Regardless of one's level of interest in Lions tours, the speculation about who will and who should be picked is always rich in petty, chauvinistic, nationalistic one-upmanship.
Well, the Daily Telegraph have picked their Lions team on the basis of the Rugby World Cup.
The intro asserts that England 'do not get much of a look-in' although their eventual tally equals that of Ireland. In total, Wales have seven players, Scotland have four, while England and Ireland make do with two each.
Of the Irish duo, one was a nailed-on pick, the other a somewhat dubious one. Steve James has plumped for a two-thirds Irish front row, with Cian Healy accompanying Rory Best in the scrum.
While few would have any qualms about Best's inclusion, picking Cian Healy will surely raise scores of eyebrows, not least because of the performances of Jack McGrath.
Robbie Henshaw is perhaps the most surprising omission, with James standing by Jamie Roberts. Mike Brown and winger Anthony Watson are the two English players in the side.
Here is the team.
Read more: Ranking Ireland's Rugby World Cup Campaigns From 'Horrific' To 'Heroic Defeat'
