Lions could pick three of the best, says Sam

SAM Warburton believes all three of the front-runners to lead the 2017 Lions – Warren Gatland, Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter – should go on the tour of New Zealand.

Gatland is favourite to lead the expedition when Lions bosses name the appointment in August, but his Irish and Scottish counterparts are also in the mix with England’s Eddie Jones having ruled himself out.

But Warburton reckons a combination of the three could help the Lions secure a first series victory on Kiwi soil since 1971.

“Warren has obviously got the most experience and he knows what Lions tours are all about so I can understand why he would be a lot of people’s front runner,” Warburton said.

“He has also obviously won a Test series before so it puts him in a great position.

“I think the summer tours will have a bit of a bearing and ideally it would be great to pick two or three coaches out of the home nations.

“From what I have seen I think they are all great coaches. Warren has been the best coach I have played under but it would be great to get the other guys involved.

“It does put them in a strong position, being Kiwis. I think it puts them at an advantage over a coach who has achieved the same things who might be European, for example.

“The fact that they have psychologically a bit of inside knowledge on the way Kiwis play and how they might approach matches could be quite important.”

Warburton captained the 2013 Lions to success in Australia in 2013, but believes his style and methods as a leader have since evolved.

“I think I have changed a lot over the last five years as an international captain, and three years since the Lions tour,” he told the Daily Telegraph

“To other people I am probably exactly the same in the way that I speak and the way I conduct myself but I think I handle it a lot easier now.

“I did find it a lot of pressure and I did not like being in the public eye really when it comes to press conferences, interviews and photo-shoots.

“I don’t like to be on a pedestal above anyone else. I don’t think that is what a captain should be. He still has to have a great relationship with his players and that’s what I like to have.”