All change for Gatland as he picks Lions team from tours

WARREN Gatland last week picked his side for a first Test had the Lions been touring this summer rather than last.

The three-times Lions head coach did so on the basis of performances in this month’s international series in the south and his selection was interesting. He included two England players who did not start a match in last year’s Test series, Owen Farrell and Jamie George, who failed to even make the bench. He only included one of the backs who started the first Test, Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw, and then at 13 rather than 12, and just two of the forwards, Tadhg Furlong and Courtney Lawes. He named Maro Itoje on the bench. Ireland supplied nine of the starters, including four of the back five forwards, with England providing five and Wales one, wing Josh Adams who started the third Test against South Africa last year.

Freddie Steward was at full-back, Johnny Sexton and Jamison Gibson-Park were the half-back partners, Ellis Genge and Furlong the props with Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan forming the second row and Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier joining Lawes in the back row.

Hugo Keenan played a prominent role in Ireland’s series victory, but Steward was a player England could not have prevailed without. He wrecked Australia’s kicking game and forced them to modify their approach in the final Test.

Adams won the game for Wales in the second Test against South Africa with a late try after they, with no option, put the ball through hands, but Louis ReesZammit edged him. The Gloucester wing has pace like few others, if only Wales would exploit it more.

Gatland picked Ireland’s James Lowe on the left wing, but Duhan van der Merwe scored two tries for Scotland in the final Test against Argentina and he makes things happen with his power and ability to get the ball away.

Garry Ringrose and Henshaw are complementary centres and Sexton and Gibson-Park were the standout half-backs, although it would be worth having Marcus Smith on the bench to allow him some time with Gibson-Park.

There was little to choose between Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter. The England prop has grown in stature and influence, capable of turning a game through his force of will. Luke Cowan-Dickie had more impact than George, the privilege of the replacement, which Scotland’s Zander Fagerson was Furlong’s main rival.

It is hard to argue with Gatland’s second row pairing. Itoje had one strong half in Australia and Will Rowlands again impressed for Wales, but Beirne is an all-weather player and Ryan is back to his best.

Lawes shades Peter O’Mahony, the light that never dims, and Van der Flier edged the excellent Tommy Reffell and Hamish Watson with Tom Curry reduced to 40 minutes in England’s series.

There was little to choose between the No.8s. Billy Vunipola completed his rehabilitation with England and Taulupe Faletau was on a different veldt to most in South Africa, but Doris could have been mistaken for Kieran Read in New Zealand.