My Lions Selection

Now that the dust has settled on a strange rather than vintage Six Nations championship, much attention will now turn to this summer's Lions tour. So I've decided to pick my starting test side, plus the others who should make the touring squad.

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) - moved well ahead of Rob Kearney (Ireland) while Stuart Hogg (Scotland) did his chances no harm
14. Alex Cuthbert (Wales) - though much will depend on the return to fitness of Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) - still remains the best option at outside-centre ahead of Manu Tuilagi (England) and Jonathan Davies (Wales)
12. Jamie Roberts (Wales) - best to keep a genuine inside-centre at 12 with Brad Barritt (England) also in the touring party
11. George North (Wales) - a banker to start with Tim Visser (Scotland) to become the first Dutchman to tour with the Lions
10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland) - more capable of getting the back-line moving than Owen Farrell (England)
9. Ben Youngs (England) - shades it from Mike Phillips (Wales) with the versatile Greig Laidlaw (Scotland) covering both half-back positions.
1. Cian Healy (Ireland) - should get the nod for his ball-carrying ability ahead of Gethin Jenkins (Wales) and Joe Marler (England)
2. Richard Hibbard (Wales) - moved ahead of Rory Best (Ireland) in the reckoning while Ross Ford (Scotland) should make the plane
3. Adam Jones (Wales) - arguably the first name on the teamsheet and well ahead of Dan Cole (England)
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) - perfectly timed return to form should see him start ahead of Geoff Parling (England)
5. Joe Launchbury (England) - just shades it from Ian Evans (Wales)
6. Sean O'Brien (Ireland) - with Tom Wood (England) and possibly Dan Lydiate (Wales) also in the mix
7. Justin Tipuric (Wales) - close call ahead of Sam Warburton (Wales) and Chris Robshaw (England)
8. Toby Faletau (Wales) - Ben Morgan (England)

So I expect 9 from Wales, 4 from Ireland, and 2 from England to make the starting fifteen, with the 37 strong squad made up of 15 Welshmen, 11 Englishmen, 7 Irishmen and 4 Scots.