Australia v Lions: my team

Aside from the excitement over the arrival Down Under of Shane Williams, there is a serious business for the Lions: beating Australia.

A number of injuries have hit Warren Gatland’s squad, and the team I’d pick has taken those into consideration (I’ve left out those who are seen as doubtful). It means, for example, that neither winger would be starting were it not for injuries to others.

Backs (five Welsh, two Irish):

15: Leigh Halfpenny
14: Alex Cuthbert
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Jonathan Davies
11: George North
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Mike Phillips

Reds 12-22 Lions

The Lions ground out a tough 22-12 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane in what was quite an assignment for the tourists. The Reds played with such a high tempo and apparent freedom, typified by the excellent Quade Cooper. Still, in the east coast rain, Warren Gatland will be generally content with the shift his team put in.

Players’ verdict:

15: Stuart Hogg – lively, generally assured, although he’s not in contention to start against the Wallabies…7/10
14: Alex Cuthbert – looked laboured and slow in the first half when he was trumped in attack and defence by opposite number Luke Morahan. Blow to his prospects of starting the first test…5

Lions squad verdict: the backs

Leigh Halfpenny

The best full back in the northern hemisphere, the outstanding player of the Six Nations, safer than houses under the high ball and a deadly accurate goalkicker

Stuart Hogg

A superb talent – he is only 20 – with pace to burn, as his Six Nations try against Italy proved. Will be an exciting part of the Lions midweek team

Rob Kearney

Once the best Six Nations full back, he has watched Halfpenny consolidate his own claim to that crown. But Kearney is still too much of a safe pair of hands to leave behind

Tommy Bowe