Here we go, the test team for the Lions against the Springboks, a monumental match up of players, coaches and styles.

Despite a stilted build up and a set of lacklustre performances in the warm up matches the British and Irish lions will face the Springboks next Saturday for what could prove to be the first of three clashes with titanic importance. The balance of power in the rugby world is up for grabs here, and two of the great coaches of the modern era have chances to cement their legacies. With a winning series Gatland can confirm his place as the greatest coach in the history of northern hemisphere rugby, despite how highly Sir Clive Woodward thinks of himself. Rassie Erasmus has an opportunity to prove that he is the best international coach in the world currently. So with those extra stakes established, we arrive at selection. South Africa ‘A’s win in the week is hugely significant in selection for both teams. The Lions looked to be a step behind a team who had been stuck in hotels for three weeks, and this may have shone some light on which players really are test animals. Who then should pull on the test jersey for the Lions? 

1. Rory Sutherland 

Sutherland has had a meteoric rise since being named to the squad. Expected to be the midweek player behind bigger names like Wyn Jones and Mako Vunipola he has come on admirably on tour and has just about secured the loosehead shirt with some excellent performances. He showed real pace and athleticism in the games against the Sharks and has proven a solid option in the scrum where in reality parity rather than dominance is key. Wyn Jones strong performance against South Africa ‘A’ made this a tighter decision than before that game but ultimately Sutherland edges it. Mako has been a non-factor throughout this tour much in the same way he was for England in the Six Nations.

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie 

First an acknowledgement of Jamie George. Post the six nations George has come back the strongest of the crop of Saracens players where Farrell and Vunipola appear to have taken a backward step. George proved in the second Cell-C Sharks game he was capable of the starting spot and a leadership role. Onto the man of the moment: Cowan-Dickie, he is physically a class above. His lineout has been deadeye, where Owens and George have had wobbles. Most importantly, his athleticism and physicality stand out in the toughest place for it to stand out in the world. For me that is the factor that really separates him and secures the no. 2 jersey despite excellent offering from a really strong position group. 

3. Kyle Sinckler 

Sinckler’s performances recently are absolutely worthy of the starting spot. He has become more considered with his hands recently and is now best able to make the most of his ability as the best link prop in the game. His ability to pull the ball out of a forward pod and into a second line of attack will be integral to the success of the Lions wide to wide attack plan. He is otherwise inseparable from Furlong, perhaps a more dangerous carrier but only marginally. His hands could be a genuine difference maker for the lions, and he has unfinished business with the Springboks after his early departure in the World cup final. 

4. Maro Itoje

Whilst he plays on the edge a little too much for some, his physical gifts, his skill both on the ball and over it separate Itoje from the other locks on tour. Referees have been somewhat lenient over the tour so far and the ball is spending a long time in play, both of which benefit Itoje’s play. His battle with Etzebeth may decide not only who has go-forward in the game, but is also a meta competition to crown the best lock in the world. One Maro is entirely capable of winning. 

5. Taidgh Beirne 

Beirne’s selection in the row is in part to serve the rest of the team. He is the second best available in the position regardless, although Lawes has tried his best to push him for the spot. Adam Beard has stepped up as well and should secure a bench spot for the ‘big man’ option in the lineout. However, including the ‘auto-locking octopus’ that is Tadgh Beirne, gives the Lions five genuine jackal threats which may well help them control the pace of the ball at least and possession at best. Beirne’s selection also is the first adoption in this XV of the mantra ‘just play the best available players’ Beirne was the shining light for Ireland in the Six Nations and has carried that form onto tour and deserves the start. 

6. Tom Curry (VC)

Tom Curry is the best back rower in the world. It seems a controversial statement but in reality it’s not. He’s recently added a real carrying threat to his game, and has developed a Dombrandt-esque ability to run lazy inside supporting lines that saw him score against the Sharks. This is on top of his supreme defensive capability and an unstoppable motor. For all the controversy surrounding the selection of the back row Tom Curry is the least controversial and whether he wears 6 or 7 he needs to start in the tests. The battle between Curry and Du Toit has my pick as the most important of the tests.

7. Hamish Watson 

The mullet wielding marauder himself. Watson has been excellent in limited game time and the size question is one that should not have been entertained in the first place. If you can physically  compete successfully in professional rugby, be it club or international you are big enough to do so in a lions shirt. Watson is the perfect example of this idea of an undersized player, who despite this supposed disadvantage is one of the more physically dominant forces on the pitch. Especially with ball in hand. Again this boils down to not overthinking selection and just picking the best available player in the position. Watson and Curry will form a very dynamic axis for both breakdown and carrying work and will be adept at harrying the Boks tight game.

8. Sam Simmonds 

Similar to Watson he has proven that the size argument is not relevant at the professional level. Simmonds is not only holding his own physically but looks so well-conditioned that he ironically stands out as the most physical option for the lions which will be necessary with the less brutish flankers selected. His pace is elite at the eight position and more generally he has an ability to break the line that can’t be matched by Conan or Faletau. Simmonds could well be the danger man for the Lions if Gatland has the courage to pick him. 

9. Ali Price 

A beneficiary of a weak position group more than anything for Price. He has been by no means a bad player and has certainly stepped up since the beginning of the tour. Fortunately for Price, Murray is wearing his age more obviously and Davies is arguably not worthy of a tour spot. Price has injected much needed pace at the ruck which will pay particular rewards in the first test against a springboks side who may be a little behind the conditioning 8 ball. He fits Gatland’s plans for the Lions and has proven himself superior to his lack lustre competition and deserves the call up. 

10. Marcus Smith…. Maybe 

If I were picking with my heart Smith would start and be captain. Alas, whilst Smith showed on Saturday he can compete and stand out in this squad, it is the safer option to pick Farrell. Smith answered a number of questions on Saturday that those unfamiliar with him often have. Namely his defence which has always been excellent despite his lack of size, and he only looked more at home in attack the further into the game he progressed. Farrell has the ten shirt for now. There’s a little tickle of hope though that if Farrell or indeed Biggar underperforms the goose-stepping Filipino might make it into arguably the most prestigious jersey in the world. 

11. Duhan Van De Merwe

Van De Merwe whilst somewhat limited in his link play and offloading is showing himself to be a supreme physical presence. His power is translating into consistent metres and he has a finishers pace.  Whilst it may be a risk with him being supposedly weaker under the high ball, one that De Clerk and Pollard will look to exploit, he has been the main go forward man for the Lions thus far.  A strong showing under the highball will put any doubts to rest. 

12. Robbie Henshaw 

Henshaw essentially just had to get on the pitch and show his fitness against the stormers on Saturday in order to secure this spot. He was magnificent in the Six Nations and has experience in droves at Lions level that makes up for his lack of tour playing time. Right now he is maybe the best centre on earth on 12 months of form and simply cannot be ignored by the Lions. Van de Merwe’s selection will help share the 1^st phase carrying load, and whoever Henshaw partners with in the 10 shirt he will likely slot straight in. Whilst Aki has justified his selection to the tour, Henshaw is a class above most in the world right now. He should have the opportunity to prove his ability against the terrifying Springbok midfield.

13. Elliot Daly 

Six months ago Elliot Daly would have ranked about 50^th on the list of Lions centre options. His terrible six nations combined with his time in the championship, in which he played limited minutes, made him an outside choice for the tour let alone the tests. However, so far Elliot Daly has been the best player on tour. His 220+ minutes in just an 8 day stint has shown his toughness. He has demonstrated why at 13 he was the scourge of the premiership in his time at Wasps. Daly has made a serious bid for the greatest comeback in rugby history so far and his partnership with Henshaw puts two skill players against two Bok powerhouses. This will suit Gatland’s ball speed approach to the Springbok puzzle. If that’s not enough, it never hurts to have his siege gun of a left boot. 

14. Josh Adams 

Narrowly edging out both Rees-Zammit and Watson, Adams gets the nod despite a fairly pedestrian game against the Stormers. With such a solid back line there is value in playing the hot hand and that is what Adams has shown himself to be. Six tries already on the tour and elite under the high ball. He has shown himself to be a great compliment to Van de Merwe and should pair well with Hogg. 

15. Stuart Hogg (C)

Big boot, great hands, near peerless under the high ball and evasiveness to die for. Hogg is potentially the best full back in the game right now and has shown excellent leadership both with the Lions and Scotland. The snub of Liam Williams is tempered a little with the idea that he can comfortably cover both Wing and Full back off the bench. Put simply Hogg is a more dangerous player, and teams are aware of it. South Africa’s at times terrifying aerial attack will have to be cautious with Hogg at the back and his counter kicking will be of innumerable value. He makes a claim to the captaincy that should have been his since Alun Wyn Jones’ injury against Japan. Hogg will act as the cool head at the back of a dangerous Lions back three that may be able to cause real issues for the Springboks. 

So Do The Lions Win?

Optimism is a fine thing, and if there is a test to be optimistic about it’s the first one. The Boks will only get stronger as their game time increases. Vermeulen returning around the time of the 2^nd test will also pose a serious, potentially insurmountable challenge. So now is the time, but will the Lions be enough? Whilst the side looks stronger in person than it does on paper it is difficult to see this team take on a Boks side equipped with the likes of Kolisi and Pollard and come out on top. Gatland’s planned style of play, working the wider channels and prioritising attacking speed could pay dividends. However the Springboks power game is what took them to number one in the world and may well keep them there until France 2023. The Springboks will want a war, the Lions want a shootout, however I think the Springboks will be able to grind the lions into submission, and open up opportunities for a scary backline of World Cup icons. 

Prediction: South Africa 24 – Lions 13