There are always surprises, some happy, some disappointing, and squawks of resentment and anger when a Lions squad is announced after weeks and months of speculation. Over the four countries, there are always twice as many candidates deserving to be selected as there are places available. Almost all of us will find players we fancied omitted, and others we wouldn’t choose to get the selectors’ nod.
I doubt if Warren Gatland and his assistant coaches paid much heed to picking a squad with a nice national balance, but they have given us that. So, though there will be people in each of the Lions countries who are dismayed or angered by the omission of particular favourites, there’s much to be said for a squad that isn’t dominated by one country.
