We'll leave you to continue the inevitable ins and outs, rights and wrongs conversation elsewhere.

Warren Gatland has made his choice and we will see how it goes against Japan on 26 June at Murrayfield.

For more analysis of some of the major selection talking points, read our report here.

We'll also have a column from three-time Lions tourist Matt Dawson up on the BBC Sport website later and there will be an episode of Rugby Union Weekly complete with Lions interviews too.

A quick reminder of the squad below, see you in June!

Captain: Alun Wyn Jones (Wal)

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne (Ire), Jack Conan (Ire), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Eng), Tom Curry (Eng), Zander Fagerson (Sco), Taulupe Faletau (Wal), Tadhg Furlong (Ire), Jamie George (Eng), Iain Henderson (Ire), Jonny Hill (Eng), Maro Itoje (Eng), Wyn Jones (Wal), Courtney Lawes (Eng), Ken Owens (Wal), Andrew Porter (Ire), Sam Simmonds (Eng), Rory Sutherland (Sco), Justin Tipuric (Wal), Mako Vunipola (Eng), Hamish Watson (Sco).

Backs: Josh Adams (Wal), Bundee Aki (Ire), Dan Biggar (Wal), Elliot Daly (Eng), Gareth Davies (Wal), Owen Farrell (Eng), Chris Harris (Sco), Robbie Henshaw (Ire), Stuart Hogg (Sco), Conor Murray (Ire), Ali Price (Sco), Lewis Rees-Zammit (Wal), Finn Russell (Sco), Duhan van der Merwe (Sco), Anthony Watson (Eng), Liam Williams (Wal).

Image source, Getty Images

Kyle Sinckler became a favourite of the 2017 Lions tour, having a palpable impact on games.

But the England prop has not been included this time around, with Ireland's Andrew Porter joining compatriot Tadhg Furlong and Scotland's Zander Fagerson as the tight-heads.

Porter is three years younger than Sinckler but already has 37 caps to his name. Whether he can contend with Furlong and Fagerson for a spot in the Test team remains to be seen.

Image source, Getty Images

We'll have more reaction from the Lions coaches later with BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly's Chris Jones and former tourist Ugo Monye at the squad announcement.

There will be an episode of the podcast out later or if you want to hear them arguing over their selections pre-announcement head here.

The total of eight is the largest number of Scots in a touring party since 1989.

Only two Scotland players made the initial Lions squad for the tour of New Zealand four years ago.

But with head coach Gregor Townsend among the Lions backroom staff and after Six Nations away wins against England and France, that number has been boosted to eight.

Wing Duhan van der Merwe, who was the leading British and Irish player in terms of tries and metres made in the tournament, will tour the country where he was born and brought up.

Prop Rory Sutherland makes the trip despite still recovering from an injury, while Gatland also opts for Scotland's playmaking fly-half Finn Russell despite some doubts over whether he would fit the New Zealander's style.

Meanwhile, England have the largest share of players with 11 which could raise eyebrows given they finished fifth in the Six Nations.

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Rhys David: Lots of mentions of the big names missing but Navidi one of the most unlucky for me.

Dom Moass: Key thing to remember is this 37 is unlikely to be the same 37 on the plane, and almost certainly not the same 37 in camp for the first Test. Still a chance for those not named to be involved.

Ian Marks: The Lions have history with speedy Welshmen scoring Worldy tries. Can't wait to see Rees-Lightening.

Some fans wanted to see Danny Care included in the Lions squad despite his England exile in recent years.

The scrum-half has been in impressive form at Harlequins in the Premiership, but loses out to a trio of current internationals.

Ireland's Conor Murray - who will be going on his third tour - was perhaps always nailed on, while Wales' Gareth Davies and Scotland's Ali Price both played a part in their sides' strong Six Nations performances.

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The midfield is perhaps home to some of the more surprising calls.

Scotland's Chris Harris and Ireland's Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are named in the centres, while England's Henry Slade, Wales' Jonathan Davies and Ireland's Garry Ringrose are left out.

Manu Tuilagi - a tourist in 2013 - was probably on a lot of fans' wishlists but he had not played since September because of an Achilles injury.

England captain Owen Farrell will be offering his services at 12 as well at as fly-half, while Elliot Daly can slot in to the centres as well as the back three.

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Three-time British and Irish Lion Matt Dawson's column will be up on the BBC Sport website later today.

Dawson toured South Africa with the Lions in 1997 and said Galtand's 2021 selection isn't too surprising.

The former England scrum-half thinks canny choices have been made to combat the physical, confrontational style of play the Springboks used to beat England in the 2019 World Cup final.

Won't give you too many spoilers though, have a look at the BBC Sport website later to get Dawson's full take on things.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a reminder of Warren Gatland's Lions squad:

Backs: Josh Adams (Wales), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Gareth Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Chris Harris (Scotland), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Ali Price (Scotland), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), Finn Russell (Scotland), Duhan Van Der Merwe (Scotland), Anthony Watson (England), Liam Williams (Wales).

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Jack Conan (Ireland), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Tom Curry (England), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Jonny Hill (England), Maro Itoje (England), Wyn Jones (Wales), Courtney Lawes (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Sam Simmonds (England), Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Hamish Watson (Scotland), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, capt).

Let Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter explain what Warren Gatland has seen in Sam Simmonds:

"That ability to get you over the gain line and get you moving forward quickly is probably second to none in the Premiership at the moment and he still doesn't get the credit for the quality of his defensive work," said Baxter.

"He's not a soak-up tackler. He's a guy that gets off the line and stops people and you can see that on a regular basis - what his speed allows him to do is make tackles that no other forward makes.

"There's lots there to like, but you've got to look at those positive attributes and you've got to use them in your team, and if you use them then it means he's the guy you get on the ball."

Johnny Sexton, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan being left out is not going down well with former Lion Luke Fitzgerald.

Warren Gatland says taking on the world champions will be a huge challenge.

"It's not going to be easy," he said. "It's probably using the experience from the last tour. Back in 2009 we played pretty well in the lead-up but the physicality they brought to the first Test was something we weren't quite ready for.

"We came away thinking we'd done a pretty good job, restored some respect back into the jersey. But we were disappointed, we felt we could have drawn or even won."

Jerry Cowhig: No Kyle Sinckler??

Mr Deputy Head: No Jonny May? Madness. Nobody better under the high ball, and his immense experience and moments of pure brilliance will be sorely missed.

Andy: Danny Care's been playing out of his skin - mistake to pick Price over him.

Image source, Getty

Let's have a look at some of the key parts of the team...

First the back three.

Josh Adams (Wal), Elliot Daly (Eng), Stuart Hogg (Sco), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wal), Duhan van der Merwe (Sco) Anthony Watson (Eng).

Elliot Daly's versatility - he started on the wing in Tests on the 2017 tour - and his siege-gun boot might have swung his inclusion. Ireland wing Jordan Larmour and full-back Hugo Keenan will be among the disappointed, as will England speedster Jonny May, who must have been very close to a call-up.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

England’s poor Six Nations was always likely to cost one or two players a place, but no-one could have foreseen Kyle Sinckler being left out, which is an absolute bombshell.

Billy Vunipola is another big-name casualty, but Saracens team-mate Elliot Daly – who has struggled in 2021 – does get the nod, suggesting Gatland et al aren’t just going off form.

The Lions selectors would have been very tempted to have Manu Tuilagi in the mix, even though he hasn’t played since September but have clearly decided Bundee Aki can provide that midfield power, while it does seem very surprising that a player of Henry Slade’s ability and versatility is considered surplus to requirements.

The most exciting Six Nations in years has produced a remarkably even split of nationalities in this Lions squad.

Eleven England players, 10 Wales players, and eight each from Scotland and Ireland.