Brian O'Driscoll makes big calls as he names his Lions starting team
Brian O'Driscoll has named seven Irish players in his starting XV for the British and Irish Lions Test side.
Lions head coach Andy Farrell named a 38-man squad for their tour of Australia this summer, including 15 Irish players.
And there has been much talk this week of how the Lions might line out for their opening test against Australia on 19 July.
Now former Ireland and Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll has named his XV for the opening clash with some surprising omissions and inclusions.
Speaking to TNT Sports, O'Driscoll has named Irish pair Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan in his front row, but there is no place for Tadhg Furlong at number three. Instead O'Driscoll has opted for Scotland's Zander Fagerson.
The second row partnership of tour captain Maro Itoje and Munster captain Tadhg Beirne looks strong, while Leinster's Josh van der Flier joins English pair Tom Curry and Henry Pollock in O'Driscoll's back row.
Jamison Gibson-Park was an easy decision for O'Driscoll at scrum-half, and he has chosen Scotland's Finn Russell at out-half ahead of Finn Smith.
Leinster winger James Lowe gets a spot, while Garry Ringrose is being tipped by O'Driscoll to start at outside centre.
There is no place in the starting team for Hugo Keenan. Instead Scotland's Blair Kinghorn gets the nod at full-back. In total, O'Driscoll's team is comprised of seven Irish players, four English players and four Scottish players.
Brian O'Driscoll's Lions XV
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Henry Pollock
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Garry Ringrose
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Blair Kinghorn
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