Wednesday 19 April 2017 14:49, UK
Stuart Barnes, Scott Quinnell, Sean Fitzpatrick and Will Greenwood give their reaction to the British and Irish Lions squad announcement.
STUART BARNES
The two big shocks are Ross Moriarty and Jared Payne - I think the media are guilty of forgetting about Payne. He is versatile but has become a very fine 13. He is a great defensive organiser.
I have just been speaking to Warren Gatland and Moriarty is a physical beast. I don't think he is going to be in the test team but in the mid-week team he is not going to give an inch. He will really thrive there.
I have to say that at hooker the Lions look a little bit thin - I don't know if the combination of experience and technical expertise in the tight is slightly worrying. I thought Dylan Hartley might have just sneaked in there but he hasn't and he will be disappointed.
As far as Jonathan Joseph is concerned I don't understand how people were saying he was not going to play - the rumour mill was very strong and fooled a lot of newspapers and TV companies! He has a good defensive game and fantastic footwork.
The other thing that is interesting to me is that Owen Farrell has been selected as one of the three fly-halves. That is intriguing because come the Test, I cannot see how the Lions won't have Farrell and Sexton on the field. They are two of their best players and they need to be playing together.
The worry is that if Dan Biggar takes a knock then one of your key players has to play in the midweek team.
WILL GREENWOOD
Gatland has covered a lot of bases and picked a lot of great players - he also has great coaching staff and now we think we are going to win 3-0!
Okay, maybe not quite, but there is a sense of excitement and the palpable feeling that the tour is now on!
Sam Warburton is an unbelievable player - I said earlier that his biceps have their own Twitter feed! The way he spoke, his experience and his performance in this year's Six Nations has been brilliant. He is a powerful ball carrier, strong over the ball and has the experience of captaincy. He is a man that everyone respects, the All Blacks respect and what an incredible honour to captain the Lions twice.
Unlucky players for me are Joe Launchbury from England, Garry Ringrose from Ireland, Wales prop Rob Evans would have an argument on the loosehead side and, from Scotland, Jonny Gray!
SCOTT QUINNELL
I don't think anyone is really a surprise but I am delighted for Moriarty and I think he will take New Zealand by storm. He is big and abrasive and just what the Lions need. Payne is a brilliant player and very versatile.
This looks like the most powerful Lions leaving these shores - I hope they hold them back just a little bit in training and then on game day just unleash them.
If you look at the back three you can pick Tommy Seymour and George North, who are big abrasive men. Then you have the likes of Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson who are elusive runners and can dance around the park.
In the forwards, you have the big strong and abrasive players as well as the likes of Peter O'Mahony and Justin Tipuric, who can play all the rugby you need and be an extra centre.
There is a lovely blend there and he has a player for all conditions in New Zealand.
SEAN FITZPATRICK
Having just come back from New Zealand, I think that they may be underestimating just how strong this squad could be. I think Warren Gatland has picked a team that can win the New Zealand public over - I think in 2005 they got that totally wrong.
All the games in New Zealand are going to be hugely competitive and I think it is an asset to have a former all Black coaching the British and Irish Lions. He knows what is needed to win.
New Zealanders love the Lions - there is a whole generation who could name the whole 1971 squad, people like me whose hero was Gareth Edwards. Grant Fox started to kick around the corner because Barry John kicked around the corner.
I think the Lions will struggle in the first test at Eden Park but there is an opportunity for the Lions in the second Test and they could go into the third test all square which would make it very interesting.
All 10 games of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand will be shown live on Sky Sports, starting June 3.
