5 England players who've been backed for a Lions call-up

The England centre walked off with the man of the match award after a nearly faultless display against Newcastle Falcons which saw him bag two tries and set-up a couple of others with his smooth handling.

As he said post-match he is doing everything he can to knock loudly on the doors of the British and Irish Lions selectors should anyone suffer an injury.

DID YOU KNOW? He started both of Exeter's victories in the Champions Cup and Premiership finals during the 2020/2021 campaign, and was man of the match during the latter

LEICESTERSHIRE LIVE: Watch out South Africa. Why? Because the British and Irish Lions have three better looseheads than Genge according to Warren Gatland and company. The 26-year-old is hitting new heights since his snub from the tour, and has been excellent since returning from the Six Nations.

He is proving lethal from the five-metre tap penalty and his second was powerful and well assisted by Dan Cole on the latch. Didn’t have his usual volume of tackles but made one great hit on Francois Venter. Five tries in 10 games for Tigers this season is an impressive return.

DID YOU KNOW? He is known for his aggressive ball carrying, and is nicknamed "Baby Rhino" by the Rugby community

BRISTOL LIVE: It seemed at times on the AJ Bell pitch that Ben Earl was trying to drag the Bears over the try-line on his own with a dogged display.

Earl was rewarded for his efforts with that exceptional score early in the second half which he finished like a cultured back.

But as well as the try the Saracens loanee defended to the highest quality, including a try-saving tackle late in the first half.

DID YOU KNOW? Earl's mother worked as a retail industry CEO and his father as a solicitor

Lions legend McGeechan believes Tuilagi could roar with the Lions this summer after a stunning return to the rugby field.

"A couple of rampaging performances from the England centre in the final few weeks of the domestic season - perhaps inspiring Sale to the Premiership title, who knows - and it is not hard to imagine Tuilagi’s name leaping to the front of the reserve queue should anything befall any of Warren's chosen Lions centres," McGeechan wrote in a Telegraph column.