Martin Johnson selects his Lions XV

England rugby legend Martin Johnson was keeping a close eye on the Six Nations' finest performers during the 2016 test, all the time with one thought in mind - which of this players has the calibre to represent the British and Irish Lions.

Johnson, widely regarded as one of the greatest locks to have ever played the game, knows all about huge tournaments and high stakes after captaining England to their heroic World Cup win of 2003.

He toured three times with the British and Irish Lions, and to this day still remains the only man to have captained the side during two separate tours. 

It is fair to say then, that Johnson knows talent when he sees it, and from the former national captain's assessment of the 2016 RBS Six Nations, he assembled the following British and Irish Lions select:

Analysing the squad

From England's 2016 Grand Slam winning line-up Johnson has opted for seven of Eddie Jones' side, meaning the Red Rose dominate in terms of nationality.

Saracens duo Maro Itoje and George Kruis pair up at four and five, after forcing their way into Jones' plans with a string of jaw dropping performances. Captain Dylan Hartley, Bath Rugby duo Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph, scrum half Ben Youngs and resurgent former captain Chris Robshaw also feature after impressive individual campaigns.

Itoje, somewhat the revelation of the 2016 test, entered the Six Nations as the promising yet untried newbie. Picking up the gauntlet with aplomb, the raw athlete excelled at every opportunity, proving unstoppable in the tackle, a tactically astute in the line-out and and ever willing to rack up multiple carries. 

At full-back Scotland international Stuart Hogg receives the nod from Johnson, after playing some of the finest rugby of his career during the recent test.

In a somewhat lacklustre Scotland side Hogg displayed style and panache, while simultaneously leading the troops like a commander general.

Hogg looks likely to be one of the first name on the Lions' squad list after his Six Nations endeavours, perhaps best encapsulated by an incredible 55 metre try against Ireland.

Flying the flag for the red dragon of Wales, George North comes into Johnson's plan at eleven after again showing his importance to British rugby. 

North dominated the wide areas for Warren Gatland's side and demonstrated his raw ability when deftly cutting through the Italian ranks to secure a try in front of a passionate Cardiff crowd.

For the emerald green of Ireland, Jonny Sexton is deemed one of the select for Johnson. 

Sexton enjoyed a mixed 2016 test, with a host of impressive performances somewhat marred by a nasty incident of apparently claiming to feign injury in Ireland's final clash against Scotland.

Still, Sexton's quality of rugby spoke for itself throughout the Championship, and the 30-year-old Dubliner did find himself on the receiving end of a very real, high impact challenge against th French, seen here.