Definitive proof that size isn’t everything in rugby. Outstanding in this season’s Six Nations and the leading candidate for the 15 shirt in the Tests. Also a frontline goal-kicker, he is not short of incentive after injury cruelly cut short his tour of South Africa in 2009
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Performed superbly in the latter stages of the Test series against the Springboks and remains a class act. Injury has curtailed his season but still a key cog in Leinster’s backline. One of the safest under a high ball in world rugby Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
Ended up starting the final Test against South Africa in the centre following injuries but has won a half-century of caps for Ireland on the wing. Popular, cheerful tourist who has returned to fitness in the nick of time following a long-term knee problem. Has been picked despite his relative lack of recent rugby
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The scourge of England in the Six Nations decider at the Millennium Stadium when he scored two tries despite a damaged hamstring. Grew up in England and used to be a promising show-jumper before he was spotted playing sevens. Big, strong and good enough to challenge Bowe for a Test spot Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Elusive running threat who has shone for Scotland in his brief Test career to date. Can also play on the wing and was a stand-off in his youth so offers versatility as well as pace. Slightly less secure defensively but a definite talent Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Surprise selection in the wings. New Zealand-born Scot can also play at full-back. Played for New Zealand Maori before switching allegiance. Capped five times by Scotland Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
Has signed for Northampton from the Scarlets and is already a highly-rated international force at the age of 21. Does not score as many tries as perhaps he should but his touchdown for Wales in Paris this year showed his considerable strength. At just 21, he will only get better Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
At his best he makes the game look beautifully simple. His 36 Tests for Wales have coincided with plenty of high spots but he endured a mixed Six Nations this time around. If he wishes to make the Test side he will first have to oust Brian O’Driscoll and Manu Tuilagi Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Only the absolute cream of British and Irish rugby get picked for four successive Lions tours. His try at the Gabba in the First Test in 2001 should have paved the way to series victory; he will also want to atone for the huge disappointment of 2005 when his tour ended in controversial fashion Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images
One of the stars of the 2009 series when his midfield partnership with O’Driscoll clicked from day one. Something similar this time would suit the Lions just fine. Now a qualified doctor having just passed his finals, he is leaving Cardiff for Racing Métro this summer. Photograph: David Davies/PA
Will he turn out to be a series-turning powerhouse or merely a flat-track bully? Can be unstoppable but a little more subtlety may be required to outwit the Wallaby midfield. Needs to steer well clear of the ferries at Circular Quay Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images
An emerging talent but question marks have been raised after recent performances for club and country. Saw off the threat of Jonny Wilkinson to make the final cut of 37 Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images
The most vital member of the squad, with the possible exception of tight-head Adam Jones. If the Lions are to be victorious they need Sexton to pull the strings as expertly as he does for Leinster. Alert, tactically smart and a proven winner, this could be a career-defining tour
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Wales were so concerned about how he was required to play by Bayonne, passing the ball far less than he did for the national side, that he was dropped at the beginning of the autumn. Not for long. The 2009 Lion had a roaring Six Nations Photograph: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
The Munster man sealed his place in the squad in last weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne and offers similar qualities to Phillips, physical and abrasive but able to get the ball quickly away from the breakdown Photograph: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
His England career has been chequered, a mixture of inspirational brilliance and elementary howlers, but he provides the Lions with the option of lifting the tempo and he is less headstrong than his national rival, Danny Care Photograph: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
Will push Jenkins hard for the Test slot, almost as effective as the Welshman in the loose, a stronger ball-carrier if not as polished at winning turnovers. A strong scrummager, his one blot in the Six Nations was a stamp on Dan Cole that earned him a citing Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
It will be his third Lions tour after 2005 and 2009, but his failure to make an impression at Toulon this season, where he has understudied Andrew Sheridan, meant he had to fight for his place and he ended the Six Nations as captain in the rout of England Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
Started the Six Nations slowly after missing the autumn internationals through injury, but was back to his destructive best after being publicly bawled out by his coaches. One of the successes of 2009 Photograph: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
His career has stuttered because of injuries and he missed the opening match of the Six Nations before ousting the 2009 Lion Matthew Rees. A physical, confrontational player he will relish taking on Australia up front Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
Centre turned hooker on the advice of current Springbok coach, Heyneke Meyer, during his brief reign at Leicester. Since then Youngs's career has taken off. Taken to South Africa last summer "for experience" he has played in nine consecutive England Tests, starting eight Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Captain in South Africa last time and the inspiration behind Munster's rise from dire to Heineken semi-finalists since his return from injury. If his knee and back remain OK he should be the beating heart of the squad on his third Lions tour Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images
Big sigh of relief to match the size of the former Glasgow giant who missed a chunk of the Six Nations and whose form for Sale has been distinctly iffy since his transfer last summer. Believed heading for France in hope that a change might put him back on track Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images
The Ospreys player's return to fitness after knee surgery was central to the change in Welsh Six Nations fortunes. Deemed "unfit" until days before the first game against Ireland he tackled anything that moved in the first two matches until the cavalry finally arrived Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Is it Warburton or Tipuric? Both. The Osprey with the speed of a centre played alongside Warburton in the final Six Nations game and look what happened to England. Against Australia – even minus David Pocock, but possibly with George Smith – it's mouth-watering Photograph: David Davies/PA Archive/Press Association Ima
Says a lot that Gatland was prepared to wait for the Dragons flanker, barely weeks back after breaking an ankle. Mind you, Gatland gave the farmer from Salford – via Llandrindod Wells – his debut less than two years after Lydiate broke his neck playing in Perpignan Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Long forgiven by Gatland for the trip which "lost" Wales the 2010 opener against England. Indeed often tipped for Lions captaincy – Martin Johnson is a fan – even though the Osprey, a qualified lawyer, is currently centre stage demanding a say for the players in Welsh rugby politics Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Lots of arguments over whether O'Brien should play six or seven, but the Irish blazers did well to hang on to the farmer from Carlow despite considerable interest from France. European player of the year in 2011 on the back of Leinster's Heineken Cup victory Photograph: IAN MACNICOL/AFP/Getty Images
Favourite for captain after the World Cup, a doubt to make the side midway through the Six Nations. Then after taming Scotland and humbling England the bookies stopped taking bets on who would wear the arm band Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
One of the 'finds' of 2009 when he went to South Africa as a late replacement for the banned Alan Quinlan. Good in the air, athletic on the firm grounds. He was a stand-out, then came the broken neck and eight months out only returning at Christmas Photograph: David Davies/PA Archive/Press Association Ima
Nursing a leg damaged against Biarritz at the weekend, but returning to form – he scored twice in the first half – after a Six Nations where the cares of captaincy (taken from Brian O'Driscoll) and a coach heading for the door seemed too much Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA Archive/Press Association Ima
If Bath are in with a big bid it's easy to understand why. The Tongan – he was born on the slopes of a volcano – never lets anyone down and at the 2011 World Cup was arguably the outstanding No8. The stats say he tackled and carried more than anyone else, but tell only half the story Photograph: IAN MACNICOL/AFP/Getty Images
Surprise selection ahead of Ireland's Rory Best. Born in New Zealand but qualified for England through his mother. Capped 43 times by England since 2008 Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
Surprise selection for the New Zealand-born prop first called up by the England squad for the 2012 autumn internationals. Made his debut from the bench against Fiji. Has nine senior caps Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
Hugely surprising selection. Prop served a two-year cocaine ban until 2011 and then retired from international rugby in 2012 Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
The cornerstone of the England pack despite his youth, in prop terms anyway, he had a seesaw Six Nations, up one round, down the next, but he is the epitome of a modern prop forwards, scrummaging, lifting, tackling, carrying and winning turnovers Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
Represented England through the age groups and has 13 caps at senior level since making his debut in 2012. Ran England's Six Nations line-outs superbly Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
