players such as Ryan and Launchbury ready to take them on, and Lawes coming back to fitness as well.
3- Cole 2-Best 1 Healy (Eng/Ire/Ire) - The 2 best Northern Hemisphere props and the hooker...well, its a toss up with Best and Hartley at the moment for me. Ford off the boil, Strauss I think will end up as sub to Best. Youngs, NO!, Rees, too lightweight, doesn't offer enough of an all round game! Best and Hartley both out at the mo. But I'll select Best, because Hartley will probably end up banned. :)
The further into the season we go, the more my mind will be changed. The guys in the 'Form XV' will all stake claims, especially at 6 nations time, and the guys returning from injury will have to prove themselves. I'm pretty certain that my final team will change from the team above!
Have a good Christmas people!
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)!!!
Thanks Rich! As usual we have put the four panellists’ selections together to form the HoR Composite Lions XV; click here to see what changes have been made this week! Next Friday, the latest views of Welshman Hywel Davies.
