Sean O’Brien Picks Interesting British & Irish Lions Pack & Forwards Bench For First Test

Competition.

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland is just two days away from announcing his Test team to take on the Springboks this weekend and predicting his matchday 23 has never been harder.

Competition within the squad is like nothing we’ve ever seen before with so many players on form in pretty much every position. It’s absolutely crazy and it’s gonna result in a lot of disappointed players.

House of Rugby regulars Sean O’Brien and Alex Goode were joined by 2017 Lion Greig Laidlaw on this week’s show and they simply could not come to a consensus on their 23 put we’ve managed to put one together based on their lengthy chat.

Being the only forward on the panel, Sean O’Brien was tasked with coming up with a pack and a forwards bench while Laidlaw and Goode let the way debating the backline and bench, with the Irishman giving his two cents there too.

Interestingly, he has given Wyn Jones the nod over Mako Vunipola and Rory Sutherland and gone with an interesting back-row that has Tom Curry at eight to make room for both him and Hamish Watson.

“There’s such strong competition all throughout the squad,” O’Brien said.

“And it’s going to be incredibly interesting to see who comes out on top.”

House of Rugby Lions XV

15. Liam Williams
14. Anthony Watson
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Biggar
9. Conor Murray

1. Wyn Jones
2. Jamie George
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Alun Wyn Jones (c)
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Hamish Watson
8. Tom Curry

Replacements:
16. Mako Vunipola
17. Luke Cowan-Dickie
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Iain Henderson
20. Toby Faletau
21. Owen Farrell
22. Ali Price
23. Elliot Daly

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