Martin Johnson picks his 'experienced' Lions pack to beat the Boks

Johnson, widely regarded as one of the greatest locks to have ever played the game, knows all about huge tournaments and high stakes after captaining England to their heroic World Cup win of 2003.

He toured three times with the British and Irish Lions, and was the first man to have captained the side during two separate tours. 

It is fair to say then, that Johnson knows talent when he sees it, and from the former national captain's assessment of the forwards available to Gatland.

Based on a number of interviews - including one with the Mail Online - here is the pack the former England boss has hinted he'd go with.

JOHNSON SAID: “Itoje got it all as a player. I could see from watching him at club level early in career that he was a fine athlete at a level which we might not have seen in the second row before, but he’s taken that on to the next level since.  He never lets his intensity drop, making big hit after big hit and leading by example.

"You are only looking at playing four or five games on the tour so if Jones has got the form, his age isn't an issue, and he’s certainly got the experience. Willie John (McBride) was what – 33, 34 when he led the Lions?. ”

Johnson said: "To do what Curry has done by the age of 22 is pretty special; to play the level he is so quickly has been done by very few players.

"Tipuric can do the forwards stuff as well as flying around the field. He has been around a bit and Gatland knows him as well, so that might be enough. I might just go with him in the Test team.”