Four Irish players to start First Test against New Zealand.
Another Saturday, another step closer to the Test Series against the All Blacks.
Another indication of what way Warren Gatland is going with his team selection.
The Lions did for the Maori All Blacks with relative ease in Rotorua, on Saturday, and most of the 23 that featured will be cotton-wooled ahead of the First Test at Eden Park next weekend.
Gatland still has to select a matchday 23 to face the Chiefs, on Tuesday, but his task has been made easier by the fact that six fresh faces are linking up with his squad. Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey and Gareth Davies [all Wales] are likely to be joined by Scots Finn Russell and Allan Dell on the Lions bench for Tuesday’s game.
Looking at the revamped Lions squad, this is the likely XV to face the Chiefs in Hamilton.
That would still leave two bench spots open, with Iain Henderson and perhaps Elliot Daly being asked to fill in.
The Test XV, and most of the Lions bench, will then be free to get themselves set for the mother of all challenges against the world champion All Blacks.
As we stand, there are 13 players definitely starting – Vunipola, George, Furlong, Itoje, Kruis, O’Brien, Faletau, Murray, Farrell, Watson, Davies, Te’o and Halfpenny.
With Russell arriving, Owen Farrell does not even need to feature on Tuesday and he is set to edge Johnny Sexton out. All that is left to decide is who will get the other wing position – Liam Williams, George North or Daly – and who starts at blindside.
Sean O’Brien is a lock for the No.7 jersey so tour captain Sam Warburton will have to accommodate him at blindside if he gets in. That is by no means certain and Lions legend Ian McGeechan believes Peter O’Mahony should not only wear No.6 but lead the Lions out against New Zealand.
This is how we are calling it:
LIONS XV TO FACE NEW ZEALAND
As for the bench, there could be four Ireland internationals but we can only call two for sure.
Jack McGrath and Johnny Sexton will cover loosehead and outhalf and there could be roles for Iain Henderson – ahead of Wyn Jones – and CJ Stander. That one would be the big call as Stander would have to displace either O’Mahony or Warburton to get that impact sub role.
All will be clearer when the Lions squad for the Chiefs game is named on Sunday. Apart from the six newbies, no-one wants to make that squad.
The Lions squad to face New Zealand in the First Test will be named in the early hours of Thursday morning [Irish time].
