It has been a strange Lions tour in many aspects when it comes to how Warren Gatland has selected his test teams. Many felt he got his selection wrong for the first test yet the Lions ended up winning. Today he generally had strong support for selection and Lions lost. Both games were decided by last minute kicks that didn't clear the crossbar but the one point margin of today's test shouldn't mask the fact that bar Leigh Halfpenny's boot; the Lions didn't threaten Australia. With everything hanging on the third test, lets take a stab at what the team should be. Also this is the last time we get to hypothetically pick a Lions test team until after the Autumn internationals so lets use it.
1. Ryan Grant.
This is purely dependent on Alex Corbisero's fitness but assuming the Englishman doesn't make it then its to Grant that Gatland should look. Mako Vunipola remains a force in the loose but four penalties conceded today tells its own story. In fairness to Vunipola he recovered well after his disastrous start but he remains an impact sub.
2. Tom Youngs.
Youngs has done nothing to warrant demotion but equally he failed to match his strong first test showing today. He can be grateful for Richard Hibbard's wobbles with his darts and the fact this has generally been an unambitious Lions lineout.
3. Adam Jones.
No change here, Adam and his glorious curly locks move from one scrum to the other and for 50 minutes he holds up his end.
4. Ian Evans.
Geoff Parling is a fine lineout operator but given the fact the Lions don't seem to be interested in using that as an offensive weapon, they should turn to the extra beef of Evans to partner his international colleague in the engine room.
5. Alun Wyn-Jones.
AWJ remains comfortably the finest lock the Lions have in the absence of Paul O'Connell. A POC performance in the expected absence of Australian captain James Horwill is needed next week though.
6. Sean O'Brien.
The workrate of Dan Lyidate is not in question and there is real merit to the argument that he can negate the influence of Will Genia. But the Lions need to be proactive next week. O'Brien is in his own words "pissed off", he's fresh and he has previous with Australia. The Tullow tank's selection would be a statement of intent by Gatland.
7. Sam Warburton.
This is where it gets tricky,. The Lions captain is a real doubt for the 3rd test after injuring his hamstring today. If fit, he is a no-brainer selection after an excellent performance today. In his absence, the back-row options are still plentiful. Gatland could push Sean O'Brien to 7 and try to blow the Aussies away at the breakdown but many would argue that Justin Tipuric is at least the equal of Warburton and his selection in the absence of the captain would retain the balance of the backrow.
8. Jamie Heaslip.
We have yet to see Heaslip unleashed in the loose in this test series but he still gets through a Trojan amount of work and has earned his shot at his 6th consecutive Lions test start.
9. Conor Murray.
Murray had a very impressive cameo role off the bench today and has arguably been the form scrum-half of the tour. Stuart Barnes called him a 9th forward today and the focus on his physicality detracts from his all round game. He has earned his shot and Gatland should be brave and make the call.
10. Jonny Sexton.
No doubts here, Sexton has had a good tour despite the constant changes around him. He was perhaps a little too deep today and he needs a bulky 12 but as ever; an awful lot depends on him next week.
11. George North.
Controversial I know, one moment today that will live in Lions folklore to go along with his magic try last week. North remains by far the Lions most potent weapon. If you take away him lifting Folau today though, it was the Aussie winger who won their individual duel. The Lions need to do everything they can to bring North into the game early next week.
12. Jamie Roberts.
All the indications are that Doctor Roberts will be fit to play next week and that could swing the game the Lions way. A team with a fit Roberts, North and Sean O'Brien should smash the gainline woes and give Jonny Sexton that front foot ball he needs. If Roberts doesn't make it then a strong argument could be made for the inclusion of Manu Tuliagi.
13. Brian O'Driscoll.
This will be a hard call for Gatland to make. Jonathan Davies has arguably had a better tour than BOD and he hasn't had a crack at his preferred position yet. O'Driscoll has not hit the heights he would have wished in this tour but next Saturday will be his 9th Lions test in his 4th tour and his last shot at winning one. You get the sense #13 will pull something out of the bag.
14. Tommy Bowe.
Bowe will be much better for having played a game this week and remains comfortably the better option ahead of Alex Cuthbert. Like North though, he needs to see the ball early next week.
15. Leigh Halfpenny.
Never a doubt here. A couple of yards closer and his boot wins it for the Lions. Defensively he's been immense but hopefully more to come with ball in hand.
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