British Lions Dream Team



Saturday see’s the start of both the Magners and Guiness Premiership season’s in the northern hemisphere. While the south has been playing all summer the north finally gets involved after 8 weeks of recuperation.


Out of the opening fixtures that are on this weekend two games stand out as real tasty encounters. Cardiff vs Leinster, in the Magners league, and Leicester vs Gloucester, in the Guinness premiership. Two real quality games to kick start an important year for British and Irish rugby. With the British Lions tour to South Africa scheduled for next summer, players will be hoping to peak at the right time, ensuring selection for the mother of all trips. There are similarities with 1997 tour, as the Lions will again be playing the World Champions on their home turf.


Rather than talk about the ELV’s which are getting a lot of bad press and are boring to read about I am going to give you my Lions XV, that in ideal world if players weren’t injured and kept up the form, should play against the Boks. Obviously the players I select might lose form, get injured or even change code (it could happen!), but this is what rugby fans will be doing across the country right until the squad is announced by Ian McGeechan at the end of May. So here goes…


15. (Fullback)
Danny Cipriani

14. (Winger)
Tommy Bowe

13. (Centre)
Brian O’Driscoll

12. (Centre)
Gavin Henson

11. (Winger)
Shane Williams

10. (Fly Half)
Johnny Wilkinson

9. (Scrum Half)
Mike Blair

8. (No. 8)
Ryan Jones (Captain)

7. (Flanker)
Martyn Williams

6. (Flanker)
James Haskell

5. (Second Row)
Paul O’Connell

4. (Second Row)
Steve Borthwick

3. (Prop)
Matt Stevens

2. (Hooker)
Ross Ford

1.(Prop)
Andrew Sheridan


Replacements:

16. (Prop)
Gethin Jenkins

17. (Hooker)
Rory Best

18. (Second Row)
Alun Wyn Jones

19. (Back row)
John Barclay

20. (Scrum Half)
Mike Phillips

21. (Fly Half)
James Hook

22. (Back cover)
Mike Tindall


Out of the notable inclusions, I have Wilkinson in at 10 instead of Hook and Cipriani. I just think that Johnny has been written off so many times and has answered his critics that you have to include him. He is also one of the best kickers in the world and has a proven track record of handling pressure. Blair has been outstanding in a weak Scottish team and has better all round skill that the powerful Mike Phillips, so I think Blair’s all round game suits the hard grounds of South Africa.


Cipriani (if he recovers sufficiently from injury) should be included somewhere in the backline. With his all round repertoire of skills and searing pace, full back should suit him nicely. And a surprise inclusion is of John Barclay in the replacements. He is good cover for all three back row positions and at 22 is probably one of the youngest to tour. He is though capable of holding his own and like Blair, stood out for me in a poor Scottish 2008 6 Nations.


Please send me your thoughts on this team here, whether you agree, disagree or just want some banter. It’s always interesting to hear people’s thoughts on who should go and who shouldn’t go.

JT