Jim Telfer
Head coach of 1983 tour to New Zealand and McGeechan's assistant on 1997 tour of South Africa
Front row
Andrew Sheridan, Gethin Jenkins, Phil Vickery, Adam Jones, Euan Murray; Jerry Flannery, Ross Ford and Lee Mears or Matthew Rees
Murray and Sheridan provide versatility as they can play either loose head or tight. As for the hookers, Flannery plays regularly with Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan and I would bring Ford because of his size and ball-carrying ability
Second row
Paul O'Connell (capt), Donncha O'Callaghan, Nathan Hines, Alun Wyn Jones, Nick Kennedy
Kennedy would be pushing to start the Tests as he is strong in the lineout, which is crucial in South Africa. Even though Brian O'Driscoll was the difference between Ireland winning and losing the Six Nations, O'Connell will captain because of his size and strength
Back Row
David Wallace, Martyn Williams, Jamie Heaslip, Lee Croft, Andy Powell, Stephen Ferris and Tom Rees if fit (if not, either Denis Leamy or Joe Worsley)
A good blend is essential within the back row – you need a strong ball winner and someone who is strong in the tackle area, but you also need players who are able to use the ball well
Half-backs
Mike Phillips, Harry Ellis and one from Mike Blair, Tomas O'Leary and Peter Stringer; Ronan O'Gara, Stephen Jones and possibly James Hook
No9s are very physical in South Africa and that is why Phillips would be my first choice. Blair's form has not been great, O'Leary is strong and Stringer's passing could be useful. At fly-half O'Gara and Jones are dependable and they can run a match
Centres
Tom Shanklin. Brian O'Driscoll, Riki Flutey, Gavin Henson or Jamie Roberts
While they have to be attack-minded it is also important that, coming up against Jean de Villiers and Adrian Jacobs, they are strong defensively. Flutey has the attacking prowess, but he might not be strong defensively. I'd like to see Henson fit enough to play
Back three
Shane Williams, Ugo Monye, Tommy Bowe and Luke Fitzgerald or Mark Cueto; Lee Byrne, Rob Kearney, Delon Armitage
Williams has lost form but will go, as will Monye. I would have liked a place for Thom Evans, but it is a year too soon. Below the surface the South Africans are not that strong on the wings. Byrne is my first choice full-back – he is very brave, good under a high ball and, surprisingly, he can turn a man on a sixpence
Paul Wallace
Irish prop who played all three Tests on the Lions' last tour of South Africa in 1997, now with Sky Sports
Front row
Gethin Jenkins, Andrew Sheridan, Euan Murray, Phil Vickery, Adam Jones; Rory Best, Jerry Flannery, Ross Ford
Vickery is a very good ball-player: an imperative on the hard South African pitches. Adam Jones also has the mobility and the skills to compete against the Springbok pack. Best's work rate around the pitch is excellent and he's a great offloader
Second row
Paul O'Connell (capt), Donncha O'Callaghan, Simon Shaw, Alun Wyn Jones, Jason White
O'Connell's only weakness is his handling skills but Shaw has buckets of that. On an arduous tour versatility will be essential and, even if White, who can cover the back five positions, is down as a midweek player, he will be able to contribute if there are injuries
Back row
David Wallace, Martyn Williams, Stephen Ferris, Tom Croft, Jamie Heaslip, Andy Powell
The Ireland three are first choice. Williams may find it physically tough but he is a great player. Powell shades Ryan Jones who did not show up in the intense atmosphere of the Munster-Ospreys game. The South Africans are huge, so the Lions will need to out-think them
Half-backs
Dwayne Peel, Mike Blair, Harry Ellis; Stephen Jones, James Hook, Ronan O'Gara
The No9s are very clever players who can hold their nerve. Blair could not show his skills in a weakened Scotland side but he could shine on this tour. Jones is the most complete fly-half, while Hook can also fill in if necessary
Centres
Riki Flutey, Gordon D'Arcy, Tom Shanklin, Brian O'Driscoll
Flutey would start and Jamie Roberts came close because of his sheer power in straight-line runs but D'Arcy is a better stepper, good in defence and has more variety in his game. It will be difficult for centres to break but I think the physicality of O'Driscoll and Shanklin will make an impact
Back three
Thom Evans, Ugo Monye, Tommy Bowe, Leigh Halfpenny; Delon Armitage, Lee Byrne, Rob Kearney
It is a tough call on Shane Williams but Monye's power running and cover tackling are excellent. Evans has out-and-out gas. Halfpenny is similar and the kind of player you need against South Africa: big, strong and fast
Robert Kitson
The Guardian's rugby union correspondent
Front row
Gethin Jenkins, Andrew Sheridan, Adam Jones, Euan Murray, Phil Vickery; Jerry Flannery, Rory Best, Lee Mears
Jenkins is shaping up as the cornerstone of the Test pack and Murray currently heads the queue to be first-choice tighthead. Vickery, if fit, will offer lion-hearted support
Second row
Alun Wyn Jones, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell (capt), Simon Shaw, Nathan Hines
O'Connell and Jones are certs for McGeechan's squad, but the power of Shaw and/or Hines would also be handy against Bakkies Botha and co once the Tests get under way. I would take an extra specialist lock as injury insurance
Back Row
Tom Croft, Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Martyn Williams, Joe Worsley
Tough on Ryan Jones, among others, but David Wallace could end up at No8 in the Test matches and the competition at No6 is fierce. Munster's Alan Quinlan would let no one down
Half-backs
Mike Phillips, Mike Blair, Tomas O'Leary; Stephen Jones, Ronan O'Gara
Danny Cipriani and James Hook will both be Lions one day but, ultimately, neither has done quite enough to earn a place on tour this time. The vote at No9 is desperately tight, with Dwayne Peel and Harry Ellis also in the frame
Centres
Riki Flutey, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin
If Gavin Henson recovers his fitness, he will definitely be high on the standby list. Assuming he is absent, the rest pretty much pick themselves
Back three
Delon Armitage, Lee Byrne, Keith Earls; Tommy Bowe, Leigh Halfpenny, Shane Williams, Luke Fitzgerald
Every Lions squad needs one bolter and could it be Earls, who can wear 13, 14 or 15, ahead of an unlucky Rob Kearney? The gifted Halfpenny may yet pip England's Mark Cueto, Ugo Monye and Paul Sackey
Phil Bennett
Lion in South Africa 1974, New Zealand 1977 (captain)
Back three
Lee Byrne, Delon Armitage, Chris Paterson, Shane Williams, Tommy Bowe, Mark Cueto, Paul Sackey.
Paterson should go because he is the best goal-kicker around and the Lions won the 1997 series through the boot of Neil Jenkins. You could see the faces of the Springboks drop every time he lined up a shot. If the tour was longer, the likes of Thom Evans and Luke Fitzgerald would be worth a shot.
Centres
Brian O'Driscoll, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Riki Flutey.
I am concerned about the lack of creative, footballing inside-centres in the home unions. Gavin Henson would be a certainty if fit and Flutey is the only other player who fits that bill, even if he still has it to prove. Roberts is one to watch while injuries have taken their toll on Mike Tindall.
Half-backs
Ronan O'Gara, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Mike Phillips, Tomas O'Leary.
There is no value in taking three outside-halves because the tour is so short and with Jonny Wilkinson injured, there is no one to rival Jones and O'Gara. Peel would be my first-choice scrum-half if he has proved his fitness.
Front row
Gethin Jenkins, Andrew Sheridan, Euan Murray, Phil Vickery, Adam Jones, Jerry Flannery, Ross Ford, Rory Best.
The Lions are well served for props with Adam Jones meriting inclusion for his work-rate and Phil Vickery for his dog and knowhow. Throwing in has to be spot-on with South Africa so strong in the line-out and I would include Best among the hookers for his all-action style.
Second row
Paul O'Connell (capt), Alun Wyn Jones, Nathan Hines, Donncha O'Callaghan.
O'Connell would be my captain for his presence and it would allow Brian O'Driscoll to concentrate on his game. O'Callaghan and Hines would provide the aggression you need to win a series in South Africa and I would take them ahead of Simon Shaw.
Back row
Martyn Williams, David Wallace, Tom Croft, Joe Worsley, Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip, Ryan Jones.
Ryan Jones has not had his best season but I would take him ahead of Andy Powell and Nick Easter because he has proved himself with the Lions. There are a crop of outstanding wing forwards with Croft and Worsley able to play in the second row.
Sky Sports News will show the squad announcement live at 1.30pm
