Brian O’Driscoll Selects His British & Irish Lions Backline For South Africa

South Africa 2021.

Brian O’Driscoll knows a thing or two about Lions tours. The former Leinster and Ireland centre toured with the famous side in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013 and will go down as one of the greatest players to don the red jersey.

Having defeated Australia and New Zealand in their last two tours, albeit drawing the series against the All Blacks, the Lions will go into next year’s tour against South Africa with plenty of confidence.

But the Boks are world champions are will be no easy opponents. They’ve arguably got the best pack in the world so the Lions may target their backline if they’re going to pull off a famous win.

So who would O’Driscoll go with in terms of a Lions backline next year? Speaking to the Telegraph, the centre has selected a player from each nation to line out opposite the Boks, with four Englishmen and one each from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

At fullback, he’s gone with Stuart Hogg, who likely would have started in 2017 only for an unfortunate clash of heads with Conor Murray that ended his tour prematurely.

On the wings, O’Driscoll has gone with 2017 tourist Anthony Watson who impressed against the All Blacks and the in-form Jonny May with the likes of Josh Adams and Jacob Stockdale missing out.

In the centre, O’Driscoll has gone with power and flair in Manu Tuilagi and Ireland’s Garry Ringrose. And finally, in the halfbacks, the Irishman has selected England captain Owen Farrell and Wales nine Tomos Williams.

What do you think of O’Driscoll’s selection? Would you make any changes?

Brian O’Driscoll’s Lions Backline

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Anthony Watson
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Manu Tuilagi
11. Jonny May
10. Owen Farrell
9. Tomos Williams

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