6 players who SHOULD have been in the Lions squad - and who'd be out

Gatland got his loosehead-prop selection completely wrong. Wyn Jones was okay when he was on the field, but he was constantly injured throughout the tour. Meanwhile, Mako Vunipola's performances blew hot and cold and Rory Sutherland was beaten up and bullied by the South Africans at scrum time.

With our three picks you are getting; the Premiership's best loosehead scrummager in Marler, a carrying juggernaut in Genge, and a skilful ball-playing forward in Healy. All a bit different, they'd have at least landed a punch in the Springboks.

Genge was especially in barnstorming form for England and Leicester Tigers towards the end of last season.

IN: Henry Slade (England)

OUT: Elliot Daly (England)

Still gobsmacked he wasn't in the squad.

It was predicted that Gatland forced Elliot Daly into his group ahead of the talented Chiefs playmaker for his monster boot. Well, the out of form Saracens man tried one, and that missed.

Slade is a brilliant rugby player and has been fully deserving of all the England caps he’s won since making his England bow in 2015. He’s very skilful, he’s very physical, he’s played in a World Cup final - he should have been the man for this series!

IN: Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)

OUT: Josh Navidi (Wales)

This Lions XV came across as too 'nice' throughout the test series. Although the boys were undoubtedly up for the physical battle - every time the momentum began to shift, they crucially couldn't wrestle back control.

Although Ritchie isn't the best technical rugby player around the field, he has that nasty edge to his game that makes him the perfect sort of character for when the going gets tough. He wouldn't have taken a backward step for the tourists.

IN: Jack Nowell (England)

OUT: Liam Williams (Wales)

A toe ligament injury has meant Nowell has been limited to a handful of minutes this year for Exeter, which left him too little time to make a statement to the selectors.

However, seeing Rob Baxter pick him ahead of Stuart Hogg for the Premiership final spoke volumes about the Scotsman's form heading into the tour.

A reliable lieutenant for Gatland in 2017, Nowell's versatility would have been very useful in a squad disrupted by Covid more than once.. 

He could have easily found himself in the test XV at fullback or on the wing due to his defensive capabilities and, crucially, his reliability under the high ball.