Will Greenwood believes only two Wales players should be in Warren Gatland’s Test team if the Lions were facing South Africa now.
And one of them is a controversial choice that may surrpise many Welsh supporters.
For Greenwood has plumped for Hadleigh Parkes at centre alongside England powerhouse Manu Tuilagi in his best of British and Irish side.
Mind you, the England 2003 World Cup winner should know what he’s talking about because he’s a former Lions Test centre himself.
The shocks don’t end there though for Greenwood has advised Lions head coach Gatland to leave out Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones and he names more Scots than Welsh players.
He’s installed unheralded Scotland scrum-half Ali Price in his team ahead of the likes of Conor Murray, Rhys Webb, Ben Youngs, Tomos Williams and Gareth Davies.
Greenwood, picking a team for the Rugby Paper based on current form, also plumped for two of Price’s Scottish teammates, up and coming prop Rory Sutherland and full-back Stuart Hogg, wjho he selects at 15 ahead of Liam Williams.
Wales only have two players in Parkes and flanker Justin Tipuric, with Ireland on the same figure in the shape of lock James Ryan and No.8 CJ Stander.
The last Scottish player to start a Lions Test was prop Tom Smith against Australia 19 years ago.
Greenwood, a Lions tourist in 1997, 2001 and 2005, has selected eight of Eddie Jones’ England team.
He picked Owen Farrell, who has been playing at centre, at outside-half and full-back Elliot Daly on the wing.
WILL GREENWOOD’S LIONS TEAM
Stuart Hogg (Scotland); Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi (England), Hadleigh Parkes (Wales), Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell (England); Ali Price; Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje (England), James Ryan (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Justin Tipuric (Wales), CJ Stander (Ireland).
