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Published 12:10 1 Nov 2023 GMT
Updated 12:12 1 Nov 2023 GMT
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'I have gone through my notes of each of the four tours – my first as an assistant to Sir Ian McGeechan to South Africa in 2009, then as head coach for Australia in 2013, New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021 and made what is undoubtedly the toughest selection I have ever had to make. To give it some context, I have made my selections based on a snapshot of all the players when they were at their best for the Lions when I was involved. It does not take into account what they achieved over the course of their careers but when they pulled on the red shirt.'Gatland referred back to the 2013 decision to drop Brian O'Driscoll for the deciding Test against the Wallabies as 'the one that attracted the most controversy'. Well, look away now Brian O'Driscoll fans, he has doubled down on that call in his All-time XV. [caption id="attachment_231581" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Brian O'Driscoll of British & Irish Lions breaks the line during the tour match against the Western Force, in 2013. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images for HSBC)[/caption]
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) 14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland) 13. Jonathan Davies (Wales) 12. Jamie Roberts (Wales) 11. George North (Wales) 10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland) 9. Mike Phillips (Wales) 1. Mako Vunipola (England) 2. Jamie George (England) 3. Adam Jones (Wales) 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) 5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland) 6. Tom Croft (England) 7. Sam Warburton (Wales) 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales) Replacements: Tom Youngs (E), Gethin Jenkins (W), Tadhg Furlong (I), Maro Itoje (E), Jamie Heaslip (I), Conor Murray (I), Owen Farrell (E), Brian O'Driscoll (I).As for who captains this All-Time XV, Warren Gatland opted for Wales legend Sam Warburton. "Anyone one of half a dozen players in the starting XV could captain the side but I have to go with Warburton," he writes. "I had an incredibly tight relationship with him, and he was captain on the 2013 and 2017 tours, which you would regard as two successful Lions campaigns."
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