LIST: 5 major stars who could miss out on Lions selection

These five stars are set to miss out as things stand...

North, fresh from winning his 100th cap for Wales, has been widely tipped to head on his third-successive Lions tour in 2021 on the back of call ups in 2013 - no one will forget his memorable 'pick up and dump' of Israel Folau - and 2017.

It would be an incredible achievement for a player who is still only 28 years old, but is he a defensive risk?

Sir Clive Woodward certainly thinks so, writing in his Daily Mail column https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-9301309/CLIVE-WOODWARD-Eddie-Jones-loyal-England-players.html: "George North continues his late-career switch to outside centre and although he offers much in attack I wonder if England can exploit his inexperience defending that channel."

While his prediction proved to be wrong in this case as Wales romped to a comfortable win, Woodward's point that North lacks experience in defen

Still just 27 years old, it feels like George Ford has been around forever.

The Oldham born fly half, son of Mike, made his debut for Leicester Tigers way back in 2009 when he became the youngest player to make his professional debut in England, playing against Leeds Tykes aged just 16 in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

There is no doubt he has evolved into a fine player - he's closing in on 200 league appearances and has collected 74 England caps along the way - but his Lions call has never arrived.

There was clamour for a call up in 2017 but, such is the competition for places in his position and given his recent form and inability to really break into the England team on a regular basis of late, he is unlikely to be considered by Warren Gatland.

Joe Launchbury had been in fine form for Wasps this year and was set to be one of the first names in England's Six Nations squad.

But the rangy Exeter-born lock suffered a stress fracture to his lower leg on the eve of the squad announcement and was ruled out.

In his absence, England's form has been underwhelming, while Wasps' line-out success has notably suffered. The 29-year-old is a key man whenever he plays, but his lack of playing time may hold him back in 2021.

A potential omission will be especially painful for Launchbury given how he was controversially overlooked for a Lions call in 2017, despite claiming two man of the match awards in that year's Six Nations.

Marler withdrew from the latest England squad for personal reasons in January and his lack of exposure to international rugby may hinder his chances of a Lions call-up this year.

Explaining his decision at the time, Marler tweeted: "Always grateful for the opportunity so not an easy decision, but want to do right by my family in these crazy times and won’t be meeting up with the squad for this tournament. Look forward to watching the team rip in. Go well."

But, ultimately, his form will have to go through the roof at club level to displace those currently competing on the international stage. Even then, would that be enough?

Lurgan-born Jacob Stockdale has been one of Ireland's stars in recent years, picking up 33 senior caps since making his international debut in 2017.

He became a household name in the 2018 Six Nations, scoring seven tries - a new record for most tries in a Six Nations championship - as Ireland won the Grand Slam.

He was unsurprisingly named Player of the Championship that year before he topped off a remarkable year with the try which sealed a first-ever win over the All Blacks on Irish soil.

He has since gone on to show flashes of brilliance internationally and with Ulster but, despite his obvious talent, one drawback has become his inability to nail down a specialist position.

He has switched between centre, full back and wing for his club and been largely successful but, with the debate still raging about his most effective position, that may see him struggle to force his way into what is a fiercely difficult squad to crack for the first time.