Decent squad has been picked. I'm genuinely gutted for Robshaw. Losing the six nations decider and Harlequins euro qtr final probably made up the selectors minds and that's harsh.

Personally I would've taken him over Heaslip ,who's always seemed to me to have more style over substance.

Hook is a liability within Gatland's usual game plan.

Heaslip is only there as 2nd No 8 and you do need two. It seems a bit heavy on open sides. Ryan Jones is unlucky to me, proven Lions performer which we're short of and a blindside. Although hard to say at who's expense.

4 wingers looks one light to me. Any of the 3 FBs would be asking for trouble. The 3rd choice FB should've come from elsewhere, eg 3rd fly half or May who is one of the few good enough at both.

England could have a decent squad for Argentina. Hope the senior players all go along with Wade, Lawes, May, Foden, Burns could start.

Stuart Barnes Never a fan of his analysis, and as for thinking the Lions could accommodate Wilko just for his drop goal and kicking abilities when they have a more than able person in Owen Farrell, is beyond me.

Farrell is like a Wilkinson protege, but younger and fitter. JW 's day has gone and players cannot be selected on reputation alone.

The squad has mainly picked itself on form and most of the 37 you would not want to leave at home.

Well done to Warburton, he seemed the obvious choice ..... He can handle the media very ably, and on the field he always appears older than his years. Thought it may go to O'Connell or even an outside chance of O'Driscoll, but have always felt Sam would be the choice as Warren Gatland also works well with him.

Pleased with the squad ...... Can't wait for June 1st.

I saw the interview with Wilkinson on Sky after they'd shown the Saracens v Jonny Wilkinsons Toulon game.

He pretty much namechecked the younger international outside halves and said that they were the future, not him.

I had to laugh/cry at Sky's cack handed handling of todays annoucement. The headline was all about "Wilkinson left out" rather than anything positive.
Also, as a rugby fan, I wanted to see the press conference in full screen glory. I don't need a sidebar showing me the Blue Square South football table, nor do I need a ticker across the bottom, telling me that some journeyman from a football division has a sore knee.

Agree it was a complete mess on Sky news. They were so busy with the goings on in the Netherlands that they missed the squad announcement and just about got to it live when Sam was announced as captain.

Back in the studio they still didn't give us the full squad, just the sports guy saying he thought there were four Scots and couldn't read his own handwriting, then goes on to tell who is Not in the squad.

In desperation I had to resort to the internet to get a look at the actual squad. If it had been a football squad they would still be talking about it now!!!

Is Zebo back from injury yet? He had that one fantastic game against Wales in the 6N, with the fancy try, then injured in the next game.
For that try alone, I thought he'd be a good wildcard for the Lions.

Is Phillips still in France or has he moved back to Wales? I thought no player stood much of a chance if they played in Wales.

He has picked a team based around players who have consistantly failed in the big games against the Southern Hemisphere.

2-1 to Aus

Why not? Farrell seems to be, although having your dad as one of the selecters must help.

Farrell isn't the best, or first choice, fly-half at Sarries and yet he is England's first choice fly-half and now he is in The Lions squad. For both of which, coincidentally, his father is a member of the coaching team.

He was comprehensively out-played by Wilkinson on Sunday and he was out-played by Freddie Burns @ Kingsholm the week before, the only reliable thing about his play is his goal kicking, his attacking capabilities seem very limited to me. That might work with Sarries, although they were found out big-time by Toulon but it won't work at international level.

Farrell is a natural centre, where he plays most of his rugby for his club although even at centre he is far from first choice, he doesn't have the natural ability to be a game-changing fly-half.

Even JW himself doesn't think his body will stand up to the rigours of a Lions tour.

Sexton will be the Test fly half but Farrell an able and flexible alternative. Strange to see a Lions tour with no Welsh fly half, considering the amount of players from Wales. Have always been a supporter of James Hook, just a shame that his talent has never been utilised in the best way ....... Centre or scrum half, and in the end, neither.

I don't think Farrell was as bad you say on Sunday. Sarries created the better scoring chances, but botched them twice. If either of the two second half chances had been converted, Jonny's kicking would have been moot.

Farrell is consistent and very steady under pressure. Laughable though it seemed at the time he was short listed for IRB PoY (and his dad had nothing to do with that selection )

Exactly. Two chances, both botched. one by Farrell. What was the point of that ridiculous, speculative looping pass, that wasn't even slightly forward it was miles forward, when they had created the two man over-lap and quick hands or a grubber kick through would have meant a try in the corner.

The problem is that because he isn't a natural fly-half such things don't come naturally to him and at that level you can't afford to miss two golden opportunities like that.

Farrell as a centre I have absolutely no problem with, he is a born centre, but he is never, ever, an international fly-half.

but the flip side of that is Jonny created nothing about from his kicking and even he said that his drop goal (after a fairly good tackle by Farrell) was a fluke

Farrell is still young, I'd back him to develop his game. I guess the good thing about being with the Lions is that he'll get to experience a different coaching ethos from Gatland

FWIW I would have taken 3 flyhalfs, but I understand the reasoning behind only having 2. Also it looks like Jonny turned down the opportunity, so Farrell is a good third choice IMO

I notice there are 6 mid-week games (I doubt they are "friendlies"!) before the 1st test so that is a good chance for players to stake a claim for a place in the starting 15.

Or do you think the management already have a strong idea of what their side will be baring the injuries of which I remember there was a lot in 2009?

They'll be trying to put players out of the tests in those games like Grey and McRae did on Hill and OGara in 01.

Lions tours are generally open to any of the squad. Id fancy any one of the 36 who were dire in 2 games or outstanding would decide their place.

A couple of hours ago, I had a look at CEEFAX, rugby, headlines, all one page.

Headline 1. "Wilkinson misses out on Lions tour"

Headline 4: "Wilkison opts out of Lions tour"

Right hand, left hand, arse, elbow, repeat.

Wilkinson will be on this tour. 2 fly halfs is not enough they are going to have to play every game on tour.

I've got this nasty feeling that we could be one big hit and one turned ankle in the warm-up from seeing Stuart Hogg with a number 10 on his shirt in one of the Tests.

Cracking player but do we really want him to have his international outside-half baptism in a Lions shirt with Michael Hooper or George Smith in his face all day?

Ok, it wouldn't really fill me with confidence to see Hook or Laidlaw at 10 in a Test either but at least they've played there a bit before.

So will Chris Robshaw - guaranteed there will be injuries to back row players.

Jonny had already kicked the ball before Farrell's tackle so not really a fluke, and it wouldn't have changed the result if he'd missed.

However that game did show one other side to Farrell's game that is rarely talked about, and that is his petulance. Toulon created one clear opportunity to score, when Armitage narrowly failed to get the ball from the kick through, but they still got a penalty in front of the posts because of Farrell's petulant, and unnecessary, late shoulder charge after the kick.

I'm not saying it would have changed the result, just mentioned what Jonny said.

Like I said I would have taken 3 flyhalfs

I agree, however one of them wouldn't have been Owen Farrell. Not because I don't rate him, I think he is a fine prospect but his potential is as a centre and not a fly-half.

Or I should say 'training squad' as some of these will be released before the tour.


Forwards:
Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Sam Hobbs (Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues), Josh Navidi (Blues).

Backs:
Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Aled Davis (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish).

Where is Ryan Jones?

Have Lee Byrne or Matthew Rees fell so far back that they wouldn't be considered for this?