Three games down in a Six Nations which will go a long way towards affecting who Warren Gatland selects for the Lions tour of New Zealand this summer, The Telegraph have named their 37-man squad for the trip.
It features 11 each from Ireland and England, along with nine from Scotland and just six from Wales.
Of the Irish players, the paper says we are likely to see an all-Irish starting front row featuring Jack McGrath, Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong. Ireland captain Best is also named as a strong candidate for the captaincy. 'Mid-week warrior' Cian Healy is also among the front row options.
CJ Stander is named as the likely starting blindside with Sean O'Brien said to be in a battle with Sam Warburton for the openside berth.
Jamie Heaslip is said to be leading the race for the second number 8 slot. Billy Vunipola, despite not playing yet this Six Nations, is thought to be a near certainty for a place.
The half-back pairing is also likely to be an all-Irish affair of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton.
The final two Irish places in the squad are for Robbie Henshaw - who it is said could take the starting number 12 shirt should Gatland see him as a 'Warrenball' option - and Rob Kearney.
Props: Jack McGrath (Ireland), Mako Vunipola (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Kyle Sinckler (England)
Hookers: Rory Best (Ireland), Dylan Hartley (England), Jamie George (England)
Second row: Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales), Maro Itoje (England), Jonny Gray (Scotland), Richie Gray (Scotland), Joe Launchbury (England)
Flankers: CJ Stander (Ireland), Sam Warburton (Wales), Hamish Watson (Scotland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland),
Number 8: Billy Vunipola (England), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Scrum-halves: Conor Murray (Ireland), Greg Laidlaw (Scotland), Ben Youngs (England)
Out-halves: Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland)
Centres: Owen Farrell (also named as out-half) (England), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Alex Dunbar (Scotland), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Huw Jones (Scotland)
Wings: George North (Wales), Liam Williams (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Tommy Seymour (Scotland),
Fullbacks: Rob Kearney (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
The Lions squad will be named on April 19th.
Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
