The Lions selection battle is just beginning. After Andy Farrell appointed a team of 38 (or should it be 40 years?) To visit Australia this summer on Thursday, the next step is to choose a starting team.
The three test series against the Wallabies begins on July 19 in Brisbane, so who should start at Lang Park and lead the Lions to glory?
Australia has won only one series against the Lions in the past 95 years, over the top 2-1 in 2001. But with Joseph-Aaukuso suaalii, they will not be thrust this summer.
Here, our team of experts – including a former Lions head coach and former half -înement of the starting test – makes his choices to make history.
Chris Foy, rugby correspondent
This programming is based on a powerful mixture of power, rhythm, aerial presence and breakdown, and a nucleus of native talents – rather than having excessive dependence on the many imports of the southern hemisphere in the rows of lions.
It is only a call for the selection of feels on the preservation of the Spirit on one British and Irish side. The inclusion of the Australian Captain of Scotland, Sione Tuipulotu, is a non -negotiable reflection of its status of best interior center, while James Lowe – the Kiwi wing of Ireland – edge of the Giant South African Scottish, Duhan Van derwe.
The inclusion of the Scottish Australian Captain, Sione Tuipulotu, is a non -negotiable reflection of its status as the best interior center
Alex Mitchell could compete with Jamison Gibson-Park for a place in Scrum-Half in the first choice of Andy Farrell’s first choice and he made mine, as chic controller and threat of sniper
Blair Kinghorn is worth waiting at the back of the back after the end of his Toulouse season
Otherwise, the team comes from these islands, as it should. Alex Mitchell could compete with Jamison Gibson-Park for a place in Scrum-Half in the first choice of Andy Farrell’s first choice and he makes mine, as a chic controller and threatening of a sniper.
Apart from him, for the moment, Finn Russell remains the favorite at 10 years, but do not exclude Smith at the start of the test series.
Elsewhere, Blair Kinghorn is worth waiting at the back, Andrew Porter it observer on Ellis Genge in Loolhead, but it is a tight call, while it is also a launch in the second row, with Tadhg Beirne on Ollie Chessum – Just.
My rear row is configured to be fast, multidimensional and a nightmare for breakdown wallabies, Henry Pollock was ready to get Riot from the bench.
Blair Kinghorn (SCO), Tommy Freeman (Eng), Huw Jones (SCO), Sione Tuipulotu (SCO), James Lowe (Ire), Finn Russell (SCO), Alex Mitchell (Eng); Andrew Porter (Ire), Dan Sheehan (Ire), Will Stuart (Eng), Maro Itoje (Eng, Capt), Tadhg Beirne (Ire), Tom Curry (Eng), Jac Morgan (Wal), Ben Earl (Eng).
Sir Clive Woodward, World Cup winner coach and Lions 2005 head coach
I stick to my weapons that Finn Russell should be the Lions test No. 10. But I think it will undergo strong pressure for its end Smith position.
Northampton’s Smith has experienced an incredible year, becoming the half chix of half of England. Much of the conversation after the victory of the Saints on Leinster concerned Henry Pollock and rightly so. But Smith was simply beautiful in this game, completely surpassing Sam Prendergast of Ireland. Russell will be well aware that Smith is the strength to come.
With Caelan Doris injured, the lions need someone to really advance at n ° 8 and I think Ben Earl can be this man. I sometimes criticized Earl, but he really became a player in the real international stature and lions.
I stick to my weapons that Finn Russell should be the Lions No. 10 test
But Russell will be well aware that the late Smith of England and Northampton is the strength to come
I sometimes criticized Ben Earl, but he really became a player in the real international stature and lions
Jack Conan of Ireland is a more specialized n ° 8 and it is a tight call between him and Earl, but I think that English on the edge.
I would have selected Jack Willis. With Willis Absent, I would start Pollock at n ° 7 on the current form. If she is in good shape and pulling, Duhan Van der Merwe is on the wing with an irisque first row of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong.
I was so impressed by Alex Mitchell that I think he can jump Jamiston Gibson-Park in half the scrum.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park (Ire); Ellis Genge (Eng), Sheehan, Stuart, Itoje (Capt), Beirne, Curry, Josh van der Flier (Ire), Earl.
Dan Biggar, 2021 Lions starting test for half the fly and 112 caps for Wales
It is of vital importance for Lions to obtain an adjustment from the Scottish Center Sione Tuipulotu. If it is – and all the signs indicate that it happens – then it is a really key figure because of the power it brings in the midfield.
Lions have many different options and a number of versatile players like Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Elliot Daly and Marcus Smith, among others. I think this is what Andy Farrell did on this team.
I think the accent will be put on guys like Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan to do a lot of transport with players like Tom Curry and Josh Van Der Flier doing the recovery work in the rear row.
Tom Curry will do a lot of recovery work in the rear row
Jack Conan will be responsible for many balls like n ° 8 by my side
I think Farrell will want to opt for familiar combinations in the center, which means Tuipulotu with Huw Jones and Bundee Aki alongside Garry Ringrose. This familiarity will be the key to the lions.
I like this Lions team, it is a mixture of guys who are in good shape like Tommy Freeman and Henry Pollock with players from Ireland that Farrell knows and trusts. This is why Farrell opted for 15 Irish.
My Lions team and this team are good enough to beat Australia 2-1 in the test series. Tadhg Furlong is just at Tighthesad Prop on the supply that it is entirely in good shape.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong (Ire), Itoje (Capt), Beirne, Curry, van der Flier, Jack Conan (Ire).
Nik Simon, rugby journalist
Many rugby hugs have studied cohesion data, using the award -winning Manchester City team to highlight the importance of familiar game partnerships.
For Northampton and England, the late Smith and Tommy Freeman have developed a partnership like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the New England Patriots.
They are on the same wavelength for each game and the tests are thick and fast. But I have been firmly aboard the finn Russell’s threshing train for years, so he got the head sign, connecting all his Scottish teammates to the bottom line.
Northampton Smith and Tommy Freeman teammates (both jumping) make my lions starting XV
The team is light on the lions experiences if Tadhg Furlong, even if it has exceeded its peak, anchors the fray
The team is light on the Lions experience, so Tadhg Furlong, even if it has exceeded its peak, anchors the fray. His teammate in Ireland Tadhg Beirne is behind him on the side of the hiking heads, with Ellis Genge and Maro Itoje on the loose head.
It is not the fastest group, so Ben Earl and Henry Pollock add their rhythm in the rear rank, joined by the familiar presence of Tom Curry. It is a team full of balls that could mark tests to send the packages of YouTube reflections in the fusion.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, RussEll, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (Capt), Beirne, Curry, Henry Pollock (Eng), Earl.
Alex Bywater, rugby journalist
I selected my team according to the current form. This means end of Smith in front of Finn Russell at n ° 10 and the Tyro Henry Pollock breakthrough in the rear row.
To beat Australia, the Lions must play with a serious rhythm and a trio before Tom Curry, Pollock and Ben Earl can do that exactly.
However, I am surprised that Jack Willis was not selected. In my opinion, he is the best striker in Europe.
I selected my team according to the current form. This means the Tyro Henry Pollock breakthrough in the rear row
Lions lack wide rhythm – Freeman (right) is now a certain starter with James Lowe (left) on the other wing
The Ellis Genge in England also deserves to start in the front row because it is in good shape
I think the lions lack rhythm with the Duhan van der Merwe and Mack Hansen wings currently injured. This makes Tommy Freeman, who was on fire for Northampton, a certain leaving.
Sione Tuipulotu is confident from an imminent return to fitness and he will punch that is much necessary in the midfield.
Ellis Genge also deserves to start because he is in good shape. An area of concern in my team is whether or not whether or not there has enough carriers forward, so it is a tight call between Ollie Chessum and Tadhg Beirne as a locking partner for Captain Maro Itoje.
Kinghorn, Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, end Smith (Eng), Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Stuart, Itoje (Capt), Beirne, Curry, Pollock, Earl.
