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, this week’s contributor Mark Jackson, based abroad.
Well been a most interesting month with a great opening weekend followed by some poorer fair . Here's hoping it reverts to the type of rugby witnessed on opening weekend for the following encounters . Injury and form dictate my current selection with a few changes evident .
15. Stuart Hogg - Ahead of other contenders for me with his willingness to return kicks and pace abound .
14. Leigh Halfpenny - Close call for 15 jersey but has been rock solid in defence , one of the Welsh who hasn't let form drop since last years Slam
13. Brian O' Driscoll - Average enough vs a good England side but still the man for this tour , going out in a blaze of glory you feel .
12. Billy Twelvetrees - About time he has got a shot with England . Can run and defend like most centres but has a howitzer of a boot too and most pleasingly can actually pass the ball
11. George North - Just gets nod ahead of Sean Maitland who has impressed for Scotland . Excellent finish in Paris just needs to reign in his dad .
10 . Jonathan Sexton - I know i said injury dictates selection but anything short of a broken leg and I would still pick him everyday of the week and twice on Sunday .
9. Ben Youngs - Mature performance in Aviva , still can improve especially on delivery has Danny Care breathing down his neck .
8. Sean O'Brien - Falatau and Beattie are performing well but have to find somewhere for this wrecking ball , No.8 is still where I feel he can do most damage Down Under, Heaslip disappointing .
7. Chris Robshaw - Deserves it on form for club n country . Still not a breakaway but does his roles well .
6. Tom Wood - Excellent autumn series followed up by high standards in 6 nations so far , Work rate of highest order and turning into Richard Hill V2.0 , slowly but surely
5. Geoff Parling - Not his biggest fan , but form lock in the 6 Nations in a good England Pack
4. Nathan Hines - Not playing for Scotland but still an all round talent who hopefully gets serious consideration , dont believe me , just watch his performances for the best club side in Europe at moment
3. Dan Cole - Roughed up a bit by Cian Healy , legally and otherwise in Dublin but will be the better for it , offers mroe than Adam Jones, Murray and Ross around the park , now a position of real depth for Lions selectors.
2. Rory Best - Easily Ireland's most consistent performer and miles ahead of the competition for me . Still has the odd worrying lineout wobble but all hookers do, work around the park and in the scrums of highest calibre
1. Cian Healy - Naughty boy and lucky to see any more action in the championship , improving all the time in the scrum , Dan Cole can attest to that and tackle count and ball carrying of a flank .
16. Dylan Hartley. 17. Joe Marler 18. Adam Jones 19. Ryan Jones 20. Justin Tipuric
21. Danny Care . 22. Owen Farrell 23. Manu Tuilagi .
Would liked to have seen this weekends action before selecting but such is life , see you in a months time for what will surely contain more changes as the tour edges ever closer. MJ
Mark Jackson (@markusjacksonus) is an Irishman living in London, a lover of this game we call Rugby along with Gaelic Football and NFL (All Hail The New York Giants), having played it for fun and money in many countries around the globe, am now earning a crust coaching, hopefully inspiring and passing along some knowledge gained to the next generation of players.
Thanks Mark! Click here to see how the “HoR Composite Selection” stacks up. Next week we begin round 7 with the latest from our English panellist Rich Church-Keen.
