Lions Squad Prediction #1

Podcast Episode - 2

Our look at the 2017 Lions squad

In 2013, Warren Gatland took a 37 man touring squad to Australia and came home with a 2-1 test victory. In lieu of the official squad announcement on 19th April, we're making predictions on who we think he should take (not, who we think he will take) and we'll compare our predictions to the decisions he makes in April.

To keep things simple, we'll use Warrens formula from 2013. He may of course change this, but its a starting point.

Prop's - 6
Hooker's - 3
Lock's - 5
Back Row's - 7
Scrum Halves - 3
Fly Halves - 2
Centre's - 4
Wing's - 4
Full Back's - 3

So, our predictions:

ANDY

Prop
Mako Vunipola
Dan Cole
Kyle Sinkler
Tadhg Furlong
Jack McGrath
Cian Healy

Hooker
Rory Best
Dylan Hartley
Jamie George

2nd Row
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Maro Itoje
Alun-Wynn Jones
George Kruis

Back Row
Billy Vunipola
CJ Stander
Sam Warburton
James Haskell
Talupe Faletau
Sean O'Brien
Ross Moriarty

Scrum Half
Connor Murray
Rhys Webb
Danny Care

Fly Half
Jonnie Sexton
George Ford

Centre
Jonathan Joseph
Jonathan Davies
Owen Farrell
Robbie Henshaw

Wing
Anthony Watson
George North
Eliot Daly
Jack Nowell

Full Back
Stuart Hogg
Rob Kearney
Liam Williams


DAN

Prop
Mako Vunipola
Dan Cole
Kyle Sinkler
Tadhg Furlong
Jack McGrath
Joe Marler

Hooker
Rory Best
Dylan Hartley
Ken Owens

2nd Row
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Maro Itoje
Alun-Wynn Jones
Jonny Gray

Back Row
Billy Vunipola
CJ Stander
Sam Warburton
James Haskell
Talupe Faletau
Justin Tipuric
Peter O'Mahony

Scrum Half
Connor Murray
Rhys Webb
Danny Care

Fly Half
Jonnie Sexton
George Ford

Centre
Jonathan Joseph
Jonathan Davies
Owen Farrell
Ben Te'o

Wing
Anthony Watson
George North
Eliot Daly
Jack Nowell

Full Back
Stuart Hogg
Leigh Halfpenny
Liam Williams

If we're right, we could see as many as 18 Englishmen on tour, a hugely dominant English presence representing almost half the squad. Either way, its set to be a belter of a tour despite the mammoth task in front of them with the All-Blacks so dominant in top tier rugby.

We'll bring you more as its released.

Podcast Episode - 2