British & Irish Lions squad unveiled for 2021 South Africa tour – live!

Here we go. Full squad coming right up. I think Jason Leonard is going to be reading them out. The Teletext Sport desk will be at the ready …

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So, Alun Wyn Jones of Wales is skipper, and it’s impossible to argue with that decision. The man is a rock, he brings a phenomenal amount of experience of previous Lions tours and several years as Wales captain. He is really the personification of the phrase ‘leading by example’.

He wasn’t actually in the venue just then, it was some sort of CGI wizardry, and he was mocked up in full Lions kit. Now, coming up soon is the 36-man full squad, which I will post here as fast as possible.

Gatland mentioned they may have gone to 37 players, but I think he implied that they had cut it back to a final 36 in the end. Excitement! Will it be 36 or 37? Feel the tension!

Jones carries on: “As a rugby player you want to be involved in these challenges … the significance isn’t lost on me … it will be interesting to see how we go out there. To do that is a huge honour … that custodianship … [as players] you’re all connected, it’s something very, very special, and it’s hard to explain. I’d like to think it hasn’t changed from the times before professionalism to this very day.

“I enjoy the sport, I love what I do, and I’ll continue in a similar vein.”

Alun Wyn Jones is the man. “Very proud, very privileged, very happy to be here to talk to you today,” he says.

“To be in the squad is what you hope for … to have the armband as well is a privilege … I had a call from Gats on Sunday evening, actually a missed call … I thought I better give him a call back. And I accepted, obviously … I’ve got a huge amount of pride to add this to the CV, but there’s a lot of work to do.”

Was he allowed to tell anyone he was captain “Obviously the nearest and dearest … I can tell Gats it was kept tight at my end … at this time of year, it’s obviously the hot topic, and it’s nice that it’s out now … it’s strange, particularly with the way the last tour finished with a draw … it’s a four-year wait … this is where we find ourselves.”

Gatland promises, as he has done on previous tours, that every member of the squad will have the chance to force their way into the Test team: “One of the thing I’ve said in the last two tours is that everyone will get a start in the first three games.”

“We had a meeting yesterday that was about four hours … we initially added an extra name so we had 37 instead of 36.”

Warren Gatland speaks to Lee McKenzie: “We’ve been playing a bit of catch-up [with the effects of the pandemic] … but now as we get closer, really excited about the final preparations and planning … and really looking forward to getting down to South Africa. I feel so privileged and so honoured … for me, it’s the experience of being on both sides. I was lucky enough to play against the Lions in 1993, and what that meant to me … and to be involved as a coach is incredibly rewarding and exciting … it’s something that’s unique, it’s special in the rugby world, and hopefully it continues to grow. It’s going to be a challenge without the fans, but it’s something to look forward to.

“In all my time in coaching, this has been the hardest squad to pick. It’s about a balance … and at the end of the day, selection is a matter of opinion … we’ve tried to put a squad together that we think can go down and win a series.”

Bryan Habana is up now, on Zoom like Bowe and Robinson: “It’s a unique honour [to be a Lion] … Warren Gatland is vying to be the first coach not to lose a series against the southern hemisphere teams … it’s going to be an extra-spicy one, I feel. I hope the Springboks get a bit of luck, but I don’t think they will need it, because they will be fully prepared.”

“In 1997 I was just getting into the game of rugby, starting to understand the history of the Lions … South Africa hadn’t played the Lions for 15 years because of Apartheid, and isolation … [it was] being able to fully understand what the game of rugby means to South Africans … that Jeremy Guscott drop-goal, and that Matt Dawson try, still irks many a South African.”

BudaBrit has views on the back row and fly-half: “For the back row, why not Curry, Underhill and Faletau? Looks the perfect balance to me. It’s toughie, though.

“I know who I would have as the starting 10, but not many agree with it…which is a shame as he’s easily the best 10 around. I’m talking George Ford, of course … Ford absolutely is the best available, just his size counts against him in d…which shouldn’t really be the main thing when talking about a 10.”

Tommy Bowe goes on: “South Africa is such an intimidating place to go … nothing could have prepared me for that. It was the most intimidating atmosphere I’d ever come across. That Lions jersey, there’s just something special about it. Embrace it, go out there, enjoy it … the players need to get to know their fellow players as well as they can … go out there and create memories.”

Robinson on 2001, when of course he was new to rugby union: “I was trying to learn names, I roomed together with the likes of Brian O’Driscoll … it was his first tour as a young lad … those times in your hotel room, the chats you have, getting to know each other. Guys like Keith Wood, just some amazing characters, and one of the things I hold on to is the things I learned as a Lion … I was around so many quality players and I learned from them.”

Tommy Bowe and Jason Robinson! On Zoom!

Bowe looks back on his call-up in 2009: “I remember we had the distraction that we were made to train on that morning … I remember in 2009 we were training with the Ospreys … we were all called into a huddle together, and told the good news and the bad news, and do you know what, it is such a special and exciting day.”

Jason Robinson looks back: “I can remember being out fixing my fence … the message came into me that I’d made the tour … as a rugby league player coming in, I didn’t know what to expect … but it was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had as a player … to be selected for a Lions tour is something I’ll never, ever forget.”

And as a rugby fan, Robinson burning past Chris Latham on the outside at The Gabba in 2001 is something I’ll never forget, either. A legendary moment.

Jason Leonard, the Lions chairman, is speaking now: “It’s just unique … you spend four years knocking lumps out of each other [for respective countries] … you walk away at the end of your tour, and you’ve made friendships for life.”

How did Leonard find about his first Lions selection? “I actually found out by Teletext … I’m not sure that some of the younger players on this tour will actually know what Teletext is.”

Lee McKenzie has now kicked off the official announcement. We are about 20 minutes from finding out the identity of the captain. The rumours are that Alun Wyn Jones will get the nod, holding off fellow second row Maro Itoje of England.

“The moment’s almost here,” writes JimTait98. “Keep your seat-belts fastened for bolters and unpopular picks and keep all toys in the pram! Come on the Lions!”

Agreed on all counts, Jim.

PeteTheBeat chips in on Ireland: “Looks like a lot of Irish forwards aren’t going to make it according to rumours. Leinster were second best on Sunday, yet they dismissed Exeter easily enough as did Ireland against England. Additionally, Ireland were poor in the other games but it wasn’t the fault of the pack. They held their own in all the matches – just zero creative spark otherwise.”

Here we go, some music has struck up on the Lions live stream, and the announcement will be getting under way imminently. The captain will be confirmed at 12.15pm, and the full squad will be announced at 12.30pm.

It would have been interesting to see how Joe Marler got on, had he been selected, but he says he’s not been sounded out regarding his availability. Props Tadhg Furlong, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola, Wyn Jones and Andrew Porter all on the plane, surely.

Marcus Smith, anyone? Gerard Meagher reports:

“My back row would be Beirne Curry and Faletau,” writes Rug568. “Navidi, Watson and Simmonds travelling.”

Faletau surely nailed on to start the Tests, but arguably the only back-rower who enjoys that status. A real embarrassment of riches for Gatland and his team in this department.

Could Manu Tuilagi be on the plane? If fit, his wrecking-ball running would not go amiss in South Africa. Here’s Robert Kitson:

FugaziFan has harsh words for Elliot Daly: “Staggered by reports that Daly is set to be included. His 6N form was rank rotten and the Lions shouldn’t be a test side where it’s harder to drop out of than get in, like some national teams led by certain coaches. Daly doesn’t deserve to go, even if he can play poorly across the backline.”

Form is temporary, class is permanent, I guess would be Gatland’s thinking. Within that it will of course be a judgement call on if he can play himself back into form for the tour.

pointyhairedboss says: “Just hope there’s a good mix of players from all four countries. The worry with Gatland is that he defaults to Welsh players because he knows them better.”

Daniel Stephens starts the back row ball rolling:

“Simmonds, Tipuric and Faletau would give the Lions more pace and guile.

“Hamish Watson and Jamie Ritchie instead of the first two if guile becomes less necessary than bludgeon. Josh Navidi or CJ Stander as wild cards.”

No Tom Curry? I’ve got a feeling he could have a huge tour.

Rightly pointed out BTL that if Sam Simmonds is selected, and forces his way into the Test side, that will call into question Eddie Jones’s constant refusal since 2018 to give him a look-in for England. Danny Care to supply Simmonds with the pass for the match-winning try in the final Test?

The Finn Russell debate is heating up!

Crutchley writes: “Finn will have his cap(s) assured when he comes off the bench to save the match by changing the approach, applying psychology, tempo and altering the points of attack.”

lostlogin adds: “I expect Russell will go but I would not be surprised if he missed out. A big ethos of the Lions is one for all, being a good tourist and remaining committed if you are not selected in the test 23. Russell threw a major wobbly a year or so back and walked out on Scotland. I wonder if that will count against him?”

News from last night, courtesy of Gerard Meagher, is that Alun Wyn Jones looks poised to be captain, while Sam Simmonds of Exeter, the European player of the year, is going to be on the plane.

LazloLazlo kicks off today’s comments in concise style: “No Finn Russell, no party.”

Well, quite. Gatland will surely fancy a bit of the X-Factor that Russell will bring? Working on the basis that Dan Biggar will be the first-choice No 10, Russell is a lovely option to have on the bench.

And what about the scrum-halves, now we’re on the subject of the half-backs? I rather fancy a Mr D. Care has at least provoked lengthy discussions among the selection panel.

In the old days, a good Lions tourist was expected to display exemplary social skills during the squad’s post-match lubrication sessions, be willing to occasionally punch the nearest opponent on their captain’s signal, and of course deliver suitably high performance on the pitch. The challenge this summer in South Africa will be somewhat different, above and beyond the usual complications involved with getting the British and Irish Lions show on the road in the already-packed professional calendar.

The dark cloud of the Covid-19 pandemic hangs over everything but fortunately the coach Warren Gatland has no shortage of experience to call on. He masterminded the series victory in Australia in 2013 and achieved a remarkable 1-1 draw in his native New Zealand four years ago. This time around, his 36 players will be protected inside a bio-secure bubble for the duration of the tour, there will be no fans, and (somewhat bizarrely) the Lions will face a team that has not gone into competitive battle since they won the Rugby World Cup final against England in 2019. The Lions is a unique and special sporting event, but this one will be different again, and Gatland’s selection decisions will no doubt reflect that in some sense.

The customary squabbles over player access have been safely negotiated and today is the day that 36 men across England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland will receive the ultimate accolade, a call to represent the British & Irish Lions. Pre-announcement reading and much more coming up.