With the announcement of Warren Gatland’s 2017 Lions squad, the debating can stop and the focus can shift to the serious stuff of getting the game plans right with the personnel that has been selected.
But we here at ruck.co.uk love to keep the discussions alive, and this being the case, have selected an alternate British and Lions XV from players who won’t be making the trip, to see how it would look.
There is no doubt that the pools of talent run deep in European rugby currently, as our team below suggests.
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The problem areas, where resource is a little thin, is in the centres, particularly at inside where Roberts gets the nod for his experience, although this hasn’t been his finest season, and perhaps we have seen the best of him.
Wade on the wing might raise a few eyebrows, but despite reservations about his size and defence capabilities (which have seen a marked improvement this year), his scintillating pace, the x-factor he brings and prolific try-scoring make him our wild card selection.
The rest of the side picks itself. I wouldn’t mind watching this team play, that’s for sure. Let us know what you think…
15.Mike Brown (England)
14.Simon Zebo (Ireland)
13.Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
12.Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11.Christian Wade (England)
10.Finn Russell (Scotland)
9.Greg Laidlaw (Scotland)
8.Jaimie Heaslip (Ireland)
7.James Haskell (England)
6.John Barclay (Scotland)
5.Jonny Gray (Scotland)
4.Joe Launchbury (England)
3.Tomas Francis (Wales0
2.Dylan Hartley (c) (England)
1.Cian Healy (Ireland)