Will anyone force Gatland’s hand to stake a late claim for a LionsTest spot?
WARREN Gatland unveiled his British and Irish Lions team to take on the Chiefs in Hamilton tomorrow and in doing so gave a strong indication of who will run out against New Zealand in the first Test in Auckland.
Gatland has insisted that there remains places up for grabs, but with the focus firmly on next Saturday’s mouth-watering series opener at Eden Park, those starting in this sixth game of the tour and fourth against Super Rugby opposition will have to produce something special to feature in the run-on side against the All Blacks.
Ireland captain Rory Best leads a team that includes three Welshmen in Liam Williams, Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric.
As expected, all of the six players controversially called up on Saturday — the Welsh quartet of Cory Hill, Tomas Francis, Kristian Dacey and Gareth Davies as well as Scotland’s Finn Russell and Allan Dell — are named among the replacements.
ROB LLOYD assesses the team and what it means for Gatland’s big Test selection.
BACK THREE
THINGS haven’t quite gone for Liam Williams on this tour.
Prior to arrival he was seen as a strong contender for a wing berth against the world champions, but has slipped down the pecking order and against the Chiefs will get his first start in his preferred full-back spot.
That said, with Leigh Halfpenny undergoing a HIA and George North not at his best against the Maori, there may still be a chance for the Saracens-bound Scarlet and Gatland admitted as much at his press conference.
Jack Nowell is another who will be frustrated by his form, but the most intriguing pick is Elliot Daly on the left wing.
Daly came off the bench for North against the Maori and afterwards former Lions chief Ian McGeechan admitted he could replace the Wales juggernaut, whose error led to the home try.
Judging by Daly’s selection here, it looks like North and Anthony Watson will start out wide against the All Blacks, although Williams and the versatile Wasps man could give Gatland something to think about with standout displays on Tuesday.
Given he comes through his head assessment protocols, Halfpenny looks nailed on for the full-back spot on the back of his immaculate 17-point haul against the Maori.
CENTRES
THE absence of Jonathan Joseph from the match-day 23 provides an element of mystery. Is this the surprise Gatland has up his sleeve?
Against the Chiefs, Jared Payne will link up with Robbie Henshaw, as they did for the ground-shuddering triumph against the All Blacks in Chicago last November.
There is no midfield cover on the bench, but Daly could move in, if needed.
Joseph had his moments in attack against the Highlanders last Tuesday, but it would still be a major shock if he ousted Jonathan Davies, who responded with a strong showing against the Maori. Is Joseph being considered as a bench option for the Tests maybe?
Ben Te’o, one of the players of the tour so far, was another who came through impressively on Saturday.
Gatland could still spring another surprise and play Owen Farrell, if fit, at centre, but the smart money will be on a Te’o-Davies partnership against Sonny Bill and Co.
HALF-BACKS
NO surprises here. Dan Biggar couldn’t have done much more, but it was always going to be tough for the Osprey to shed the ‘third-choice’ tag on this trip, while Greig Laidlaw would have needed something special to push himself into contention ahead of Conor Murray and Rhys Webb and he hasn’t produced that.
Weekend call-ups Finn Russell and Scarlet Gareth Davies offer the cover.
Murray, who has produced a kicking masterclass over the last two weekends, will surely wear the No. 9 jersey against New Zealand, with Webb providing a lively option from the bench.
At 10, it’s all about this week’s medical bulletin.
At the team announcement, Gatland was confident that Farrell would overcome his quad muscle injury and if that’s the case you would expect European rugby’s player of the year to start at fly-half with Johnny Sexton, who has looked more like his old self as the tour has gone on, his deputy.
No Farrell and it’s Sexton, that’s a no-brainer.
There is also a school of thought that both could start as a creative 10-12 axis.
FRONT ROW
RORY Best captains the midweek side, sandwiching the experienced England duo of Joe Marler and Dan Cole.
There hasn’t been much to choose between any of the three hookers on this trip, although Best’s line-out shocker late on against the Blues hasn’t done him any favours.
Cole’s scrum struggles against the Highlanders has clearly hurt his Test hopes, while Marler is another who hasn’t been able to convince the coaching team he deserves elevation.
The unlikely Lions front-row trio of Allan Dell, Kristian Dacey and Tomas Francis will await their chance from the bench.
So, it doesn’t need a quantum physicist to work out that it will probably be as you were from Rotorua for game one against the All Blacks, with Mako Vunipola, Saracens team-mate Jamie George and Leinster strongman Tadhg Furlong to start and Jack McGrath, Ken Owens and one of England’s ‘finishers’ Kyle Sinckler providing the cover.
SECOND ROW
COURTNEY Lawes has shaken off the knock he picked up against the Highlanders and packs down in the engine room alongside Irishman Iain Henderson, who has impressed in his last two outings after a forgettable opener against the Barbarians.
New arrival Cory Hill and Alun Wyn Jones wear the tracksuits, but Gatland will hope Jones has as little involvement as possible.
Second row was always going to be