A British and Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand is a once in a generation sporting event, and Warren Gatland has today announced his touring party for the daunting trip to the southern hemisphere. The challenge of forming a brand new team to take on the All Blacks is one of the toughest tasks in sport and as expected, Gatland has chosen to rely heavily on players he can trust to play his style.
The Lions of 2013 were successful in Australia thanks to their direct and physical style and judging by today's squad announcement for the tour to New Zealand, Gatland will be looking to employ exactly the same tactics in 2017. The touring party is not without its controversies with a number of flair and in-form players overlooked for more experienced and physical options, and the debate is going to rage between now and that 1st test about the wisdom of those choices.
The Lions are facing a near barbaric ten matches in just over a month and here are the major takeaways from today's squad announcement...
Warburton Given The Armband
No surprises here as Warren Gatland has chosen to stick with a man he knows well with Sam Warburton made captain of the 2017 British and Irish Lions.
The Welsh back-row was the leader of the winning squad in 2013 and despite an up-and-down four years since, he has managed to keep hold of one of the most prestigious positions in rugby. Warburton gave up the Welsh Captaincy of Wales last year and that has revitalised him with his form on the pitch excellent during the recent Six Nations tournament.
Gatland could have gone n a different direction with new Welsh Captain Alun Wyn-Jones thought to be under consideration but in truth, no one is surprised to see Warburton given the armband once again. They clearly know each other well after years together as Coach and player in the Wales squad, and Gatland has unsurprisingly put his faith in a player he trusts on and off the pitch.
Only Two Scots In The Squad
Scotland enjoyed something of a renaissance during the Six Nations but even taking that into account, Gatland has decided that only two Scots are going to be on the plane to New Zealand.
Stuart Hogg impressed in 2013 for the Lions and will have a chance of starting the 1st test at full-back, and can also cover #10 if needed, is in the squad, whilst Tommy Seymour has also been included after some impressive displays on the wing for Glasgow of late.
Sean Maitland, Ryan Wilson and Huw Jones are among those who would have hoped to make the squad but despite finishing ahead of Wales in the Six Nations, Gatland has ignored their claims. It is a risky move to leave one nation so poorly represented but as we have mentioned a number of times, Gatland is a man that goes with the men he trusts.
🦁 2017
👏 Sam Warburton is only the second player after Martin Johnson to captain the British & Irish Lions on consecutive tours.
England Captain Hartley Misses Out
perhaps the biggest name to miss out on the initial touring party to New Zealand is that of Dylan Hartley. The Northampton hooker has been the captain of England during a glorious period which has seen them win two successive Six Nations titles in 2016 and 2017 but Gatland has chosen to go with Rory Best, Ken Owens and Jamie George instead for the #1 shirt.
Hartley is a must for Eddie Jones but disciplinary issues remain which might have been on the mind of Warren Gatland, and that means for the time being at least, we won't be seeing him in a Lions shirt this summer.
As it stands, Hartley will be going on tour with England to Argentina but he will be praying he gets the chance to join the Lions in New Zealand as a late call up.
Joe Launchbury is another big name English player to miss out on the squad despite a number of impressive displays during the Six Nations. Gatland has opted to go for Iain Henderson instead of the Wasps back-row, which is a surprise to many.
One England man that has made a late push for selection is Ben Te'o who has been selected having only played a handful of games for England in the centre. A big powerful New Zealand born ball carrier, there is no doubt that he has been added for his physical attributes and he will have the very surreal experience of touring the country of his birth this summer. He won't be alone in that though with Jared Payne of Ireland also given the nod by Warren Gatland, and he is another one who was born in New Zealand so in him and Te'o they have two men in the backs that have extra incentive to go well on this tour.
What Chance Do The Lions Have?
The bookmakers currently have New Zealand as a best price Even money to claim a series whitewash over the Lions and that is a clear indication of the task they face.
Warren Gatland and the Lions are about to embark on one of the toughest test in world sport. They head to New Zealand for a three test series and they have little over a month to come together and take on the ultimate team in world rugby, and in truth one win in the three match series would probably be considered a successful tour.
Series victory for the Lions would be one of the great achievements in sporting history but as we saw in 2005, the All Blacks love nothing more than putting the tourists in their place. The Lions haven'y won a series in New Zealand since 1971 and they will do everything to make sure they extend that record even further.
The All Blacks have been all-dominant over the past few years against both northern and southern hemisphere teams and on their patch, they have proven to be nigh on unbeatable. Warren Gatland and the Lions did win in Australia in 2013 though and with a very good England team dominating this squad with 16 players, there is a feeling that this is the strongest Lions squad in recent memory.
🦁 #LionsNZ2017
