Lawrence Dallaglio has left Hamish Watson and Sam Simmonds out of his back-row for the Lions' three-Test showdown with world champions South Africa.
The now BT Sport commentator and pundit, who went on three Lions tours, became one of the most decorated and successful English players of all time.
Emerging as a raw talent in the back row during England's victory at the 1993 Sevens World Cup at Murrayfield, Dallaglio went on to secure 85 England caps and cement his place as a hero of English rugby.
DID YOU KNOW? Although he's known to us all as Lawrence Dallaglio, his full name is Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio
BLINDSIDE-FLANKER: Courtney Lawes (England)
Did you know? He is a product of Northampton Old Scouts, the same club that produced his former teammate Rob Milligan as well as Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson
OPENSIDE-FLANKER: Tom Curry (England)
Dallaglio said: “I do see the seven jersey being a straight shoot-out between Tom Curry, who will go toe-to-toe with Justin Tipuric. But Curry for me is one that Gatland has already name-checked.”
Did you know? He is the nephew of former England hooker John Olver and cousin of former Northampton Saints and current Ealing Trailfinders fly-half Sam Olver
NUMBER 8: Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Did you know? As a young boy, his school friends struggled to pronounce his Tongan name, and so he picked up the nickname Toby. In recent years, he has requested that his rugby squad name be recorded more accurately as Taulupe, but does not mind being called Toby
EDITORS PICKS:
- LIST: 5 players who are reportedly on the Lions standby list
- How the Lions will line-up against the Springboks based on the odds
- The youthful England XV Eddie Jones should select this summer
- “Farrell will play 12” – Brian O’Driscoll selects his Lions XV
- Eight Crazy Things You Didn’t Know About Sam Simmonds
