Jonny is a shoo-in for Lions Test XV

AT a private dinner with senior members of the British and Irish Lions staff in edinburgh this week, the name of Jonny Gray kept coming up.

When we all sat down to pick, based on current form, what we would expect to be our starting XV for the first Test against New Zealand, the Glasgow Warriors co-captain was a shoo-in as one of the second rows.

That is hardly surprising because nowadays Jonny is outshining even his older brother Richie, who plays for French giants Toulouse.

It is difficult to name a lock better than the younger Gray playing in northern hemisphere rugby.

he may just be 22 years old but men like Lions tour manager John Spencer — the former england captain who toured New Zealand with the 1971 Lions — already has huge respect for the Glasgow co-captain.

Unfortunately, 67-yearold Spencer joked he has no influence with Lions head coach Warren Gatland and admitted a lot could happen between now and when the Lions squad is picked for the three Test series against the All Blacks next summer.

That may be true but Gray shows no sign of letting his standards drop.

he was impressive in Glasgow’s destruction of Leicester Tigers and this weekend’s trip to face Munster will give him another chance to showcase his imperious form and burgeoning talent on the european Cup stage.

his confidence as captain is growing all the time and although henry Pyrgos enjoys equal billing, it is Gray who takes the upper hand on the pitch.

Against the Tigers, Gray (left) took it upon himself to make adjustments to head coach Gregor Townsend’s tactics and didn’t put a foot wrong up against england internationals. ‘he ignored the coach and took decisions on what to do from scrums and lineout drives, which shows how much Jonny has grown into the role of co-captain,’ smiled Townsend. That ability to trust his instinct on the pitch is what has turned Gray into the leader at Glasgow.

It is that strong leadership that will be required yet again across at Thomond Park, where emotions will run high following the sudden death of coach Anthony Foley last weekend.

If Gray can inspire Glasgow to another famous win, his case to start the first Test on June 24 will be even more iron-clad.