‘Pick Carre and Webb for Lions’

WARREN Gatland is being urged to go for two left-field Wales choices if his Lions are to beat newly-crowned world champions South Africa.

The Springboks thrashed England 32-12 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in Yokohama and thus give an extra edge to the Lions tour to South Africa in two years’ time.

Gatland leaves Wales to take charge of Super Rugby team the Chiefs, but will then lead his third successive tour as Lions boss.

And former England and Lions outside-half Stuart Barnes has already named the team he believes Gatland should pick for the Lions to tame the world champions.

The esteemed rugby pundit argues Gatland should pick Rhys Webb at scrum-half, even though he hasn’t played Test rugby for Wales in close on two years as a result of being in international exile with Toulon.

Barnes believes the former Osprey should be in front of Irish No. 9 Conor Murray and England’s Ben Youngs.

He has also plumped for Wales’ front-row rookie Rhys Carre to fill the loosehead prop berth, even though No. 1 Lions incumbent Mako Vunipola could still have some international mileage in his legs, while England’s prop star-inwaiting, Ellis Genge, is currently just 24. Despite their hammering at the hands of the Springboks, Barnes still reckons six England players who started the final should form the bulk of the Lions pack. The exceptions, he feels, are Carre, who has made an impression already with Wales at the World Cup, and Irish lock James Ryan.

Carre and Webb join Liam Williams as the three Welshmen Barnes would have in his side, while the former Bath and Bristol No. 10 also has a rookie at centre in three-times capped Scottish midfielder Rory Hutchinson.

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