Sam Warburton's makes huge Irish call in latest British and Irish Lions XV

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Skipper.

Former British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has made a huge call in his latest XV to take on Australia this summer.

Ireland’s Caelan Doris is the favourite to captain the famous touring side this summer but Warburton isn’t so sure.

The former Wales flanker believes the depth at eight could be a deciding factor, with Maro Itoje his choice to lead the Lions.

Doris doesn’t even make Warburton’s starting XV, with Jack Conan, who started all three Tests against South Africa last time round, getting the nod instead.

"I’d say Itoje (is my captain)," Warburton said on BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

"Doris is definitely captaincy worthy but I think the number one criteria for your captain is, he’s got to be a banker to start. I think there’s some really good number eights there.

"I know this because I wasn’t fit enough for the first test in 17, I was on the bench for the first test. Came back in time for the second and third, but I tell you what it puts an almighty pressure on you as captain, like horrendously uncomfortable. So I think Maro Itoje at the moment, of all the candidates which there’s lots of credible ones who I’d stand behind, I would walk out to a first test behind Doris, behind Itoje, Morgan."

Sam Warburton’s Lions XV

15 Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
14 Tommy Freeman (England)
13 Ollie Lawrence (England)
12 Bundee Aki (Ireland)
11 James Lowe (Ireland)
10 Sam Prendergast (Ireland)
9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)

1 Ellis Genge (England)
2 Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
3 Zander Fagerson (Scotland)
4 Maro Itoje (C) (England)
5 Ollie Chessum (England)
6 Jac Morgan (Wales)
7 Tom Curry (England)
8 Jack Conan (Ireland)

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