Pundits update Lions XV selections after Six Nations

The men's Six Nations rugby tournament has concluded, and attention is turning to the British and Irish Lions tour in Australia this summer. Head coach Andy Farrell will announce his squad on May 8. BBC pundits John Barclay and Sam Warburton have revealed their final selections for the Lions. Barclay, a former Scotland captain, included five Englishmen, five Scots, four Irishmen, and one Welshman in his lineup. He made seven changes from his initial selection after the tournament's first round. Notably, he replaced two props with English players Ellis Genge and Will Stuart. Barclay praised their strong performances in the scrummaging department. In the back row, Barclay kept Maro Itoje as captain and added Jac Morgan from Wales. Morgan stood out with 88 tackles, despite Wales struggling in the tournament. In the backline, Barclay selected Finn Russell at fly-half, with Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones forming an all-Scottish midfield. Warburton made eight changes to his selection and also chose five Englishmen, five Irishmen, three Scots, and two Welshmen. He brought in Tadhg Furlong and George Martin, highlighting their physicality. Warburton believes Furlong's experience will be beneficial if he returns to form before the tour. Both pundits chose Russell as the fly-half. Warburton noted Russell's success at Bath and his experience on previous tours. He also emphasized the importance of having Tuipulotu to support Russell. Warburton made unique selections, including Tommy Freeman, who scored in every Six Nations match, and Blair Murray, a full-back with impressive athletic skills. Overall, the selections from Barclay and Warburton reflect players' performances during the Six Nations and their potential impact on the Lions tour.