Simmonds a surprise selection in Lions squad for SA tour
Exeter’s Sam Simmonds, overlooked by England for three years, was the most eye-catching selection in yesterday’s British and Irish Lions squad as Warren Gatland chose the try-scoring number eight ahead of Billy Vunipola for the tour of SA from July 3 to August 7.
After a final four-hour selection meeting on Wednesday, Gatland extended his squad by one to 37, but there was still no room for Ireland’s injury-hit Johnny Sexton as Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and Finn Russell will battle for the flyhalf shirt.
Other notable absentees were England trio Manu Tuilagi, Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler, as well as Wales’s 2017 man of the series in New Zealand Jonathan Davies and Irish lock James Ryan.
Courtney Lawes, who has not played since February due to a pectoral injury, earned a spot with his ability to play lock and back row as one of 11 Englishmen in the group.
Among the other relatively surprise selections were Ireland duo Bundee Aki and Andrew Porter and centre Chris Harris of Scotland, who were rewarded for their best Six Nations display. The Scots have not had a starting Test Lion since prop Tom Smith in 2001.
Alun Wyn Jones, fresh from leading Wales to the Six Nations title, was named captain as he bids to add to his nine Lions Test caps. He is one of 10 Welshmen in the squad.
“In all my time in coaching this is the most challenging squad I’ve ever been involved in picking,” Gatland said.
He is the Lions head coach for the third time having also been an assistant on the last tour to SA in 2009.
“You are looking at form in the Six Nations; players who have performed for you in the past, some who have performed well for their clubs and also at young players you think you can develop on the tour — so there are lots of factors.
“It is trying to get the balance. At the end of the day, selection is just a matter of opinion.”
The squad is:
Backs: Josh Adams (Wales), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Gareth Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Chris Harris (Scotland), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Conor Murray (Ireland) Ali Price (Scotland), Louis ReesZammit (Wales), Finn Russell (Scotland), Duhan Van Der Merwe (Scotland), Anthony Watson (England), Liam Williams (Wales).
Forwards: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Jack Conan (Ireland) Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Tom Curry (England), Zander Fagerson (Scotland) Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Jonny Hill (England), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Wyn Jones (Wales), Courtney Lawes (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Sam Simmonds (England), Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England) Hamish Watson (Scotland).