Neil Francis thinks that Johnny Sexton and James Ryan could miss out on Lions selection. Spurius 23 Mar 21 11:59. Tom Curry (England) There's no shortage of formidable sevens on this list. Lions watch: Will Greenwood picks his starting XV after Six Nations round four Our columnist chooses his latest British and Irish Lions team, picked solely on the most recent performances Rory Sutherland – although he is an injury concern – becomes our first Scot, ahead of Cian Healy. Vunipola, who has not been at his best for some time, is a big gamble, but if Gatland could locate his best form, he is worth the fuss. "I think James Ryan might be a casualty here. Duhan van der Merwe and Josh Adams are supremely unlucky, but Jonny May should suit the hard ground of South Africa, and he is much improved under the high ball. Lions captain 2021 predictions: The candidates explained – and who Warren Gatland is most likely to pick Alun Wyn Jones, Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell, Stuart … By Jeremy Reisman @DetroitOnLion May 4, 2021, 8:30am EDT Sign Up. George Kruis’s lineout nous will be missed – especially without a specialist coach at this stage – while Courtney Lawes can be on standby as he ups his comeback from injury, Our picks: Tom Curry (E), Hamish Watson (S), Justin Tipuric (W), Taulupe Faletau (W), Billy Vunipola (E), Josh Navidi (W). George has not been at his best, but was immense on the last tour and was name-checked by Gatland as a possible captain at one stage. Nowell has had considerably fewer opportunities, and already looks up to speed on his return from injury. Squad named May 6th, and official standby list will be named as well Sale’s Manu Tuilagi set for return from injury in May in boost to his Lions hopes | Manu Tuilagi | The Guardian Manu Tuilagi’s hopes of making this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa have been boosted after it emerged he has a chance of making his comeback from injury before Warren Gatland names the squad Our picks: Owen Farrell (E), Robbie Henshaw (I) Jonathan Davies (W), Henry Slade (E), Manu Tuilagi (E). South Africa beat up both Wales and England so a similar gameplan would be the order of the day? Lions Tour save. I think they should bring Sexton, but I think Sexton and Ryan are in the firing line.". Leinster duo Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Furlong along with Munster pair Conor Murray and Tadhg Beirne are among the players expected to be included when Gatland's squad is revealed, but a number of other Irish stars face nervous waits. Our picks: Dan Biggar (W), Finn Russell (S). Here’s how the squad would look based on the current odds: BACK-THREE (8): Jonny May (England 1/25), Josh Adams (Wales 1/18), Liam Williams (Wales 4/7), Stuart Hogg (Scotland 4/6), Anthony Watson (England 4/6), Jacob Stockdale (Ireland 4/6), Elliot Daly (England 10/11) Accusations of an anti-Scottish agenda has surfaced in recent tours, with the last Scottish player to start in a Lions Test match being prop Tom Smith in 2001 against the Wallabies. 0 comments. Farrell is made for that game. Sort by. no comments yet. Louis Rees-Zammit, Stuart Hogg and Maro Itoje win big, as some England stars feel the pressure. n Thursday, Warren Gatland will name his British & Irish Lions squad for this summer’s tour of South Africa. England star Owen Farrell reduced to ‘finishers’ role, with fans preferring Finn Russell at 10. Of course, creating the right blend of players to start test matches is so difficult, when there is so much quality to choose from. So much about Daly should make him the perfect Lions tourist – especially at altitude – but has he really done enough? Lions Tour 2021: Predicting the Squad. Biggar is in the form of his life, and it would be a far less interesting tour without Russell. By the end of the Six Nations, Murray had reasserted his credentials after a quiet period. Lack of game time counted against Johnny Sexton, but he provides a standby option of the highest quality. We’ll be streaming our live reaction from 3:30pm BST on all our channels and making it available as an audio podcast for Patreons only afterwards. This department is complicated by George North’s injury and Tuilagi’s return, which is yet to happen. Here, Standard Sport rugby correspondent Will Macpherson runs the rule over each area of the squad and names his picks... Our picks: Ken Owens (W), Jamie George (E), Luke Cowan-Dickie (E). 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