Will Greenwood: The squad's picked, now it's time to go and do the business

Sam Warburton has been selected as captain for the Lions' tour to Australia

Betfair Ambassador Will Greenwood gives us his thoughts on Warren Gatland's selections for this summer's Lions tour...

Well, what an exciting day yesterday was! Despite being a veteran of three British and Irish Lions tours, I was still really looking forward to the announcement and chuffed to be there when it was made. I was sat in my chair thinking 'Who's behind that curtain?' and had made a conscious effort to not try and get any insider information ahead of the unveiling of this year's squad. The Lions only comes around once every four years, it's a huge privilege for those chosen to be involved.

Overall, I think there's a nice balance to the squad. It's made up of 21 forwards and 16 backs which is just about right, and other than it arguably leaving the Lions a touch light in the fly-half position, it looks good to me.

It would have been tough for Sam Warburton to have kept the captaincy news to himself all that time, but in truth it wasn't a huge surprise to see him given the nod as skipper. In fact, I've been calling it for about six months now. His relationship with Warren Gatland is excellent and he's been the leading test captain in the northern hemisphere for a while now so it was a bit of a no-brainer. I also think that number 7 is a good position for a captain; he's right in the thick of everything and can keep a good steer on what's going on around him.

The big story on everyone's lips is of course the omission/withdrawal of Jonny Wilkinson after his superb performances in the Heineken Cup this year with Toulon. If I was taking three fly-halves I think it'd be madness not to include Jonny in there, but he either feels that he's not up to it, or Gatland is perfectly happy with Owen Farrell and Jonny Sexton, the two outstanding candidates for the position.

Another interesting selection choice is Matt Stevens. There are several other contenders for tighthead but I think Stevens has been given the nod for his versatility, added mobility and good hands, assets which will be important in and around that pack against Australia. Stevens is great in open play, he can offload the ball exceptionally well and isn't short of a decent amount of grunt in the scrum either.

Finally, a quick note on the centres. Jamie Roberts is the only natural 12 selected and although others have voiced concern about that I don't see it being a huge problem. Manu Tuilagi can drop in there if needed, which is a testament to his abilities as a test match player, and so I think the Lions are more versatile and flexible than has been suggested. In Jonathan Davies, Brian O'Driscoll, Manu Tuilagi and Jamie Roberts, coach Warren Gatland has definitely picked the top four centres available.

Overall, it's a hugely encouraging squad. There are bones of contention here and there, but this is the Lions, it's always going to be very hotly contested. But, if you stop to think about it, no-one can realistically argue with the centres, the back row and the scrum halves that have been picked and elsewhere the squad is very strong. 

Now all they've got to do is go over there and win, which believe me is easier said than done. 

Bet on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia here.