You are the head coach: Guardian writers choose their own Lions squads

Today at 07:00

We asked our rugby experts to elbow Andy Farrell aside and install themselves as the man in charge. This is who they picked and why

Build the team around The majority of my spine players come in the pack. In some areas the leading candidate is a cut above the rest and none more so than Dan Sheehan at hooker. He's nailed on as first choice. I'd put Maro Itoje in that bracket too and, due to lack of alternatives, I would've had Caelan Doris before news of his shoulder injury emerged. Perhaps the most important player is the one back I've selected in this category, however. Jamison Gibson-Park has been so exceptionally consistent and is someone you can look to build around. You build a team around your players of influence and, for me, they are Sheehan, Itoje and Gibson-Park.