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Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell select their Lions XV

 James Haskell was superb for England in the first two Tests
Image: Does James Haskell make Will and Scott's Lions team?

Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell select their starting XV if the British and Irish Lions were playing the All Blacks tomorrow.

In 2017, the Lions will be heading to New Zealand to take on the back-to-back world champions. The Lions may have won their last tour to Australia in 2013, but the challenge will be massive as the best players from the UK and Ireland take on the mighty All Blacks.

There is still plenty of rugby to be played before now and when the 2017 squad is announced but after the summer tours we asked Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell to pick a Lions team if the first Test was to be played tomorrow...

Back Three

Scotland's Stuart Hogg (top) falls on Japan's Hendrik Tui (bottom) during their rugby union friendly match at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo on June 25, 2016.
Image: Stuart Hogg's counter-attacking pace would be crucial against the All Blacks

Will Greenwood: Stuart Hogg is at full-back for me. He is an outstanding counter-attacker and hard as nails going under the high ball.

George North might have a niggle but I'll pick him as he is back to his try-scoring best, is an absolute powerhouse and has Lions experience.

On the other wing there are a lot of contenders - Andrew Trimble, Tommy Seymour, Jack Nowell. However, although he has had a quiet series, I am tempted to go with Anthony Watson.

Will Greenwood's British and Irish Lions XV

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Scott Quinnell: If it was being played tomorrow then George North is out injured and I just have to get Liam Williams in there somewhere. He has been incredible and he would be one of my wings. On the other I want the pace of Jack Nowell - the likes of Anthony Watson and Tommy Seymour can be really upset that they are not in my team but those are the two I would go for.

At full-back I would go with Stuart Hogg. He brings that pace - if you kick badly to him he will come at you lightning quick and make you pay.

Jack Nowell of England dives over for their third try against Australia
Image: Jack Nowell of England dives over for their third try against Australia

Centres

Greenwood: The in-form 10/12 axis for me is Ford and Farrell so for me Owen Farrell is in at 12 with Robbie Henshaw in at 13. Henshaw is improving all the time and has played really well for Ireland and for Connacht, who he helped to Pro12 glory this year.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02:  Owen Farrell of England scores his team's second try during the QBE International match between England and Australia at Tw
Image: Quinnell and Greenwood both agree that Owen Farrell is in at No 12

Quinnell: At 12 I would opt for Owen Farrell. He has been fantastic. His kicking has been magnificent as has his all-round game. He is big and strong and he plays that front-foot rugby better from 12 than he does at No 10.

At No 13, I would go for Robbie Henshaw. He is also big and strong and would give the Lions a target to carry that ball up.

Scott Quinnell's British and Irish Lions XV

Half-backs

Greenwood: Conor Murray is in at No 9. I've always been a huge fan of his ball control, skills, his box kicking and his distribution. I find it difficult to break up the Ford and Farrell combination so I will go with George Ford at fly-half. A lot of Welsh people will be shouting saying, 'You have got to pick Dan Biggar', but if it was a Test match tomorrow then I want to keep my 10-12 combination.

Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray
Image: Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray get's the nod at No 9 for Will Greenwood

Quinnell: I think Rhys Webb is back to some wonderful form and is my No 9. At fly-half I would go for Dan Biggar - a fit Jonny Sexton would come into the equation - but on form today I would go with Biggar.

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar
Image: Dan Biggar is the in-form fly-half according to Scott

Front row

Mako Vunipola admits England's scrum were well beaten by Australia at the World Cup
Image: Mako Vunipola carries well for England

Greenwood: In at loose-head prop is Mako Vunipola. He's been brilliant for England against Australia and is a Grand Slam winner. He is a sensational ball carrier. Hooker and captain is Dylan Hartley. He has come back from the brink, missed the World Cup, everyone doubted him but he has been sensational for England. WP Nel has been the outstanding tight-head in the northern hemisphere - pushed very close by Dan Cole.

Dylan Hartley of England leads team mates onto the field during the International Test match in Australia
Image: Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell both chose Dylan hartley as Lions skipper

Quinnell: Gethin Jenkins has been brilliant but he is injured. Vunipola would be pushing really hard but I would go with Jack McGrath.

Hooker Dylan Hartley would also be my Lions captain too. He has led from the front and his lineout throwing has been exceptional. I would also go with WP Nel too - he had a brilliant Six Nations for Scotland and really shored that tight-head position up. But you also have the likes of Cole and Samson Lee pushing hard.

WP Nel of Scotland is challenged by Yacouba Camara of France during the RBS Six Nations match between Scotland and France at Murrayfield
Image: WP Nel carries for Scotland

Second row

Greenwood: Alun Wyn Jones would be very close but you cannot break up the George Kruis and Maro Itoje partnership - it has won England a series win in Australia and a Grand Slam.

England's George Kruis and Maro Itoje with the RBS 6 Nations Triple Crown trophy
Image: England's George Kruis and Maro Itoje cannot be split up

Quinnell: I agree with Will - Kruis and Itoje are the in-form pair so you have to go with them if they were playing tomorrow. But look at who I am leaving out - Alun Wynn Jones, Devin Toner, Jonny Gray, Iain Henderson, Luke Charteris. But with Hartley at hooker you have to go with the England pair.

Back row

New Zealand All Blacks Sam Cane attempts to tackle Wales' Taulupe Faletau (C) as he heads for a try during the rugby Test match between the New Zealand All
Image: Will and Scott both agree that Taulupe Faletau is in the team but disagree on where he plays

Greenwood: At No 6 I would have Taulupe Faletau. He is a quite wonderful footballer and we need to have him in there. He plays No 8 but stick him on the side of the scrum and have Billy Vunipola at No 8. He has had a monstrous year and was superb in Australia. At No 7, I would stick in James Haskell. His tackle counts, his carries, his general bloody-mindedness would be crucial against New Zealand.

Billy Vunipola  makes a now trademark charge
Image: Billy Vunipola makes a now trademark charge

Quinnell: Two of the in-form players are Billy Vunipola and Taulupe Faletau and I want them both on my team. Vunipola brings something different to Faletau and I would stick him in at six and ask him to smash through that gain line. Faletau would be at No 8 - I think him and Kieran Read are the best two No 8s in the world at the moment. James Haskell for me would be in at No 7. He caused absolute chaos against Australia. One thing you need from a seven is to get you quick ball and slow down the opponent's ball - Haskell has the capability to do that.

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