If the British and Irish Lions played tomorrow, here’s who we’d pick…

If the British and Irish Lions play Australia in the first Test tomorrow, this is the starting XV I would choose.

There is a caveat to this statement. Firstly, this is a hypothetical match and there is no match tomorrow. I’m not even Lions coach Andy Farrell. This team is based on what I have seen in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the Autumn Nations series over the past month.

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So don’t worry if you exclude your favorite player. Farrell doesn’t read this or copy my homework.

This also meant I avoided players who were currently on the sideline. For example, Ireland’s front-row duo Tadhg Furlong and Dan Sheehan were not selected due to poor fitness. In an ideal world they would probably both make the XV. There is also no room for players who have only just returned to action, such as England scrum-half Alex Mitchell.

Our starting XV below consists of 6 Scots, 6 Irish, 3 English and 0 Welsh. Here’s who and why.

Current British and Irish Lions XV: RW selected…

Current British and Irish Lions XV in Rugby World

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15. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) Blair Kinghorn’s performance has soared since joining Toulouse in 2023. Kinghorn, who played flyhalf at Test level, has been the perfect second receiver this autumn, dropping in when Finn Russell is away to keep the attack on the front foot. Bar Beauden Barrett, Kinghorn is the best in the world in this role and is Lions 15.

14. Darcy Graham (Scotland): England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is likely to win the jersey next summer, but a word of praise for Darcy Graham after his outstanding performance in the autumn Nations Series. A winger’s winger, he can score half-chances.

13. Hugh Jones (Scotland) As one half of Scotland and Glasgow Warriors’ Huwipulotu center partnership, Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, along with South Africa’s Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, are the best midfield duo in the world on current form. I played Jones when I was 10, so I’d say I’ve also played with the British and Irish Lions.

12. Sion Tuipulotu (Scotland, captain) In our team, Sione Tuipulotu is the first name on the team sheet and the captain. Having seen his spicy hustle against the Wallabies alongside Australia’s Joseph Suaalii and Tom Wright, I have no doubts that this man is the right man to lead the Lions next summer. Appropriate, appropriate player.

11. Ollie Slateholm (England): England winger Ollie Sleightholme lowkey had an impressive autumn, scoring fine tries against Australia and Japan. As try-line poachers, we like the way Sleightholme do things. He also has pure speed, which has always been the best characteristic of a winger.

10. Finn Russell (Scotland): Flip a coin between Finn Russell and Marcus Smith now and I think both men have proven they can start at number 10 next summer. The question to me is whether there is room for Russell and Smith at 23 inches. Does it take a wiser head to balance the senses? For my part, I will support both of them to get the job done.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland): Not the best this autumn, but still the best scrum-half in the Home Nations. The Lions’ No. 9 jersey is currently the most open, with no one making their own. Perhaps Gibson-Park is leading the way. However, Alex Mitchell (England), Tomos Williams (Wales) and Ben White (Scotland) could all get their chance if they have Six Nations class.

Read more: Full list of British and Irish Lions fixtures ahead of next year’s tour of Australia

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8. Karen Doris (Ireland): Andy Farrell’s Ireland captain has the potential to become Lions skipper we think. Our team wants him to forget about the armband and get on with what he does best. It’s about carrying the ball over the gain line, busting people out of tackles, winning turnovers and providing a work rate.

7. Josh van der Flyer (Ireland): It’s absolutely crazy that the 2022 World Rugby Male Player of the Year has never been a Lion. It was overlooked in 2017 and 2021. Now back in good form, I’ll bring in Van der Flier for the annoying, ball-winning openside. It’s likely he will continue to have a Series Player effect on the Tour.

6. Chandler Cunningham-South (England): It is a controversial choice, but it is supported by the opposition party. Cunningham-South is an effective ball carrier with smooth handling skills, solid lineout options and incredibly good defensive abilities. Just the man we need to counter Australia’s combative and boisterous back row.

5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland): In a big blindside school with moonlight in the second row, we’ll give up some fixtures to prioritize clever lineout operator and crisp ball-handler Beirne as the ‘fourth’ backrower looking to feed the ball to the electric backline. This fall he had 41 tackles, three turnovers, 60 ruck hits and a decent work rate.

4. Joe McCarthy (Ireland): Joe McCarthy, who completed an all-Ireland row, punches Maro Itoje and George Martin. We expect all of them to be selected next summer. McCarthy brings the vibe of an incredibly annoying second row player who messes everything up on Saturdays. His outrageous limbs clumsily shatter everything within a one meter radius, the sign of an effective lock.

3. Xander Fargerson (Scotland): Fagerson scored seven penalty shoot-out wins in Scotland’s scrums in the autumn, proving he can do what all the best tight props do – dominate a scrum. He’s also making huge contributions around the park. His ruck hit rate is the highest among front row forwards. It will be a fierce battle next summer between fiercely contested Fagerson and Tadhg Furlong.

2. Jamie George (England): You learn a lot about people who face adversity. England have had a tough time on and off the pitch this autumn, but captain Jamie George has maintained remarkable composure throughout the game. He was also effective with darts, achieving a 97% success rate at line-out times. Currently a Lions prostitute.

1. Andrew Porter (Ireland): Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman puts a lot of stress on this position, but we think Andrew Porter has the edge at loose ends. The immensely strong Porter has cultivated a bit of aura around him which will be invaluable in the Test arena.

shift: 16. Dewi Lake (Wales), 17. Pierre Schumann (Scotland), 18. Will Stewart (England), 19. Maro Itoje (England), 20. Sam Underhill (England), 21. Ben White (22) ( UK), 23. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland).

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