The Lions are still caged in UK rugby, but in little more than two weeks we will know which players are to be unleased to take on the All Blacks. Robin Davey argues Wales will provide at least seven from a team that finished fifth in the Six Nations.
Wales may have finished a lowly fifth in the recent Six Nations Championship, but there’s every chance they will have a healthy representation on the Lions tour to New Zealand this summer.
And there’s a strong possibility they’ll provide the captain as well when the Lions bid to win the Test series in the home of world champions New Zealand.
Both Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton are being heavily touted to lead the Lions, AWJ the early front runner but now overtaken by Warburton as favourite.
The lock didn’t really enjoy the best of campaigns as captain, perceived as a bit uncertain on odd occasions particularly when Dan Biggar appeared to overrule him, though his Ospreys team-mate denied he had done so.
Warburton came on stronger as the season progressed, ironically after he’d been stripped of the captaincy in favour of Jones.
He would be better off concentrating on his own game was the explanation, and that did appear to be the case.
But he’s an experienced leader, having captained Wales and the Lions, and a whole range of former Lions players and coaches have backed him – and not just from Wales – including two knights of the realm in Clive Woodward and Ian McGeechan, plus and Irish prince in Brian O’Driscoll.
Warburton is also, arguably, more certain of his place in the Lions Test team than Jones. There’s a vast array of talent at lock – England quartet Joe Launchbury, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes and George Kruis, provided the latter recovers from a knee injury – plus Scot Richie Gray and Irishman Devon Toner.
Warbuton is equally efficient at six or seven, which is another string to his bow and is well liked by all.
The captain has to be sure of his Test place as well and that probably applies more to Warburton than AWJ.
Of his rivals, Dylan Hartley doesn’t last more than an hour for England before being hauled off in favour of Jamie George. Ireland’s Rory Best can’t be sure of his Test place and the Scots have been disrupted by injury.
That apart, Wales can expect George North, Rhys Webb, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Liam Williams and the two captaincy candidates to be fairly sure of booking their places on the Lions tour.
England will surely provide the bulk of the Lions party after winning the Six Nations title, while the Irish will also provide their fair share, and with the Scots probably having the least number even though they finished above Wales.
Taulupe Faletau didn’t start at all after two lengthy spells on the sidelines with knee problems, and found himself ousted by Ross Moriarty.
But until then he had been regarded as one of the top No. 8s in the world and Lions and Wales coach Warren Gatland knows all about his ability. It’s difficult to imagine him being left out.
North recovered from one poor game to rediscover himself and play with all the barnstorming power and pace of old while Webb was a real handful at the base of the scrum right through the tournament.
Williams has the gift of versatility – and the rarer gifts of continually being able to ask questions of defences, even those as good as New Zealand’s.
Owens emerged as possibly the leading hooker in the tournament and has really stated his case for inclusion, while Tipuric defied those who claimed he was a bit slight and lacking in power at top Test level.
His pace, handling ability and his ever-present support made him an ideal foil for Warburton in the back row and it’s a combination that could well continue in the Tests Down Under.
Jonathan Davies has the experience and the ability, but I’m not sure he has done enough over the course of the season to make the trip. He’s borderline along with a few others.
So, while the Six Nations proved a big disappointment for Wales, with only the hapless Italians below them, it could prove a reasonably happy ending when the Lions party is announced on April 19.