Warren Gatland announces his coaching team for the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand next week, but it’s the make-up of his 37-man squad which is the main concern for most rugby fans.
After this weekend’s International rugby send-off at Twickenham, each contender will have a maximum of five internationals to prove their credentials before the Gatland names his squad for the most challenging mission in rugby.
Here is the squad, as things stand, that we’d take to New Zealand to take on the All Blacks:
BACK-THREE
RUCK’s picks: Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams George North (both Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Jonny May, Anthony Watson (England), Simon Zebo (Ireland).
CENTRES
RUCK’s picks: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Jonathan Joseph (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Huw Jones (Scotland)
FLY-HALVES
RUCK’s picks: Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Owen Farrell, George Ford (England)
SCRUM-HALVES
RUCK’s picks: Conor Murray (Ireland), Rhys Webb (Wales), Ben Youngs (England)
PROPS
RUCK’s picks: Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole (England), WP Nel (Scotland)
HOOKERS
RUCK’s picks: Dylan Hartley, Jamie George (England), Rory Best (Ireland).
LOCKS
RUCK’s picks: Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Jonny Gray (Scotland)
BACK-ROW
RUCK’s picks: Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (Wales), Jamie Heaslip, CJ Stander (Ireland), Billy Vunipola, Chris Robshaw, (England), John Barclay (Scotland)
