Warren Gatland picks his form Lions 23 after the July Internationals

July 20, 2022
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Ultimate Rugby

Three-time British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has picked a form 23 from the Home Nations following the July Internationals.

In his latest Telegraph column, Gatland starts the piece by saying, ‘Some of my previous picks for Lions Tests I still turn over in my head to this day.’

He goes on to explain that picking a Lions squad and then the test side is the hardest part of the job and adds that ‘sometimes it comes down to what a player has done for you in the past, even if he is currently out of form, and sometimes it just comes down to your gut instinct.’

‘A hypothetical selection has been a lot more fun’, Gatland added before getting stuck into his selections.

Eight of Gatland’s starting XV did not make the trip to South Africa last year, while a further three are included on the bench, although Andrew Porter was selected in the initial travelling squad before an injury ruled him out.

READ HIS FULL COLUMN HERE

Ellis Genge is Gatland’s pick at loosehead, with him arguing that there ‘is nothing between Ellis and Andrew Porter’. Jamie George gets the nod at hooker, with Gatland noting that Ronan Kelleher and Ken Owens are injured. Tadhg Furlong, unsurprisingly, is picked at tighthead.

Surprisingly, Gatland has omitted both of his starting locks from the three tests in 2021 - Maro Itoje and Alun Wyn Jones - picking the Ireland duo of James Ryan, who was a shock omission last year, and Tadhg Beirne.

He commented on the lock pairing: ‘I thought James and Tadhg worked incredibly well together as a combination, so that is why I have put Maro Itoje on the bench.’

England captain Courtney Lawes drew high praise from the Lions boss, who said he would make him his captain.

‘The biggest compliment I can pay to Courtney is that I would make him my captain with some great leaders to support him.’

The pack is rounded out with Josh van der Flier on the openside and Caelan Doris at no.8.

It’s another Irish combination in the halfbacks as Jamison Gibson-Park is selected alongside Jonathan Sexton.

He commented on Sexton’s selection: ‘Quite simply, he has earned the right to be there, even at the age of 37. I think Marcus Smith is something special, but if I want to win a game next week, Johnny has to start. You can’t take away from the impact he has had over the last year. In South Africa, I was concerned about his injury record and whether he could get through the tour, and I still probably ask myself now whether it was the right decision to leave him at home.’

James Lowe, Josh Adams and Freddie Steward make up the back three, with Gatland admitting that he made an error last year by not starting Adams in the first two test matches.

‘I originally selected Louis Rees-Zammit because of his finishing prowess, but after an 11th-hour rethink went for Josh. I didn’t want to make the same mistake as I did in South Africa, leaving Josh out of the first two Tests.’

Owen Farrell is selected at no.12, with Gatland praising Ireland’s Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki before opting for Robbie Henshaw at outside centre.

Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter and Zander Fagerson make up the front row cover on the bench.

Maro Itoje is a luxury on the bench, according to Gatland, and is joined by Taulupe Faletau.

Ali Price and Marcus Smith make up the halfback cover, with Jack Nowell taking the no.23 jersey.

READ HIS FULL COLUMN HERE

Warren Gatland’s Full 23

1. Ellis Genge

2. Jamie George

3. Tadhg Furlong

4. Tadhg Beirne

5. James Ryan

6. Courtney Lawes (c)