British Lions Selection for April

With less than one week to go until Ian McGeechan names the squad that he’ll be taking to South Africa, here is my latest view on the Test team.

Following the 69 comments on the March selection, I have pored over your suggestions and updated the team accordingly. Have a look at the video and let me know what you think.

There was vocal support for Adam Jones over both Euan Murray and Phil Vickery, owing to his mobility and contribution in the loose. I’ll need to bow to others’ knowledge of his scrummaging ability, since this will be key against the Lions.

Stephen Ferris has usurped James Haskell at blindside flanker to complete an all-Irish back row, and McGeechan has a history of maintaining key units that play together regularly, so this may well be the Test back row.

Dwayne Peel comes in at No. 9, which still appears to be a problem position with no outstanding candidates. Tomas O’Leary had a strong game for Munster, and the choice of scrum-half could depend on McGeechan’s preference at fly-half.

The other change sees Riki Flutey selected at 12 and is the solitary Englishman in the side (even though he’s a New Zealander soon to be playing in France). He finished strongly in the Six Nations, but I have a feeling that this could be another position where the Test berth goes to a player that impresses on the tour.

Let me know what you think of this selection. Who do you think will be missing out on the squad altogether?