Paul O’Connell Picks His Lions XV & It’s An Interesting One

by Will Matthews · February 3, 2017

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Paul O’Connell has had a go at picking his Lions XV for this summer’s battle with the All Blacks.

The former British & Irish Lions captain was a guest on BBC 5 Live Sport last night, and discussed Eddie Jones and the Lions selection among other things.

O’Connell will be in studio with BBC for the duration of the Six Nations doing some punditry work, so it will be interested to see how this XV changes over the course of the RBS Six Nations. He says himself it will probably change after this weekend’s games.

Paul O’Connell has selected his British & Irish Lions starting XV ahead of the #RBS6Nations.

Will it look the same in 6 weeks time? pic.twitter.com/KlqRiwMi1L

— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) February 2, 2017

The legendary lock has gone with 7 Irish, 4 English, 3 Welsh and 1 Scottish in his XV. O’Connell gives a chuckle at the end when he realises how many Irish he has in his team, but in fairness- that was always going to happen. He’s also went with some interesting choices like selecting Mako Vunipola over McGrath and opting to play Jamie Heaslip at six so as to make room for Billy Vunipola at eight.

Paul O’Connell’s British & Irish Lions XV

1. Mako Vunipola (England)
2. Rory Best (Ireland)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
5. Maro Itoje (England)
6. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
7. Sean O’Brien (Ireland)
8. Billy Vunipola (England)
9. Conor Murray (Ireland)
10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
11. Simon Zebo (Ireland)
12. Owen Farrell (England)
13. Jonathan Joseph (England)
14. George North (Wales)
15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)