It’s too early, I said.

Briefly. And quietly.

But when the Balls.ie editorial staff come asking for your 2013 Lions picks after the Autumn Internationals you don’t really refuse.

Not if you don’t want the second time of asking to be accompanied by large men with trenchcoats hammering nails into a baseball bat. It’s that kind of operation.

So, here they are.

And as the 2013 Lions coach I have given myself the authority to pick anyone I damn well please. So Mike Phillips, off on his French sojourn, is in. And even though Rory Best, Stephen Ferris and Brian O’Driscoll are in sick bay they too are in.

15. Ben Foden
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Brian O’Driscoll (c)
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Mike Phillips
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Richie Gray
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sam Warburton
8. Jamie Heaslip

Who’s on the fringe? I’ve included Ben Foden as I view him to be one of the most gifted open field runners in the game. Rob Kearney is the obvious big name here to miss out.

If Brian O’Driscoll doesn’t manage a successful comeback then Jonathan Davies is for me the next option, ahead of Manu Tuilagi. With O’Driscoll being 34 at the time of the tour a big series from either of his competitors could see them get the nod.

Number 8 is an odd one. Jamie Heaslip is the choice almost by default but on my Lions panel I’d view his main competition as being his Leinster and Ireland team mate, Sean O’Brien. The Tullow man can play the position and unleashing his runs off the base of the scrum would provide an enticing option.

In the front row, nobody is a certainty.

At lock the debate is purely about who joins Richie Gray. Despite my inclusion of an injured Ireland trio, Paul O’Connell’s situation is such that one cannot in good faith assume that he’d be up to the rigours of a Lions tour. I’ve included Ryan after two superb performances against South Africa and Argentina, but there are a host of second row options from England and Wales who will mean that competition for even a touring place, let alone the starting lineup will be fierce.

It’s going to be fascinating.

Published at Balls.ie: http://www.balls.ie/rugby/your-way-too-early-balls-ie-rugby-nerds-2013-lions-tour-starting-xvs/#sthash.khotNduI.dpuf