Chris Robshaw picks Marler and Simmonds in his Lions XV

Sunday, 11 April 2021 at 13:13

byRugby Rucker

Speaking on
RugbyPass Offload
, former England captain Chris Robshaw has picked his starting XV for the first Test of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

CHRIS ROBSHAW: MY LIONS XV

FRONT-ROW:

1. Joe Marler (England)
2. Jamie George (England)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

SECOND-ROW:

4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

Robshaw said: “Maro Itoje at 4. World class player, has big moments in games. One I’m not sure with, I’m going to go Alun Wyn Jones at 5. I’m going to make him captain as well. The way he led Wales in the Six Nations, the games he’s played, the leader he is.”

BACK-ROW:

6. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
7. Tom Curry (England)
8. Sam Simmonds (England)

Robshaw said: “Faletau at six. Big carrier, good the lineout. I’m going Tom Curry at seven. He is England’s best player at the moment and potentially the first name on England’s team sheet.”

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HALFBACKS:

9. Kieran Hardy (Wales)
10. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Robshaw said: “Nine I was a little bit unsure but I’m going to go with the Welsh lad [Kieran] Hardy. The game against England he was pretty good. Finn Russell at 10. The player he is and the stuff he can do is pretty special."

CENTRES:

12. Owen Farrell (England)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)

Robshaw said: “Owen Farrell at 12. A controlled presence. Been there before, done it. Probably the best player I’ve ever played with. Robbie Henshaw at 13."