Lions Index

Each week after the Heineken Cup our experts will rate every player eligible to play for the British and Irish Lions.

The likes of Stuart Barnes, Dewi Morris, Scott Quinnell, Ieuan Evans, Tyrone Howe, Scott Hastings, Paul Wallace and Will Greenwood are all in prime positions to see how each player is performing and the results will throw up some interesting selections that are sure to get you clapping in agreement or totally disagreeing.

Our experts will rate each player who is eligible to play for the British and Irish Lions out of ten - the highest and lowest scores will be removed to give us an average score that will decide where that player sits in our Lions Index.

The players in our Lions Index may appear a mile away from the touring party but a good performance in the Heineken Cup could see them creeping into our index and reminding us that our Lions heroes come from the unlikeliest of places!

Our pundits have been at pains to point out that this is not their selection for the first Test against Australia, but rather highlights who has been performing well in the Heineken Cup!

1 - David Kilcoyne (Munster) Average Score 6.6

Kilcoyne may not have played on Sunday in Munster's defeat to Saracens but his performance last week at Thomond Park was enough to see him claim top spot this week.
Second: Andrew Sheridan - 6.5
Third: Joe Marler - 6.3

2 - Richard Hibbard (Ospreys) Average Score 6.9

Will Greenwood says: Last week you would not have given Ospreys a chance, but they climbed into Toulouse who were just not interested.
Second: Rob Buchanan - 6.8
Third: Jason Harris-Wright - 6.5

3 - Adam Jones (Ospreys) Average Score 6.5

Jones came on to help keep Ospreys qualifications hopes alive as they beat Toulouse 17-6.
Second: Scott Andrews - 6.4
Third: Mike Ross - 6.2

4 - Donnacha Ryan (Munster) Average Score 6.9

Dean Ryan says: He is coming through very strongly and is the new man for Ireland - a tough man doing a big job in the second row.
Second: Alun Wyn Jones - 6.7
Third: Ollie Kohn - 6.5

5 - Nathan Hines (Clermont) Average Score 7.2

Bob Casey says: In Clermont last week Leinster got on top of the Clermont scrum but in the Aviva Clermont had the upper hand - at lineout time in both games they also had the upper hand. That allowed Morgan Parra and Brock James to be on the front foot and really boss the game.
Second: George Robson - 6.9
Third: Mike McCarthy - 6.2

6 - Sean O'Brien (Leinster) Average Score 7.1

Miles Harrison says: O'Brien was magnificent on his return and I think the Lions' selectors would have had a good look at him last weekend and purred with satisfaction. He is going to be a big player for Ireland in the Six Nations and, I think, for the Lions in the summer as well.
Second: James Gaskell - 7
Third: Peter O'Mahony - 6.7

7 - Steffon Armitage (Toulon) Average Score 7.1

Alan Quinlan says: In a position that is so strong he has been a stand-out for Toulon. He may not be playing for England but he is a player who can certainly change a game. He has to be in the mix.
Second: Willie Faloon - 7
Third: James Scaysbrook - 6.9

8 - Nick Easter (Harlequins) Average Score 8.1

Not part of the England set-up but Easter continues to top the table as the best No.8 available.
Second: Peter O'Mahony - 7.1
Third: Jamie Heaslip- 6.2

9 -Danny Care (Harlequins) Average Score 7.4

Zebre may not have been the toughest opponents but Care bossed his forwards around and released his backs with a solid display.
Second: Aled Thomas - 6.4
Third: Conor Murray - 6

10 - Johnny Sexton (Leinster) Average Score 7

Ieuan Evans says: Sexton is a strength and a little bit of a weakness too - he is so comfortably ahead of anyone else that if something happend to him the alarm bells would be ringing for the Lions.
Second: Danny Cipriani - 7
Third: Charlie Hodgson - 7

11 - Eli Walker (Ospreys) Average Score 6. 8

Stuart Barnes says: Eli Walker was a rare but deserved man of the match award for a winger. The Ospreys promised that, if they could not be kings they would ruin someone else's possible coronation. They were as good as their word and showed (as did Toulouse) just how much rugby is a game played in the mind as body.
Second: Simon Zebo 6.7
Third: Andrew Trimble - 6.4

12 - Jordan Turner Hall (Harlequins) Average Score 7

Bob Casey says: Harelquins are a big threat in Europe - they are on course for a home quarter-final. No one will relish going to the Stoop.
Second: Jamie Roberts - 6.7
Third: Ashley Beck - 6.5

13 - Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) Average Score 7.2

Davies is still in the mix after he helped Scarlets in their 30-20 win against Exeter.
Second: Keith Earls - 6.4
Third: Matt Hopper - 6.3

14 - Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues) Average Score 7

Showed his strength and power to break through the Montpellier defence and score a well-deserved try.
Second: Tommy Bowe - 6.2
Third: Fergus McFadden - 6

15 - Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues) Average Score 7.4

Halfpenny did not play this week but his previous scores keep him ahead of the chasing pack. Armitage reminded us about his form as he starred in Toulon's demolition of Sale.
Second: Delon Armitage 7.3
Third: Luke Arscott - 7.1

Previous form....

Heineken Cup - Round 3: Click here

Autumn internationals: Click here

Heineken Cup - Round 2: Click here

Heineken Cup - Round 1: Click here

So what do you think the panel's selections? Let us know your thoughts using the form below.