SO WHO’LL BE THE NEXT PLAYERS ON THE PLANE FOR THE LIONS?

PETER O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien are the latest to join Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones and Conor Murray on the Lions injured list.

Flanker O’Mahony was leading Munster’s resistance against holders Saracens in Europe’s Champions Cup at the weekend when he was forced off with a head injury while fellow back-rower O’Brien failed to start Leinster’s epic semi-final with Clermont Auvergne in Lyon because of a hamstring problem.

Lions skipper Warburton is out with a knee problem, lock Jones and scrum-half Murray with shoulder injuries. It’s still unclear whether any of the trio will be fit for the May 29 departure to New Zealand although Lions coach Warren Gatland is optimistic about their chances.

However, the run-in to previous tours, with club titles to be decided, has highlighted the probability that the Lions will lose players to injury – Tom Shanklin and Tomas O’Leary in 2009 or suspension – Alan Quinlan the same year and Dylan Hartley in 2013 – over the next five weeks.

Gatland claimed there wasn’t an official list of players on stand-by but he must have a good idea of who will get the call when the inevitable happens. WalesOnline Rugby Correspondent Andy Howell reports...

BACK THREE

Next on the plane: Simon Zebo (Ireland) Gatland already has plenty of riches at his disposal with Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Liam Williams, Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly in his squad but he will have quality personnel to call on should the worst happen.

Jack in the box Simon Zebo (pictured), who was unlucky to miss out in the Lions selection, was superb for Munster against Saracens and his ability to play wing or full-back probably puts him at the head of the list.

England full-back Mike Brown can also play on the wing while his Test rival Alex Goode rarely fails to impress for Saracens and could also cover outside-half.

Scotland’s Sean Maitland, who went on the Gatland-led 2013 tour, and Red Rose speedster Jonny May could also come into the equation.

CENTRES

Next on the plane: Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales) Jonathan Davies and Jared Payne are both injury-prone while Robbie Henshaw has had his share of knocks so it would be a surprise if all of them came through a Lions tour unscathed.

Gatland will have a few names in mind for specific roles. If an outside-centre was to go down, 22-year-old Ringrose could get the call and he hardened his case with a superb display and solo try for Leinster against Clermont. Should anything untoward happen to Henshaw, whose appetite for work in the same match was huge, twice-Lions tourist Roberts (pictured) could be summoned as the go-to man Gatland is likely to employ in midfield to run at All Blacks’ outside-half Beauden Barrett and set a target for the best of British and Irish’s rugby’s pack.

Another option would be to call up the versatile Keith Earls, a Lion in 2009, as a centre who can also figure on the wing or at full-back.

OUTSIDEHALVES

Next on the plane: Finn Russell (Scotland) Both Russell (pictured) and George Ford had their backers to have been selected on the tour but Gatland opted for the

excellence of Johnny Sexton, the hard edge of Owen Farrell and the no-nonsense reliability of Dan Biggar.

Sexton has a chequered injury record and is certain to be targeted when he lines up Down Under with New Zealand seeing him as a threat to the All Blacks.

Gatland will hope none of his primary play-makers suffer injury because Ford blows hot and cold for England and Bath, as he did at Stade Francais in Europe’s Challenge Cup at the weekend, while the talented Russell is work in progress.

Russell could have the edge because Scotland face Australia this summer and will only be a three-hour flight away from New Zealand.

SCRUM-HALVES

Next on the plane: Richard Wigglesworth (England) That’s a name which may surprise some people but Wigglesworth is in the form of his life for Saracens and is experienced at international level.

He’s also one of the best scrum-halves in the world when it comes to accurate tactical kicking, with which the Lions must be on the money if they are to shackle the All Blacks.

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw is another who knows his way around the international scene and is a solid goal-kicker

PROPS

Next on the plane: Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis (Wales) If Jenkins (pictured) hadn’t missed the Six Nations through injury I suspect he would have made a fourth Lions tour.

Gatland had to play politics because, if he had picked the veteran loose-head prop, he would have given critics’ claims extra ammunition that Wales’ players have been treated more favourably.

However, Jenkins could be in New Zealand for Wales’ Test with Tonga, which takes place in Auckland, and will be on the doorstep to answer an emergency call. Rob Evans wouldn’t be far away either while there had been suggestions, with a dearth of tight-head props, that Francis was close to being picked in the squad of 41.

HOOKERS

Next on the plane: Sean Cronin (Ireland) Ireland’s reserve hooker missed the Six Nations with a hamstring problem but offers so much off the bench with his work-rate speed around the pitch, power and skill.

He’s more dynamic than any other No.2 Gatland is likely to consider with Richard Hibbard seemingly ‘persona non grata’, the awful form of England captain Dylan Hartley having cost him a place in the Lions party and doubts over the worth of Scotland’s Fraser Brown.

LOCKS

Next on the plane: Joe Launchbury (England) It was a major shock Launchbury (pictured), who picked man of the match awards during the Six Nations, wasn’t in the original squad and he must surely get the first call should there be an injury in the boilerhouse.

Gatland is allegedly a fan of Ireland and Munster lock Donnacha Ryan while Devin Toner is no mug and Scotland star Jonny Gray has plenty of backers.

BACK-ROW

Next on the plane: James Haskell (England) Scotland pair Hamish Watson and John Barclay, who rarely has a poor game for country or the Scarlets, could be in the hunt but the extra versatility and physicality of Haskell would come in handy in the event of a mishap to any of Gatland’s picks. Haskell, who missed most of the Six Nations through injury, can play right across the back-row and has the off-the-field qualities which would make him an asset as a tourist. He was sensational in Australia last June and knows all about New Zealand, having played for Super Rugby franchise Highlanders.