British and Irish Lions 2017 Squad Has Been Selected

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After months of fans, pundits and commentators speculating who will be included in Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad can now end after he has revealed his large squad to go to New Zealand.

Gatland will be taking 41 players to tour New Zealand and play the All Blacks and as chosen 16 English players, 12 from Wales, 11 Irish and only 2 from Scotland.

The tour runs from June 3 to July 8 and this features three test matches against the world champions.

To no surprise the New Zealander, who took the 2013 Lions team to successful tour of Australia, has kept faith after winning four years ago and has selected Welsh flanker Sam Warburton to captain the squad.

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The 28-year-old former Wales skipper is only the second player, after England’s Martin Johnson, to lead a Lions tour.

Honestly, even though I respect and understand Gatland’s reason behind picking Warburton, I don’t think he shouldn’t captaining the side. Instead it should’ve been the player not even selected and let Dylan Hartley have the led the Lions.

I feel how can you not have Hartley in the squad, he’s a natural born leader who took England to an 18 game unbeaten streak an back to back Six Nations titles. Plus, I feel even though his fellow countrymen Jamie George is a superb player, he would’ve benefited to being the number one hooker in England’s tour of Argentina.

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Meanwhile, Warburton isn’t the best flanker in this squad. At blindside, Peter O’Mahony (Ireland) and Ross Moriarty (Wales) are better and on the openside, Ireland’s CJ Stander and Sean O’Brian should be selected over the former Welsh skipper and even his own countrymen Justin Tipuric is stronger than him.

Elsewhere, Ian Henderson’s incredible performance against England secured his seat on the plane and Courtney Lawes is a great back up in second row and flanker, but the fact neither of the Gray brothers, Richie and Jonny, were selected is a disappointment.

The other head scratching moment was why is England’s Ben Te’o picked? He hasn’t done a lot yet in an England shirt and playing for Worcester in the Aviva Premiership. The only reason why he’s chosen is play mid-week, make big tackles and break the gainline.

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His selection meant the surprising move Gatland to name Owen Farrell as a fly-half, even though, we all know the Englishman will play 12 with Ireland’s Johnny Sexton at 10. This leaves the Lions with one fly-half replacement in Wales’ Dan Bigger, so that’s why there’s a bit of social media outrage that Finn Russell of Scotland isn’t picked.

Apart from these issues, this is a brilliant squad and team that could give the All Blacks a game and we could leave the tour with a series win.

Having England’s Elliot Daly and Jack Norwell and Jared Payne from Ireland can all cover different positions in the back. Daly (wing, fullback and centre), Norwell (fullback, wing and centre), and Payne (fullback and centre).

Furthermore, having so many Irish players selected to tour is a great thing as they have experience, along with coach Andy Farrell, to beat New Zealand and they can past on what they did to the squad to give us a great chance to win.

2017 British & Irish Lions Squad

Loosehead Props

Joe Marler (England)

Jack McGrath (Ireland)

Mako Vunipola (England)

Hookers

Rory Best (Ireland)

Jamie George (England)

Ken Owens (Wales)

Tighthead Props

Dan Cole (England)

Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Kyle Sinckler (England)

Second Rows

Ian Henderson (Ireland)

Maro Itoje (England)

Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

George Kruis (England)

Courtney Lawes (England)

Flankers

Sam Warburton (Wales) CAPTAIN

CJ Stander (Ireland)

Ross Moriarty (Wales)

Sean O’Brien (Ireland)

Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)

Justin Tipuric (Wales)

Number Eight

Billy Vunipola (England)

Taulupe Faletau (Wales)

Scrum-halves

Conor Murray (Ireland)

Rhys Webb (Wales)

Ben Youngs (England)

Fly-halves

Johnny Sexton (Ireland)

Owen Farrell (England)

Dan Bigger (Wales)

Centres

Jonathan Davies (Wales)

Jonathan Joseph (England)

Elliot Daly (England)

Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)

Ben Te’o (England)

Jared Payne (Ireland)

Wings

Tommy Seymour (Scotland)

George North (Wales)

Anthony Watson (England)

Liam Williams (Wales)

Jack Norwell (England)

Fullback

Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)