"He gets my vote" - Jeremy Guscott ranks his top 10 'must-go' 2021 Lions

Sunday, 02 May 2021 at 13:02

byRugby Rucker

England and Lions legend Jeremy Guscott has selected 10 must-go players for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa this summer.

The former Bath centre, who laced the winning drop goal in a tense 2-1 series win against the Springboks in 1997, has picked three Englishmen among his certainties.

#1. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Jeremy Guscott said: "Furlong was the first name I put down as he's a brute of a tighthead."

Did you know? Furlong also played Gaelic football for Horeswood.

#2. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

DID YOU KNOW? He was named as the best player of the 2019 Six Nations Championship

#3. Maro Itoje (England)

Jeremy Guscott said: The England and Saracens lock understands that big games are won by fine margins, and he has the ability to rise to the occasion and make a difference when it's needed most."

Did you know? As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put

#4. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)

Guscott said: "He's found his best form at just the right time, and the pace, fitness and power which helps him find holes in defenses will be very important against a side like South Africa.

Did you know? As a young boy, his school friends struggled to pronounce his Tongan name, and so he picked up the nickname Toby. In recent years, he has requested that his rugby squad name be recorded more accurately as Taulupe, but does not mind being called Toby

#5. Tom Curry (England)

Guscott said: "Curry's exceptional all-round game should suit the dry, fast South African pitches."

Did you know? He is the nephew of former England hooker John Olver and cousin of former Northampton Saints and current Ealing Trailfinders fly-half Sam Olver

#6. Conor Murray (Ireland)

Guscott said: "He gets my vote because he's been there and done it against the best as the Lions scrum-half in 2017. He's got the best box-kick of any no.9 in the world, and that will be very important against the Springboks."

Did you know? Before becoming a professional rugby player, Murray played Gaelic football with Patrickswell and Limerick

#7. Dan Biggar (Wales)

Did you know? Biggar has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call "The Biggarena" after Los Del Rio's 1995 hit, Macarena

#8. Manu Tuilagi (England)

Guscott said: "Tuilagi is a must for me at centre if he is fit, because he's such a physical threat in attack and defence. His reputation has been earned."