I think you're probably right (although can't see it with Parling)... and that's pretty much what I thought he'd do from the day he picked the squad... shame really but as we've said, we'll win regardless.

Vunipola is the only player who has played himself into a test spot... I think Croft and Heaslip would have had to score 5 tries in every match and steal 10 balls to be considered over the Welsh pair. Faletau I'm less bothered about as I don't think there's much between them but Lydiate still looks injured/overweight

The problem is that when the squad was picked you could only really point to Halfpenny and Jones as definite starters for the first Test and, while both great players, I wouldn't really consider either of them to be Lions captain material.

O'Connell and O'Driscoll are both now looking like definite starters and are both fine captains but before the squad was announced many people were wondering if they would even make the tour. POC was still coming back from injury and BOD seemed to be on his last legs. Naming either of them as captain in April would have been just as big a gamble as picking Warburton and could very well have ended up with the same dilemma that Gatland now faces only in different positions.

Warburton has been looked at as a potential Lions captain since the World Cup and if it wasn't for his loss of form and injuries last summer/autumn then it wouldn't even be a debate right now. However, with the lack of a clear candidate to take the captaincy off him Gatland just went with the man he had in mind from the time he got the job.

Personally I think it's a good dilemma anyway. I'd much rather have three quality 7s to pick from rather than having to wrap one in cotton wool. It's hardly as if Warburton is catastrophic at the moment; ok, he's not playing at his absolute best at the moment but you're hardly hamstringing your team by playing him. It's the same as in Wales at the moment, the Warburton/Tipuric discussion can get quite heated at times but it's better than the days where the nation would have a collective heart attack every time that Martyn Williams went down.

Anyway, until we get to see all the candidates up against decent opposition then we don't really know who's playing best. Four matches so far and three of them have been jokes.

I do agree with you on some of that, I was never sure who could be a captain. Just as quite sure I never had Warburton down as one for the Lions.

Will be interesting to see how this test series pans out. In 2001 we looked good but had a few close call and lost a game to Aussie A team. Got to the first test and took aus to peices. Then what happend Aus came back and destoryed Lions in the second test. then took the series.

On paper It is a 3-0 series to the lions.

The reality though is Australia have won 4 times in a row against Wales with a injury hit team, in the last 12 months they have beaten New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina in three games agains New Zealand they have lost one won one and drawn one.

Australia do not give up, they do not surrender, they will be more than ready for the Lions challenge and this is not going to be the walkover everyone is predicitng.

Nothing in rugby is more motivating than being written off.

Absolutely not. The Lions completely threw that game away

I see what you're saying about Aus being written off and everything but I just can't see them troubling the Lions. Pocock and Higginbotham are absolutely massive losses. They can't seem to choose an O/H either. I agree with Andy Farrell, the absence of Cooper is good for the Lions. He has the odd moment of madness but is capable of brilliance

I think, as a rugby fan, I'd rather a 2-1 tight series win personally with it going to a final test decider. A 3-0 Lions massacre is no good for Australia, who, lets face it, look to be in serious decline. There's just no real interest in rugby over there anymore and they don't seem to have the players coming through. A good and positive showing against the Lions might spark a bit of interest in the game again and will give them a big confidence boost hopefully going forward.

Also a 3-0 Australia win, as unlikely as it may sound, surely puts a huge question mark over the Lions future going forward

Interesting to see the Sky Sports analysts have Croft as their starting 6. I'm a big fan of him but I can't see him starting in a million years over BOTH Lydiate and SOB

35 - 14 isnt throwing a game away, its being soundly beaten.

Sorry, I remember watching that game and we were right in it until just before half time... we were smashing them all over the park, they got a lucky try and then the intercept Jonny threw and we capitulated in the second half... the Lions beat themselves soundly in that game, Australia just laughed their way over the try line.

Not at all. Kieran J has it in one. The Lions should have been out of sight at half time. The common consensus is even one more penalty before half time would have been enough.

Then came that moment where Roff got the intercept out of nothing and that was that. I recall Bod saying recently that match was the biggest regret of his career or something along those lines. The Aussies at the time couldn't believe they were gifted that match after being literally blown off the park in the first half. Think this was the game they lost Hill aswell

Agree with this. The "combined country" stuff might have worked in the days before the game went professional, but now, what is the point?

Surely it also damages the Lions brand. I recorded the match and didn't even bother to watch the second half, so the people who actually paid to watch it in person must have felt pretty ripped off. People pay to watch a contest, not a training session.

I dont know, I think there is always a place for this sort of game. Ask some of those CC players out there what they thought of it and they will tell you it was the best moment of their lives to play against the Lions.

It is a bit like the Portugal game agaisnt the All Blacks in 2007. everyone said there was no place for it but for those portugese guys, it was a shot to play aganst the most historic brand in rugby. They even scored a try.

I think there is a lot to be said for it, yes its a mismatch but Its not always about winning and losing, sometimes its about the rugby family I suppose.

You are allowed to mention that Jesus Jonny WIlkinson threw the wayward pass to him. We aren't skysports where misdemeanours by the great man are overlooked

The injury to Richard Hill in the second test was a huge turning point in that series.

I'm glad somebody posted you sentiments in this thread. The UK media , in particular are frankly deluded in thinking the Lions will win 3-0.

On paper there is a case for it but people still don't understand the Australian sporting psyche if they think it'll be such a walkover.

No wonder they are so hyped up to beat all teams from the British Isles. For most of recent rugby history, the home nations have been all mouth and no trousers down under.

I dunno the loss of higginbotham is huge. As if Pocock alone wasn't bad enough

This looks a very solid lions team, like it was in 09. Australia still have quality, particularly in the back 3 area, but I just don't see them beating this Lions team. Their front 5 is shaky (Horwill aside) I expect the lions to dominate in the pack. Palu can be hit and miss at 8. We'll wait and see I guess

3-0 doesn't necessarily automatically mean a walkover though does it. I'd expect 3 tight games tbh with lions coming through

I respectfully disagree and am confident the back row you named won't be the starters. Time will tell.....!

British & Irish Lions injury woes continue

Twelvetrees called up to Lions squad as cover

good choice, would be very useful in the team if need be

I can. He adds height to the line out and speed around the pitch - watching him core a try towards the end of the season for Leicester he looked 'all Southern hemisphere' with his dynamism.

All very predictable - they would have planned for 6 or 7 being injured (apparently that is the average on a tour!)

I can't see Croft starting at all. I know Gatland likes a big winger but I can't see him getting the nod ahead of North or Cuthbert.

Really liking the look of the starting XV for this saturday.

Maitland and Davies aside it's probably the Test team I'd start with. Looking at how Manu and BOD played together, I think Gatland will play the cnetres in pairs... maybe he wants to give Davies a sterner test as he's only really played against the Baabaas where he looked good. He was unlucky against the Reds as manu went off injured and he had about 3 different centre partners. Personally I don't rate him but I see why this is being done.

Jones and Maku together looks set to start, I think this is another case of giving Youngs a fair crack of the whip. He needs a stand-out performance with perfect throwing to put himself in the driving seat though.

Looking at the back row I could be about to eat my words... but we'll see.

My concern with the squad is that Gatland has so many players who are simaler. This points to the fact he has a gameplan which he wont deviate from and he can remove one player and slot another in his place.

If the gameplan isnt working then what are the Lions going to do?

We have seen from Wales v Aus games that you can have a dominant forward pack and still lose a game. you can even lose 4.

I dont think Gatland gameplan is one the Aussies cant find a way around. Austraiia may have many faults but winning games they have no right to is something they specalise in, especailly when the games are ones against physically dominant oppostition.

I am in the middle of a coaching course which is taking place every saturday over the test series! its a nightmare......why would a rugby organisation do that to us!!!

Croft is a flanker..............

I think it was an attempt at humour.

It actually made me laugh... he's about the same size as North and Cuthbert...

Probably slightly smaller, but with one major difference.........................he has been on the winning side against Austrailia.....

In other news Gavin Henson joins Bath from London Welsh.

Not sure he's what Bath needs...