Even Lomu and Pocock can't get in this team

Assuming you have a little time at your disposal at this benighted moment of infection rates, anti-social distancing and publessness, close your eyes and dream of a match between the best British and Irish Lions of the World Cup era and a rival line-up drawn from all three countries on the current tour rota.

- CHRIS HEWETT

Who plays in red at No 13? Jeremy Guscott, Brian O’Driscoll or Jonathan Davies? Tough, especially if you’re judging on Lions evidence alone.

What about the forager-in-chief on the openside flank? Sam Warburton was hardly the worst, but how good was Richard Hill in South Africa in 1997 and (before he found himself on the pointy end of Nathan Grey’s errant elbow) in Australia four years later?

As for the opposition, allow me to run this concoction by you: Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson and Jonah Lomu in the back three; Jason Little and Tim Horan in midfield; Andrew Mehrtens and David Kirk in the halves; Steve McDowall, Phil Kearns and Richard Loe at the business end of a scrum powered by Kobus Wiese and Nathan Sharpe; and the whole thing topped off with a loose unit boasting Francois Pienaar, David Pocock and Wayne Shelford.

Admittedly, there are some mighty big names missing from this scratch outfit: David Campese and Joe Roff; Dan Carter and George Gregan; Os du Randt and Sean Fitzpatrick; John Eales and Michael Jones.

Still, there is a whiff of method in the madness as we seek to right the wrongs of sporting caprice.

From the “Paekakariki Express” at No.15 to “Big Bad Buck” at No.8, NONE of our imaginary SANZAR team ever played a Test against the Lions. Hard to believe, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

For one reason or another, these 15 players ended their careers with a blank space in the achievement column.