As expected, Welsh flanker Sam Warburton will captain the British and Irish Lions to tour Australia next month, but legendary fly-half Jonny Wilkinson was overlooked.
Wilkinson played a blinder last weekend in what was probably his final appearance at Twickenham, scoring all of Toulon’s points in their 24-12 win over Saracens in a Heinekin Cup semi.
All to no avail.
Lions coach Warren Gatland stuck to his policy of not selecting overseas-based players, which is as outdated as knickerbockers and cravats.
There are still many areas of professional rugby that remain rank amateur.
Welshmen dominate the 37-strong squad with 15 players, there are 10 Englishmen, nine Irishmen, and just three Scots which is pretty proportionate to the way each country fared in the Six-Nations tournament.
One thing for sure, the Wallabies have nothing to fear from this lot.
Sure the Lions pack is big, but the Wallabies will run them off their feet and match the speed of the Lions’ backs for what promises to be a toss-up three-Test series.
Just a reminder the Lions have won only four of their last 12 internationals.
The Lions haven’t won a series since the 1997 tour to South Africa where they were successful 2-1.
But they lost 2-1 to Rod Macqueen’s Wallabies in 2001, lost 3-zip to the All Blacks in 2005, and 2-1 to the Boks in 2009.
Those stats alone will heap pressure on the latest Lions, which the Wallabies can also capitalise on.
The saving grace for the Lions will be Gatland, without doubt one of the world’s best international coaches.
But as Sir Graham Henry pointed out coaching the Lions is very different with four nations involved with their own rugby cultures and traditions.
Another plus for the men-in-gold.
Looking good.
The Lions squad:
Full-backs – Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland)
Wingers – Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales),George North (Wales),
Sean Maitland (Scotland)
Centres – Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), James Roberts (Wales), Manu Tuilaga (England), Jomatham Davies (Wales)
Fly-halves – Owen Farrell (England), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
Half-backs – Connor Murray (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England)
Loosehead props – Cian Heaky (Ireland), Gethen Jenkins (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Matt Stevens (England)
Tighthead props – Dan Cole (England), Adam Jones (Wales)
Hookers – Dylan Hartley (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England)
Locks – Ian Evans (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England_
Flankers – Sam Warburton (Wales), Tom Croft (England), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales)
No 8s – Toby Faletu (Wales) Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
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The men in blue were trying not to let their opponents get away with niggling tactics.
