For what it’s worth, and I know it’s worth very little at this stage, I would go for this team in the 3rd and final Lions test against Australia.
Starting | Bench | ||
Front Row | |||
Corbisiero | Corb is an easy choice. Solid scrum foundation needed. | Vunipola | Vunipola wasn’t as bad as some people think and will make a better impact sub than Grant |
Youngs | Youngs not as good as Hibbard in scrum, better in loose and they seem pretty even throwing in to lineout. But with Corbs starting instead of Vunipola the scrum should be slightly dominant | Hibbard | Hibbard comes on with Vunipola to give more bulk in 2nd half. |
Jones | Easy pick | Cole | Easy pick |
2nd Row | |||
AW Jones | Easy pick | Parling | Parling as line out leader later on in game. |
Richie Gray | Gray good around park and good jumper. | ||
Back Row | |||
Croft | Line out option. Very mobile back row | O’Brien | Covers all 3 positions. Unlucky not to start but great impact sub |
Tipuric | Best 7 available | ||
Faletau | Has been best 8 on the tour by a long way. Big ball carrier. | ||
Half backs | |||
Ben Youngs | Quick distribution, good box kick (mostly) | Murray | Good SH. Unlucky not to start. For me, Phillips blew it in the first test with his dreadful attempt to stop Genia |
Sexton | Hasn’t shone so far but still just about the better option | Farrell | Covers Fly Half and centre |
Three Quarters | |||
Tuilagi | A much more scary option than Roberts for Australia to have to cope with. | ||
O’Driscoll (captain) | Inspiration and captain. With Tuilangi inside him he should be able to feed off the offloads and create space for the back 3 | ||
Backs | |||
North | Easy pick | Hogg | Covers all 3 positions (plus emergency Fly Half). |
Bowe | Cuthbert unlucky, but Bowe is class. | ||
Halfpenny | Easy pick |