sky sports lions team based on weekend form

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true blue 06
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sky sports lions team based on weekend form

Post by true blue 06 »

Throughout the season we will put forward a skysports.com XV for the opening Test against South Africa based on performances from the weekend's action.

However, it seems the XV selected in the first of these features riled one or two of you enough to question my parentage.

Undeterred, skysports.com unveils its latest selections from the last seven days - with a number of players knocking on the door the selectors.

We have also listed those who are unlucky to miss out on our XV and those who have failed to impress.

And we will be looking for your own starting XV and suggestions of who deserves to be in there based on their performances after the latest round of fixtures.

Let us know who you think via the form below...

15 Keith Earls
A number of players have staked their claim for the No.15 shirt with Lee Byrne, Nick Abendanon, Morgan Stoddart and last week's selection Olly Morgan all impressing. However, a superb hat-trick from Earls in Munster's win over the Dragons earns the highly-rated 20-year-old his place.


14 Thom Evans
A hugely colourful character, Evans is making a big name for himself on the pitch. The nephew of DJ Chris Evans, the 23-year-old has turned his back on a music career to concentrate on rugby. And if his two-try performance in Glasgow's defeat to the Ospreys is anything to go by, he has made the right decision.


13 Brian O'Driscoll
The irrepressible force that is Brian O'Driscoll makes his first appearance in the skysports.com XV after a classy performance for Leinster against Edinburgh. More than played his part in his side's six-try romp with his incisive attacking play and was unlucky not to score himself.


12 Luke Fitzgerald
Okay, okay... before people complain, I know Fitzgerald scored his hat-trick against Edinburgh on the wing, however he has proved that he is equally adept at inside centre - and a partnership alongside O'Driscoll is just too tempting to ignore.


11 Mark Jones
The Scarlets winger may have been forced to live in the shadow of his international team-mate Shane Williams, however there is no doubting Jones' talent. Another first-class performance was rewarded with a try against Connacht.


10 Jonny Wilkinson
Just like the full-back position, there was a whole host of contenders for the No.10 jersey - however the return of Wilkinson really caught the eye. A faultless display was topped with a 45m drop goal - from his supposedly weaker right foot - and his influence on the Newcastle team was clear to see.


9 Danny Care
One of two players to retain their place in the XV from the opening week, and there is little doubt that on this form Care will be in the Test team for the Lions. Yes, Dwayne Peel and Mike Blair might be quality operators, but Care is something special as his dominant display for Harlequins proved.


1 Andrew Sheridan
The behemoth that is Sheridan was back at his best for Sale and he certainly gave Census Johnston a rough workout. Powerful in the scrum and frightening in the loose, Sheridan is pushing to be the cornerstone of the Lions pack.


2 Matthew Rees
Tough call between Rees, Frankie Sheahan and Rory Best - with all three hookers performing well. However Rees just gets the nod, particularly as Sheahan blotted his copybook with a yellow card. Rees was superb in the loose against Connacht and quietly effective in the scrum.


3 Gethin Jenkins
Along with Care, Jenkins retains his place in the side, although the versatile Cardiff prop switches to tighthead to accommodate Sheridan at loosehead. Jenkins has started the season in immense form and will be key to any hopes Wales and the Lions have of success.


4 Alun Wyn Jones
With Nick Kennedy sitting out London Irish's defeat to Leicester, Wyn Jones has stormed into claim the No.4 shirt. Not content with his classy performance against Cardiff in midweek, Wyn Jones grabbed the match-winning try against Glasgow.


5 Malcolm O'Kelly
With international colleague Paul O'Connell rested on the bench for Munster, Leinster's O'Kelly used his return to action to stake his own claim for a place in the Lions side. A big presence on the pitch and top-notch lineout jumper.


6 Tom Croft
England boss Martin Johnson will certainly have taken note of Croft's performance against London Irish. Fellow back-row Ben Herring may have stole the headlines, but Croft's work on the deck was exemplary - and he even topped his display with a try.


7 John Barclay
Plenty of contenders, but Barclay's work-rate against Ospreys sees him included in the XV. A good honest professional, he got stuck into the Welsh side and can count himself unlucky to have finished up on the losing side.


8 Luke Narraway
Under-fire after spurning a try-scoring chance in the opening defeat to Leicester, Narraway bounced back in the best possible way - a storming display and a try.


Unlucky to miss out
Jason Hobson, Charlie Hodgson, Toby Flood, Geordan Murphy, Lee Byrne, Nick Abendanon, Morgan Stoddart, Olly Morgan, Shane Williams, Nathan Brew, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Marcus Horan, Frankie Sheahan, Scott MacLeod, Shane Jennings and Jordan Crane, Rory Best.


In danger
Ryan Lamb, Dan Parks, Nick De Luca, Matt
"Hickie is racing away, he's gonna get past Pelous. He's gotta time his pass, D'arcy back to Hickie... HICKIE FOR THE CORNER! That is awesome!"
Sky Sports 01/04/06


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