Warren Gatland named his British & Irish Lions squad this week – and the great thing about a Lions squad announcement is that everyone has their opinion.
Everyone looks at the selection, questions a few aspects of it and believes they are a better selector – and that's all part of the fun. "I'd have taken him", "I wouldn't have taken him" – it's great that we have this debate every four years.
Personally, the squad has given me mixed feelings – and I do worry about injuries. If anything, for example, were to happen to Gethin Jenkins it would be a concern. We have decent tightheads in Adam Jones and Dan Cole – but I would be concerned if Jenkins got injured, because I think the Lions need to dominate the Australian scrum.
It will not be good enough just to hang on in there at scrum time – and, if the Lions can't dominate the Australian scrum, I think that will give a lot of momentum to Australia. I certainly think Mako Vunipola and Matt Stevens are very lucky to be on that plane, while it is unbelievable that Chris Robshaw and Rory Best are not going and Joe Launchbury is also very unfortunate.
The fact there are only two fly-halves is another worry – and means they will have to wrap Jonny Sexton in every bit of cotton wool they've got. Jonny Wilkinson is being loyal to Toulon – but, if you believe in conspiracy theories, the Lions have named a 37-man squad instead of 38, while also only picking two fly-halves and no real utility back.
I would suggest that, if you could check the plane itineraries from Nice to Australia the week after Toulon play their final game, there may already be a Mr J Wilkinson already booked on a flight.
He is doing his bit for Toulon and keeping his French employers very happy – but the Lions have clearly left one spot vacant.
Overall, though, I think it is a very strong squad and I think the Lions will do very well. A couple of injuries would make the series very much more even – but, 16 years after the Lions last won a Test series, I will head to Australia this summer with confidence.
On the captaincy issue, Gatland has worked with Sam Warburton for a while now – and there is no doubt he is a great player. But, if Justin Tipuric starts to play well, then will Warburton's position in the Test side even be assured? It's a big call giving the captaincy to such a young lad – but he is mature beyond his years.
This is a tour the Lions can win – there is no doubt about that. But the Australians will not lie down – and their three-quarters can ask serious questions of the Lions. I expect it to be tight.
The venues for the 2015 World Cup were announced this week – and I think they have picked venues around the right parts of the country. You are never going to satisfy everyone – and a few die-hard Bristolians will ask why their city has missed out. But ask the council why Bristol has missed out. The fact is that Bristol, as yet, does not have a stadium worthy of hosting World Cup games – and there is no guarantee that will be in place by 2015.
But when you look at the venues, geography-wise, you can't have too many complaints. Exeter have developed Sandy Park into a fine rugby stadium, while Gloucester is a real heartland and Kingsholm another great rugby ground, and then there are some big football stadiums to satisfy the paymaster.
Leicester may feel aggrieved that Welford Road has missed out, in favour of Leicester City's ground, but apart from that, I think the spread of venues and host cities is good.
On the field, the Exeter-Gloucester game is the place to be today – that should be fascinating with European qualification up for grabs.
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