South Africa 2021.

Former Wales head coach Warren Gatland sat down with Ugo Monye and Chris Ashton on BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly pod this week for a wide-ranging interview that is a must-listen for any rugby fan.

After 12 hugely successful years as Wales boss, Gatland is set to take over the Chiefs in Super Rugby next year before taking a year off to coach the British and Irish Lions for the third time in 2021.

And it will be no easy task with the Lions set to take on Springboks, who were crowned world champions for a record-equalling third time last week.

And while that tour might be still two years away, Ugo Monye put Gats on the spot during the interview and asked him to name some players he would select for the Lions right now.

And to be fair to Gatland – he didn’t shy away from the question.

“I’d say there would be a lot of those English players [from the World Cup final],” Gatland said.

“Jamie George, Maro Itoje… [Tom] Curry, he’s been awesome.

“Anthony Watson, I think [the World Cup] is the best I’ve ever seen him play. I thought he was absolutely outstanding.

“Manu Tuilagi… they’re all English players aren’t they? So now I’ve got to pick a couple of Scots!

Amm… [Stuart] Hogg. I need some Irishmen too… Tadhg Furlong.

“I need a Welshman as well, I’ll give you an outsider, a player who could be x-factor special – Aaron Wainright. He’s a young boy who has got something about him. He could be special.

“Alun Wyn Jones too was brilliant for us. Josh Adams too – I think he’s incredibly underrated.”

So there you have it. 10 players who Warren Gatland is already planning on calling up for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021.

Warren’s Lions Watchlist.

Jamie George (England)
Maro Itoje (England)
Tom Curry (England)
Anthony Watson (England)
Manu Tuilagi (England)
Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Aaron Wainright (Wales)
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Josh Adams (Wales)