Lions 2009 Squad

What do people think of the squad? I copied this off scrum.com and left in their comments which I've put into italics.

I was surprised Armitage wasn't included I rate him. Maybe it was due to lack of experience.

2009 British & Irish Lions:

Fullback
Lee Byrne (Wales)
Rob Kearney (Ireland)

Byrne has shown he can be a devastating attacking threat as well as an assured defensive presence and will be the favourite to claim the No.15 Test jersey. Kearney, like Byrne, possesses a big kicking game that will prove a valuable asset. Armitage, arguably England's form player of the last six months, is extremely unlucky to miss out.

Wing
Shane Williams (Wales)
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Ugo Monye (England)
Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland)
Tommy Bowe (Ireland)

Williams gets the nod despite a lack of form due to his big game experience while the 20-year-old Halfpenny's versatility and dazzling performance in the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final saw him cement a place - maybe at Armitage's expense. Two more of Ireland's Grand Slam-winning squad are also worthy of their places. Maybe a little light on experience.

Centre
Tom Shanklin (Wales)
Jamie Roberts (Wales)
Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
Keith Earls (Ireland)
Riki Flutey (England)

O'Driscoll's name will be the second on the team sheet after O'Connell's. The No.12 jersey is there to be won. Flutey is also likely to provide cover at fly-half, while the exciting Earls could also deputise elsewhere in the backline. All are likely to relish the physical challenge that awaits them.

Fly-half
Stephen Jones (Wales)
Ronan O'Gara (Ireland)

These two are set to battle it out for the Test spot in the matches leading up to first Test. Jones is probably in possession of the No.10 shirt at the moment but all could change. Flutey may also get a run in an attempt to safeguard the Celtic duo. No chance for England's Jonny Wilkinson or Toby Flood.

Scrum-half
Mike Phillips (Wales)
Harry Ellis (England)
Tomas O'Leary (Ireland)

Both Phillips and Ellis have battled back from serious injury to book their places on the tour while O'Leary's late flourish saw him get the nod over Scotland's Mike Blair.

Prop
Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Adam Jones (Wales)
Andrew Sheridan (England)
Phil Vickery (England)
Euan Murray (Scotland)

Strength in depth - with Jenkins and Murray leading the way - and it will be needed as the Lions front up to their hosts.

Hooker
Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
Lee Mears (England)
Matthew Rees (Wales)

Surely this is an area of concern for the Lions due to form of the leading contenders. One will need to step up to the challenge.

Lock
Paul O'Connell (Ireland, capt)
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland)
Nathan Hines (Scotland)
Simon Shaw (England)

O'Connell and Wyn Jones are set to join forces in a bid to disrupt South Africa's all-conquering Botha-Matfield partnership but in Hines, Shaw and O'Callaghan they have more than able deputies. No room here for England skipper Steve Borthwick.

Back-row
Andy Powell (Wales)
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Alan Quinlan (Ireland)
Martyn Williams (Wales)
David Wallace (Ireland)
Joe Worsley (England)
Stephen Ferris (Ireland)

Powell appears to have been selected on the back of his form in the autumn. Williams and Wallace are clearly world-class but competing for the same shirt. Expect Worsley to be handed the 'tree-cutting' duties and Heaslip given the chance to display his running game on the hard grounds of SA. Prepare for some ferocious battles in the loose and at the breakdown.