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Warburton will be Lion king as Welsh flanker prepares to be awarded captaincy



Sam Warburton is the hot favourite to be named Lions captain on Tuesday and Jonny Wilkinson’s chances of joining him on the tour will be hotly debated after his match-winning exploits on Sunday.

After a majestic performance at Twickenham which left Owen Farrell in his shadow, pundits were queuing up to press Wilkinson’s undeniable claim to a place in the squad to tour Australia.

Shortly after Wilkinson’s decisive drop-goal, Lions head coach Warren Gatland and his assistants left their seats, in readiness for a final meeting on Monday, before the squad announcement.



Captain fantastic: Sam Warburton is expected to be named as Lions skipper

It is understood 38 players will be named and — as the bookmakers stopped taking bets — Wales flanker Warburton will be tour captain.

Gatland has said he will take only two specialist fly-halves and the consensus was that those men would be Farrell and Jonathan Sexton. But Wilkinson’s feats have reignited the debate.

In theory, with Toulon well placed to reach the Top 14 league final on June 1 — the date of the Lions’ tour opener against the Barbarians in Hong Kong — Wilkinson is an unlikely contender as he would not be able to fulfil Gatland’s desire for the whole squad to travel together. But the 33-year-old’s display on Sunday may yet prompt a late rethink.



Late bid: Jonny Wilkinson is unlikely to make the squad despite his heroics


Another scenario is that Wilkinson does not earn a squad place, but neither does Farrell. Rhys Priestland could be considered, but he has just returned for the Scarlets after long-term injury.

Saracens’ Brad Barritt made a strong case until injury struck and team-mate Mako Vunipola was typically prominent in the loose.

On Saturday, ex-Scotland lock Nathan Hines was outstanding as Clermont beat Munster. His second-row rival Paul O’Connell was once again standing tall for his province. On Friday, Jamie Heaslip highlighted his timely return to form for Leinster.


Here is the 38-man Lions squad Sportsmail’s Rugby Correspondent would pick for Australia:


Back three (7): T Bowe (Ire), A Cuthbert (Wal), L Halfpenny (Wal), S Hogg (Sco), R Kearney (Ire), G North (Wal), S Zebo (Ire).

Centres (5): J Davies (Wal), J Hook (Wal), B O’Driscoll (Ire), J Roberts (Wal), M Tuilagi (Eng).


Fly halves (2): J Sexton (Ire), J Wilkinson (Eng).


Scrum halves (3): G Laidlaw (Sco), M Phillips (Wal), B Youngs (Eng).


Props (5): D Cole (Eng), C Healy (Ire), G Jenkins (Wal), Adam Jones (Wal), M Vunipola (Eng).


Hookers (3): R Best (Ire), R Hibbard (Wal), T Youngs (Eng).


Locks (5): I Evans (Wal), R Gray (Sco), Alun Wyn Jones (Wal), P O’Connell (Ire), G Parling (Eng).


Back row (8): T Croft (Eng), T Faletau (Wal), J Heaslip (Ire), D Lydiate (Wal), S O’Brien (Ire), J Tipuric (Wal), S Warburton (capt, Wal left), T Wood (Eng).

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