The Lions players are on the brink of finding out if they’ve done enough to make the Test team.
If selection were based solely on form over the past few weeks, what would the team look like?
This…
15. Anthony Watson
Liam Williams and Stuart Hogg have done nothing wrong here, and one of them is highly likely to wear 15 against the Boks, but neither have really had great opportunity to stamp themselves on the tour due to either injury or isolation.
Watson can play full-back and has been class personified when he’s played.
Read more:Pundits and writers name Lions Test XV Warren Gatland should now pick
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14. Duhan van der Merwe
Every time he’s stepped onto the pitch he has made an impact. Louis Rees-Zammit has done himself proud, but van der Merwe just edges it.
13. Elliot Daly
May not have even made the squad if George North hadn’t got injured, but he’s played more than anyone out in South Africa.
In truth, none of the midfield options have been outstanding, but Daly has shown some nice flashes and offers a creative spark none of his rivals really can.
12. Chris Harris
Harris is more of a 13 by trade but can play 12. He’s been the best of an average bunch so far, with Aki failing to impose himself to any significant degree and Robbie Henshaw troubled by injury. At least one of the Irish duo will be picked in the actual team though.
11. Josh Adams
Adams had his least effective match of the tour against the Stormers last time out, but he has enough credit in the bank. Eight tries in four tour matches tells you all you need to know. He’s just a very good rugby player.
10. Dan Biggar
Now, seeing as this team is based only on form, you could make a strong argument for young Marcus Smith who was so excellent against the Stormers on Saturday.
But let’s not forget Biggar was man of the match against Japan in the first warm-up game and was solid against the Sharks.
Owen Farrell just didn’t do enough against South Africa A, and Biggar remains the form realistic choice, with Finn Russell barely featuring.
9. Ali Price
Widely described as a problem position for the Lions, but such a label is probably doing a disservice to Scotland number nine Price.
He’s been impressive, outshining Conor Murray and Gareth Davies withe the tempo of his game, quality service and decent box kicking.
Murray’s reputation and experience may edge it, but Price deserves it.
Pick your Lions XV now
1. Wyn Jones
Plenty would argue this one differently.
Rory Sutherland was certainly the early form loosehead on tour, while Mako Vunipola has been an impactful presence coming off the bench in recent games.
But Jones, who came into the tour as the form man, was just outstanding against South Africa A – a game that perhaps carries far more weight than any other given the quality of the opposition.
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
Don’t be surprised if Cowan-Dickie actually starts on the bench as you feel Gatland may view him as an important impact weapon later in the match.
But if we’re using form as our only barometer, Cowan-Dickie starts after a series of aggressively impressive displays. Ken Owens could well miss out altogether here.
3. Tadhg Furlong
Kyle Sinckler has been class in all fairness, but then so has Furlong.
He just edges it based on his all round contribution at set piece and in the loose, but Sinckler will have a real say in this Test series.
4. Maro Itoje
Majestic against South Africa A in particular. One of the very few nailed on starters.
5. Adam Beard
It’ll probably be Alun Wyn Jones who actually starts, but his rivals really have done all they can over the past couple of weeks.
Iain Henderson has been generally excellent and Jonny Hill has surprised a lot of people.
But it’s Adam Beard who has been a real revelation since he was a controversial call-up, impressing with his maul defence and unique handling ability in the wider channels.
It would be some story if he makes the Test team.
6. Tadhg Beirne
Such competition in the back row, and don’t be shocked if Courtney Lawes actually starts at six.
Beirne deserves it though. He’s been very good every time he has played on tour, coming on the back of a superlative Six Nations campaign.
A genuine turnover threat, he can also carry and mix it with the Boks’ brutes.
7. Tom Curry
Hamish Watson has had a great tour but Curry produced perhaps the standout performance of the past few weeks against South Africa A.
Given the opposition was effectively the Springboks first team, Curry has earned the jersey.
8. Jack Conan
Taulupe Faletau hasn’t really carried his Six Nations form into this tour, even if you do get the sense there’s a big performance just brewing beneath the surface of what we’ve seen so far.
Likewise, Sam Simmonds has done reasonably well without blowing people away as we thought he might.
Perhaps surprisingly, Conan, who was been consistently effective in each of his four appearances so far, scoring two tries in the process, has been the best number eight.
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