Is right about in Lions’ ranks?
Nobody in the back three has done enough to suggest they will oust the trio who will start against the Maori – Leigh Halfpenny, Anthony Watson and George North – so that leaves Jared Payne, Liam Williams, Jack Nowell and Tommy Seymour scrapping it out, with Payne also offering cover at centre.
It is clear that Gatland is favouring a Jonathan Davies-Ben Te’o combination in midfield, which means Henshaw and Joseph — as they did against the Highlanders — provide the midweek pairing.
Even though Dan Biggar staked his claim to shed the ‘third-choice’ tag with a fine display in Dunedin, it would be a major shock if Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton weren’t part of Gatland’s plans for the Tests, while there is clear water between Greig Laidlaw and his scrum-half rivals Conor Murray and Rhys Webb.
Up front Dan Cole didn’t do himself any favours with the late scrum penalty conceded against the Highlanders and looks unlikely to feature in the Tests.
Courtney Lawes’ early exit with a head injury ended his hopes of staking a claim.
Iain Henderson was one of the Lions’ better players on Tuesday, but it would be a major surprise if he shifted Maro Itoje, George Kruis or Alun Wyn Jones.
In the back row, there could be some big-name casualties with either Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony or even tour captain Sam Warburton missing out on the Test 23. Likely midweek XV: Jared Payne; Liam Williams, Jonathan Joseph, Robbie Henshaw, Tommy Seymour; Dan Biggar, Greig Laidlaw; Joe Marler, Rory Best, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Ross Moriarty, JustinTipuric. Who are the leading contenders for the Tests? It was always going to be the case that selection for the unofficial fourth Test against the Maori was going to be a dry run before the series opener in Auckland and Gatland’s selection appears to back that up.
With only 28 minutes under his belt on tour, there will be a big focus on Jonathan Davies’s performance alongside Te’o and if the Scarlet comes through with a strong display he will be a firm favourite to wear the No. 13 jersey against the All Blacks.
Expect Farrell to start at fly-half if he can shake off his quad muscle injury, while Murray has stolen a march on Webb after impressing with his pin-point kicking display against the Crusaders.
Up front, both Alun Wyn Jones and CJ Stander have had a heavy workload of late and are rested for Saturday’s clash.
But it will be a surprise if both don’t come into the squad for Eden Park the question is whether it’s into the starting XV or onto the bench.
The main conundrum surrounds tour captain Warburton.
Sean O’Brien, who had an impressive first half in Christchurch, will provide Gatland with a major headache if he produces another big display in Rotorua, but it would still be a massive call if Warburton was omitted. Likely Test 23: Leigh Halfpenny; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Davies, Ben Te’o, George North; Owen Farrell, Conor Murray; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, CJ Stander, Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt). Reps: E Daly, J Sexton, R Webb, J McGrath, K Owens, K Sinckler, G Kruis, S O’Brien.