If head coach Warren Gatland could boost his British & Irish Lions squad with one 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok, who would add the most value?

Gatland will name his streamlined 36-man Lions squad for the 2021 tour of South Africa on Thursday afternoon.

As is the norm with such a big squad announcement, speculation is rife as to who could captain the squad, who will be included and who will be the unfortunate players to be left out.

While the Lions are strictly limited to selecting players from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, what if, in a hypothetical situation, Gatland were able to select one of the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup winners? Which player would most improve the Lions’ chances of winning the series?

Would it be the electric feet of Cheslin Kolbe, the playmaking and anticipation of Willie le Roux or the out-and-out pace and finishing ability of Makazole Mapimpi?

And what if Gatland wanted to bolster the Lions pack? Would he poach one of the loose forwards, perhaps Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit or Duane Vermeulen? Or would he strengthen the Lions scrum with either Bongi Mbonambi or Steven Kitshoff?

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