With Andy Farrell set to release his lions squad 8 May, there is mounting excitement for the inevitable surprise omissions and exclusions that define the tour. Last year it was England’s Marcus Smith who made the cut, but this year it could not be closer between the baby fly halves: Fin Smith and Sam Prendergast.

Given the amount of question marks, this is the sports editor special, highly likely to be hugely wrong, prediction of the Lions squad, captain, and team to face Australia.

A few alterations have also been made from the print. These include: Injuries to Caelan Doris, Mack Hansen, and Blair Kinghorn, alongside the rumours of an expanded 42-man squad.

Lions Squad

Looseheads: Ellis Genge (England / Bristol), Andrew Porter (Ireland / Leinster), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland / Edinburgh)

Hookers: Jamie George (England / Saracens), Dewi Lake (Wales / Osprays), Dan Sheehan (Ireland / Leinster)

Tightheads: Zander Fagerson (Scotland / Glasgow), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland / Leinster), Will Stuart (England / Bath)

Locks: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland / Munster), Ollie Chessum (England / Leicester), [CAPTAIN] Maro Itoje (England / Saracens), Joe McCarthy (Ireland / Leinster)

Back Row: Jack Conan (Ireland / Leinster), Rory Darge (Scotland / Glasgow), Ben Earl (England / Saracens), Courtney Lawes (England / Brive), Jac Morgan (Wales / Osprays), Henry Pollock (England / Northampton)*, Jamie Ritchie (Scotland / Edinburgh), Josh Van der Flier (Ireland / Leinster), Jack Willis (England / Toulouse)

Scrum Halves: Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland / Leinster), Alex Mitchell (England / Northampton), Tomos Williams (Wales / Gloucester)

Fly Halves: Sam Prendergast (Ireland / Leinster), Finn Russell (Scotland / Bath), Fin Smith (England / Northampton), Marcus Smith (England / Harlequins)

Centres: Bundee Aki (Ireland / Connacht), Huw Jones (Scotland / Glasgow), Garry Ringrose (Ireland / Leinster), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland / Glasgow)**

Wingers: Rio Dyer (Wales / Dragons), Tommy Freeman (England / Northampton), Darcy Graham (Scotland / Edinburgh), Calvin Nash (Ireland / Munster), James Lowe (Ireland / Leinster), Duhan Van der Merwe (Scotland / Edinburgh)

Fullbacks: Hugo Keenan (Ireland / Leinster), George Furbank (England / Northampton), Freddie Steward (England / Leicester)

* The talking point of rugby, Henry Pollock has burst onto the scene as a hugely divisive character. While there are more experienced flankers, like the Curry brothers or Tommy Reffell, the controversial decision to select the youngster would be great advertising and is fitting for the Lions.

** While Sione Tuipulotu has been out with a major injury, missing the six nations, the Scotland captain will be an early name on the squad sheet for Andy Farrell if he is fit and available. Our prediction is that he will make the most of the warm up games, playing himself into the matchday squad over Bundee Aki.

Lions Squad for the First Test

1. Andrew Porter

2. Dan Sheehan

3. Zander Fagerson

4. Maro Itoje (C)

5. Tadhg Beirne

6. Jac Morgan

7. Jack Willis

8. Jack Conan

9. Jamison Gibson-Park

10. Finn Russell

11. James Lowe

12. Sione Tuipulotu (vc)

13. Huw Jones

14. Tommy Freeman

15. Blair Kinghorn

16. Jamie George, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Joe McCarthy, 20. Henry Pollock, 21. Ben Earl, 22. Tomos Williams, 23. Marcus Smith