Few things sustain debate in rugby like team selections, and the British and Irish Lions are a kind of World Cup of Team Selection Debate: you've got a heady mix of the wealth of options available to stir the debate, the issue of nationalism/patriotism to light it on fire, and the absurd length of time to amplify it.
Debate over selection is critical to the success of the Lions. Heck, the official website even says so:
Once every four years the chosen coaching staff gather together to painstakingly assess their options from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The result is normally a 37-man squad assembled to take on one of the SANZAR powerhouses - in the case of the upcoming tour to New Zealand, possibly the most powerful of all.
Spectators, journalists and pundits perform their own selection process, predicting and second guessing who will be granted the honour of pulling on the famous red shirt.
The day itself brings with it endless live blogs at the official unveiling, while social media is awash with speculation and rumours.
These are some of the reasons behind the enormous interest in, say, Shane Williams' Lions selection.
The latest man to make a selection forecast is former All Black Dan Carter, still playing away with Racing in France.
Carter is one of the few rugby players to enter mythic status while still playing, and he was asked who he would pick as the Lions out-half against his native land. (Sexton was among the few Irish players to avoid Warren Gatland's third test cull in Australia four years ago).
But according to Carter, Sexton shouldn't be the first choice starter. Intriguingly, Carter's pick is an English starter, although not their present out-half.
Owen Farrell's been in fantastic form for a year or two and he would be my pick at fly-half. He's worked out a good partnership with George Ford for England.
Warren Gatland's been pretty open that selection will come down to form and the Six Nations is the perfect platform. But you could question the fact Farrell's been playing 12 for England. That might work against him.
Interesting by Carter, as few are in a better position to know what is required by an out-half to remain competitive in a game with the All Blacks.
Farrell has experience of beating the ABs at out-half in the past: he was at No.10 in the England side who beat New Zealand in the Autumn series of 2012.
