(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
This one could have been easy, but over the Six Nations, it became slightly more complicated as the premium number 11 in the world, Wales' Shane Williams, didn't impress as much as in 2008, and this has allowed other names to creep in, such as England's Mark Cueto and Ugo Monye, Ireland's Tommy Bowe and Scotland's Thom Evans. But overall, on his day, little Shane can destroy teams so...
Verdict: SHANE WILLIAMS (Wales)
Inside centre (No.12)
How on earth can you pick an inside centre from the ones who were on show at the Six Nations? Gavin Henson and Jamie Roberts of Wales both gave good accounts of themselves when they played. England's Riki Flutely was a rising star and impressed one and all, and Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy also impressed.
Picking a number 12 from these talents is going to be hard for McGeechan and co, but if I was pressed, then...
Verdict: RIKI FLUTELY (England)...for me he really impressed during the tournament and deserves a Lions' berth.
Outside centre (No.13)
No contest. The easiest position to fill on the park. Mike Tindall and Matthew Tait of England, plus tom Shanklin of Wales, both gave good performances during the tournament, but in the end, this position can only really be filled by one man, who was the star of Six Nations 2009...
Verdict: BRIAN O'DRISCOLL (Ireland)...need I say any more?
Right wing (No.14)
Since little Shane Williams is still the best left-wing in the world, the contest for right-wing now hots up. Paul Sackey and Mark Cueto (again) gave good performances in this position for England, as did Leigh Halfpenny and and Mark Jones of Wales, and Tommy Bowe (again) of Ireland. Not an easy choice to fill on this one, but if I had to plump for one...I can't even plump for one so its a choice of two here, two players who I think can make the number 14 shirt...
Verdict: TOMMY BOWE (Ireland) or LEIGH HALFPENNY (Wales)
Full back (No.15)
Almost as easy to fill outside centre. Delon Armitage of England really impressed for England during the Six Nations, and is really one for the future. But in the end, whilst Armitage was impressive, there was one number 15 out there consistently better...
Verdict: LEE BYRNE (Wales).
So if I were the Lions' boss, this would be the team I would field in the first game:
1. Gethin Jenkins, 2. Ross Ford, 3. Euan Murray, 4. Paul O'Connell, 5. Alan Wyn Jones, 6. David Wallace, 7. Martyn Williams, 8. Jamie Heaslip, 9. Mike Phillips, 10. Jonny Wilkinson/Ronan O'Gara (if JW wasn't fit), 11. Shane Williams, 12. Riki Flutely, 13. Brain O'Driscoll, 14. Tommy Bowe, 15. Lee Byrne.
Captain: Hard one but Brian O'Driscoll would get the nod for me.
It should be an exciting tour for the Lions, against the world champions. Who will be the first XV? Only time will tell.
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