Final Lions Squad

There are no more matches. No more games to "stick your hand up for selection".

Garbhan Hogan, Dermott McMorrough, Leo Hynes, Eric Conway, Ciaran Neilan and myself are competing to see who gets the most correct players in Gatland's squad.
5pts for captain, 2pts for correct player, -1 for incorrect, with a minimum of 35 players picked.

Here are the 37 men I would have in the Lions squad, plus extras.

Lions Squad 2013

I would pick Paul O'Connell as captain, but Gatland is going to go with Sam Warburton.

Loosehead:

Cian Healy and Gethin Jenkins, (Tough choice no.1) with Ryan Grant edging out Mako Vunipola and Paul James and Andrew Sheridan unavailable. Gone for Grant's overall great form in 2012/13 and better scrummaging than Vunipola.

Hooker:

Rory Best and Richard Hibbard, (Tough choice no.2) and Tom Youngs will edge out Richardt Strauss and Ross Ford, no matter what I want. Still think Strauss would be better.

Tighthead:

Adam Jones and Dan Cole are joined by (Tough choice no.3) Mike Ross, with Euan Murray missing out. I think the scrum nerd will appeal to Rowntree.

Second Rows:

Paul O'Connell, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans and (Tough choice no.4)  Jim Hamilton beating Geoff Parling  joined by (Tough choice no.5) Tom Croft, with Hines unlikely to be available and Donnacha Ryan just missing out.

Blindside:

Sean O'Brien and (Tough choice no. 6) Dan Lydiate, with Chris Robshaw just missing out.

Openside:

Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric.

No. 8:

Toby Faletau, with Jamie Heaslip sneaking in by the skin of his teeth.

Scrumhalf:

Mike Phillips and Ben Youngs , with (Tough choice no. 7) Conor Murray beating  Greig Laidlaw who is
so unlucky to miss out.

Outhalf:

Jonny Sexton and (Tough choice no. 8) Rhys Priestland recovering and overtaking Owen Farrell after the semi-final. Biggar is close too.

Inside Centre:

Jamie Roberts is joined by (Tough choice no. 9) Owen Farrell, beating Brad Barritt, James Hook and Ian Madigan, Billy Twelvetrees

Outside Centre:

Brian O'Driscoll and Manu Tuilagi, with Jonathan Davies sneaking on to cover at 12.

Back Three:

Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Alex Cuthbert, Simon Zebo and Tommy Bowe are joined by (Tough
choice no.10 & 11) Rob Kearney beating Stuart Hogg, and Sean Maitland beating Tim Visser.


Standby: Paul James, Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Donnacha Ryan, Nathan Hines, Chris Robshaw, Johnnie Beattie, Greig Laidlaw, Danny Care, Ian Madigan, James Hook, Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg

Garbhan’s Lions Squad – 2013

Captain: Paul O’Connell (it should be BOD)

Loose-Heads:

· Cian Healy
· Gethin Jenkins

Hookers:

· Rory Best
· Richard Hibbard
· Richardt Strauss

Tight-Heads:

· Dan Cole
· Adam Jones
· Mike Ross

2nd Rows:

· Paul O’Connell
· Donnacha Ryan
· Alun Wyn Jones
· Nathan Hines
· Joe Launchbury

Backrows:

· Sean O’Brien
· Jamie Heaslip
· Justin Tipuric
· Toby Faletau
· Johnnie Beattie
· Tom Wood
· Sam Warburton

Scrumhalves:

· Danny Care
· Ben Youngs
· Greg Laidlaw

Fly-Halves:

· Johnny Sexton
· Owen Farrell

Centres:

· Brian O’Driscoll
· Manu the Samoan lad
· Jamie Roberts
· Billy Twelvetrees

Back 3s:

· Rob Kearney
· Leigh Halfpenny
· Stuart Hogg
· George North
· Simon Zebo
· Tommy Bowe
· Sean Maitland

Ciaran’s Lions Squad – 2013

Fullbacks: Kearney, Halfpenny, Goode. 

Wings: Zzzebo, North, Bowe, Cuthbert.

Centres: GOD, Tuiliangi, Davies, Roberts.

Tens: Sexto, Wilko, Farrell, Mad dog.

9’s: Murray, Philips and that young fella Youngs.

Props: Healy, Cole, Ross, Jenkins, Jones.

Hookers: Best, Hibbard, Youngs.

2nd row: O’connell, Wyn Jones, Ryan, Gray, Toner.

Flankers: SO’B, Warburton, Robshaw, Tipuric, O’Mahony, Lydiate.

8: Heaslip, Falalalateau.

Capt: One more year.

Total: 38

Eric's Lions 2013 (37)

Forwards (20)

Props (6) - Healy, Jenkins, Ross, A Jones, Cole, Corbisiero

Hookers (3) - Best, Hibbard, Youngs

Locks (4) - O’Connell, Parling, Wyn-Jones, Gray

Flankers (5) - O’Brien, Tipuric, Warburton, Robshaw, R Jones

No.8 (2) - Faletau, Heaslip

Backs (17)

Scrumhalf (3) - Youngs, Murray, Phillips

Outhalf (3) – Sexton, Farrell, Madigan

Centre (4) – Tuilagi, Davies, O’Driscoll (Tour captain), Roberts

Wings (4) – Bowe, Cuthbert, North, Wade

Fullback (3) – Kearney, Hogg, Halfpenny

Ireland: 12

England: 9

Wales: 14

Scotland: 4

Dermott’s Lions Squad – 2013

Props:

Healy, Jones, Jenkins, Cole, Murray, Grant

Hookers:

Best, Hibbard, Youngs

2nd Rows:

O'Connell, Wyn-Jones, Evans, Parling, Ryan

Blindside:

O'Brien, Falatau, Croft

Openside:

Warburton (C), Robshaw, Tipuric

No. 8:

Heaslip

Scrumhalves:

Philips, Youngs, Laidlaw

Fly-Halves:

Sexton, Biggar, Farrell

Inside Centres:

Roberts, Madigan

Outside Centres:

O'Driscoll, Davies, Tuilagi

Wingers:

North, Zebo,Cuthbert

Fullbacks:

Halfpenny, Kearney, Hogg

Leo’s Lions Squad – 2013

Full-backs:

Halfpenny
Kearney
Hogg

Wings:

Cuthbert
North
Visser
Zebo

Centres:

O'Driscoll
Tuilagi
Roberts
Davies

Outhalfs:

Sexton
Farrell
Biggar

Scrumhalfs:

Phillips
Youngs
Laidlaw

Backrows:

Faletau
Heaslip
O'Brien
Warburton
Tipuric
Robshaw

Second Rows:

O'Connell (Captain)
Al Jones
Parling
Evans

Looseheads:

Jenkins
Sheridan
Healy

Hookers:

Best
Hibbard
Strauss

Tightheads:

Cole
Jones