With the excitement building ahead of 2013's visit to Australia, we decided to pump up the volume by introducing a regular British & Irish Lions watch!
Every three weeks or so Planet Rugby will update its leaderboard for who should pack their bags, who should keep the diary open and who should stock the fridge with a few beers, pizzas and ice creams for soaking up the tour on the couch, as the most coveted of selections fast approaches.
We must stress that long-term injuries have been taken into account for our calls. However, those nearing a return to action are accommodated.
Here we go - make sure to give your feedback.
FULL-BACKS
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: Mike Brown has been the form full-back during the early-season, with his ability to offer a threat in the first line of attack as well as at the back priceless. Meanwhile Leigh Halfpenny's goal-kicking makes him a certainty for boarding the plane.
On standby: Rob Kearney, Alex Goode, Lee Byrne
Best make other plans next June: Ben Foden, Stuart Hogg, Rob Miller, Delon Armitage
WINGS
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: Alex Cuthbert and Tommy Bowe have been in amongst the tries so far this season while Chris Ashton and Tim Visser provide power and speed for Saracens and Edinburgh respectively. George North also makes the cut right now but will need a solid November Test series and Six Nations to hold off those players on standby.
On standby: Sean Lamont, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo
Best make other plans next June: Ugo Monye, Keith Earls, Charlie Sharples, James Simpson-Daniel, David Strettle
CENTRES
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: These six pretty much wrote themselves into this squad as Jamie Roberts, Brian O'Driscoll, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt and Jonathan Davies have been consistently top quality. Owen Farrell may be included as a 10/12/13 so he sneaks in.
On standby: James Hook, Anthony Allen, Ashley Beck, Darren Cave, Scott Williams, Dom Waldouck
Best make other plans next June: James Downey, Paddy Wallace, Gordon D'Arcy, Jordan Turner-Hall, Fergus McFadden
FLY-HALVES
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: Let the comments commence. Jonathan Sexton is widely rated as the favourite to start but after Gatland's mention of Jonny Wilkinson - to go with his pain of 2001 - we bring in Toulon's form 10. Dan Biggar has overtaken Rhys Priestland.
On standby: Toby Flood, Rhys Priestland
Best make other plans next June: Ruaridh Jackson, Ronan O'Gara, Danny Cipriani, Charlie Hodgson
SCRUM-HALVES
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: 2009 saw four nines make the trip so on form we have Danny Care and Greig Laidlaw. If Mike Phillips can keep his head down in Bayonne then both he and Ben Youngs should hold off Lee Dickson and possible bolter Paul Marshall.
On standby: Lloyd Williams, Lee Dickson, Paul Marshall
Best make other plans next June: Conor Murray, Richard Wigglesworth
NUMBER EIGHTS
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: A tough one here as Jamie Heaslip played his first match of the season last week but should get back to form in a few rounds. Nick Easter seems to have Conor O'Shea and also most of the English press banging his drum so these two pip David Denton, Thomas Waldrom and Ben Morgan. It will be very interesting to see who Wales go for in November as Toby Faletau has fallen down the pecking order while it was interesting to see Ulster originally name Stephen Ferris at number eight for their game with Castres. We like a possible 6 Dan Lydiate/Sean O'Brien, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Ferris axis.
On standby: Thomas Waldrom, David Denton, Ben Morgan
Best make other plans next June: Peter O'Mahony, Jordan Crane, Toby Faletau, Andy Powell, Richard Baxter
FLANKERS
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: Depth aplenty here for Gatland as England captain Chris Robshaw, Wales skipper Warburton, Irish powerhouse O'Brien and the aforementioned Ferris seem to just about have the edge over Ross Rennie, Justin Tipuric and Tom Croft (who ruled out playing in the November Tests recently but should soon be back firing in club colours). Tom Wood has already made his rugby return and could make a surge this year.
On standby: Justin Tipuric, Ross Rennie, Tom Croft, Dan Lydiate
Best make other plans next June: Phil Dowson, John Barclay, Alasdair Strokosch, Andy Saull, Rob McCusker, Tom Wood
SECOND-ROWS
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: Two guys who made it to South Africa and two newbies make our cut for lock. Paul O'Connell and Alun-Wyn Jones are likely to muscle their way in while Courtney Lawes' performance was dynamic over the weekend against Glasgow. Leicester's Geoff Parling is a real workhorse who impressed a great deal during the tail end of the Six Nations and in June. Donnacha Ryan has that lock/back-row string to his bow.
On standby: Donnacha Ryan, Richie Gray, Nathan Hines, Mouritz Botha, Ryan Jones
Best make other plans next June: Bradley Davies, Al Kellock, Donncha O'Callaghan
HOOKERS
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: It doesn't look as though any rivals will budge this trio of Dylan Hartley, Rory Best and Ross Ford out of their international starting spots before Gatland sits down with his pen and paper. Tom Youngs is the possible bolter here.
On standby: Matthew Rees, Richard Hibbard, Richardt Strauss
Best make other plans next June: Sean Cronin, Tom Youngs
PROPS
Kiss the wife and kids goodbye: Good strength for the B&I Lions up front and that will be vital against a Wallabies line-up that has long been associated with weak scrummaging. There's no doubt Australia has improved in that department of late but with Dan Cole, Adam Jones, Cian Healy, Gethin Jenkins and possibly even a return for Toulon starter Andrew Sheridan, this is one area Gatland and his coaching staff will be targeting for points.
On standby: Tom Court, Andrew Sheridan, Alex Corbisiero, Mike Ross
Best make other plans next June: Euan Murray, Mako Vunipola, Allan Jacobsen
By Adam Kyriacou
@PlanetRugbyAK
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Rockman. Hartley has matured. Good call on Cullen.
@Rolf. You read it. Because its a hot topic.
@mckenna. No english and only Sale represented from Aviva in your 15. Agree Sale and Pro12 are about equal.
@liam2me Ashton can't score against good opposition: you must have forgotten Eng Oz game in Oz, the country the Lions are touring and where Wales lost 3 whereas Ashton won it for England. Daft comment.
I fear Wales will be over represented despite poor recent Oz track record compared to England Ireland and Scotland who can beat them. Lidiate and Jones only ones for the 15 from Wales. And coach. Gray from Scotland. Core from England and Ireland.
Posted 20:38 17th October 2012
DBRowan says...
Uh... a bit premature. Let's see if Easter can start for England before we put him above Morgan, and has everyone forgotten how brilliant and reliable Faletau has been over the past year? To take Easter over Faletau to Australia is bloody ludicrous! Mike Brown also needs to displace Foden as England starter before he can think about Lions. For that reason, Kearney, Halfpenny and Foden are well ahead of the rest. Three awesome options in those guys.
And get it right, it's a bit sad PR when you list Greg Laidlaw as a 9 when he has been playing 10 for Scotland his entire international career.
The editor says.... It is Laidlaw's ability to play both 9-10 that helps his case for selection.
Posted 20:28 17th October 2012
jmckenna92 says...
Jenkins, Best, A.Jones
POC Gray
Ferris, Warburton, O'Brien
Philips Sexton
Roberts BOD
Bowe North Kearny
Subs Rees, Cole, AW Jones, Faletau Care, Priestland/Flood, Halfpenny
Posted 19:10 17th October 2012
jmckenna92 says...
Jenkins, Best, A Jones
POC Gray
Ferris, Warburton, O'Brien
Philips, Sexton
Roberts, BOD
North, Kearny Bowe
Subs, Rees, Cole, AW Jones, Faletau, Care, Priestland, Halfpenny
Posted 19:06 17th October 2012
Sincero says...
APV1 wonders is Sexton 'too ;ight wieght' (sic), and suggests Wilkinson instead. A well-phrased argument by a reasonable chap.
Wilkinson: 1.78m, 89kg... told early in his career not to tackle or take much contact, wrapped in cotton wool.
Sexton: 1.89m, 92kg... told early in his career he can do it all... does it all... wrapped in glory.
If Wilkinson's form continues, I'd certainly bring him, but Sexton must be miles ahead in the race for the test 10 jersey.
Richie G. of Sale goes from nailed-on to not even a mention in the rejects category... poor lad.
Posted 19:04 17th October 2012
Rolf says...
The tour is June 2013, right?
So what do you think your pedictions or whatever you might label this will be worth THEN?
Nobody can tell the future, not even the weathermen.
If you do not have anything to report with at least a little substance, then fold it or bring on more photos.
But stop hyping where every one knows. coz its ennoying-
Posted 19:00 17th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
10 Freddie Burns is my wild card given the scarcity of form international 10s.
Sherridan is keeping GethinJ on the bench at Toulon and should go. Ozzies are terrified of him.
Lidiate must be 6. Fight for 7. I'd have Armitage. 8. Ferris.
No England centres please unless Joseph has a good November in white.
O'Connell no thanks. BOD yes please.
Captain: first name on the sheet so Lidiate given that Warburton and Robshaw may not start.
Posted 18:52 17th October 2012
liam2me says...
Ashton is a waste of space, never produces the good against decent opposition, should be a dirt tracker, nothing more.
In fact, there are way more English players then will represent any Lions side with any honour.
If Planetrugby were picking the side the previous tour of New Zealand would be considered a raving success compared to what's above.
In the real world, even allowing for the inevitable Welsh collapse in this years 6N, the touring side will mainly be Welsh players due to the coaching ticket, suggesting anything else shows nothing but ignorance for this sport.
Posted 18:42 17th October 2012
Kent says...
APV1 - No your'e wrong (yet again). Implausible to think they'll start without George North and Mike Phillips.
Posted 18:33 17th October 2012
makemehappy says...
Halfpenny almost a certainty for the 15 spot now. Pace of a wing, very correct player, great at getting out of trouble, and the trump card is that his kicking is as good as anyone's these days.
I'd want Adam Jones starting. Really gives those Wallabies a hard time every game.
Can't believe Hook gets a mention these days.
Warburton every day over Armitage and others.
Not sure if Paul O'Connell has lost his edge. Worthy of a place on tour of course, but he never seems to play these days, and when he does isn't as good as he was. Having said that I didn't think he impressed on the last Lions tour.
Charteris and Gray need to be considered at lock.
Don't let Ashton near the test team. Has been shown up far too many times in terms of ability and without doubt, attitude!
Posted 17:57 17th October 2012
Rosbif says...
One word. (...and it's not mediocre!). Ok, maybe it's two words in reality:
Steffon Armitage
(P.S. if wilko, sheridan, jenkins, and the 2 armitages play, that's quite a contribution from toulon!)
Posted 17:40 17th October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
APV1 are you suggesting Robshaw as number 8 ?
Posted 17:32 17th October 2012
NewScot says...
Some hideous names in here!
Nick Easter - Most overrated player ever!
Geoff Parling - Really?!
Greig Laidlaw - Is now playing 10 for both Edinburgh & Scotland
No Richie Gray - Come on he's a dead cert
Posted 17:23 17th October 2012
Stag91 says...
Dan Tuohy is my outside bet!
Posted 17:14 17th October 2012
NHsaints says...
The rest are fine apart from Delon Armitage needs to be in there and the second row combo should be Gray/Lawes.
Posted 17:05 17th October 2012
NHsaints says...
It's so difficult to choose with so much talent in so many positions, I reckon there's a really good chance for the lions to make up for 2001 which is why this is my team (including injuries).
15- Brown/Kearney/Halfpenny with Foden in the squad as he could potentially cover any postion in the backs (if needs be) and Hogg/Payne as backup.
Wingers- North/Visser/Ashton/Bowe with outside bets for Wade, Trimble, Lamont, Cuthberts and James Simpson Daniel.
Centres- Tuilagi/Roberts/Davies/Joseph/Ansbro with outside bets on Waldouck, BOD, Downey and Morris...personally I don't think JTH should be anywhere near an England or Lions Jersey.
Posted 17:04 17th October 2012
rockman says...
Why am i the only one on this site that doesn't rate that thug Hartley? I hope to god he doesn't get on that plane. He is useless and a liability on the pitch. I think Rees has to go. now that Strauss is Irishised he could throw a spanner in the works if he can get back last years form.
The way Easter is playing now he deserves to go but not start.
Jenkins is good but isn't getting much play time in Toulon.
Owen Farrell Deserves to go on form. Luke fitzgerald is back from injury in Jan and if he finds form will go.
Ben Youngs? Ben youngs? did you see his game at the weekend? He single handedly ruined the tigers attack through bad hands slow ball and ridiculous decisions to take quick penalties to go himself, how cockerill kept him on is a mystery.
Zebo should be no where near on standby he was shown to be way out of his depth against a pour Leinster Team.
If Ferris is fit and firing on all cylinders you cannot kept him out of the starting XV, end of!
I agree with the second row pairing but Lawes could start if he keeps the head.
Tom Court cannot be considered. He's just not up to the Standard.
Now here's my controversial choice, not for the starting XV but to tour. Three time Heineken Cup Winning Captain Leo Cullen. His experience cannot be ignored by the Lions like it has been by school teacher Kidney. He'd made an unbelievably good squad Member and bring so much to the table.
Can't wait for the tour!
Posted 16:55 17th October 2012
flatline says...
given the shocking run of injuries / patchy form of the wallabies the ARU are seriously considering fielding the australian wheelchair rugby team. including the coach. champions! you heard it here first...
Posted 16:46 17th October 2012
Danatthecorner says...
Tom Court on standby?! For what? Is he good at filling the bottles? A much weaker prop that Joe Marler all round. Surprising you haven't mentioned him.
Posted 16:39 17th October 2012
ieuanhuw says...
Hilarious that you've left out Ian Evans. Also quite funny that you've put Chris Ashton above George North who you state "will need a solid November Test series and Six Nations to hold off those players on standby". Thats funny.
Posted 16:17 17th October 2012