Wales and Cardiff Blues flanker Sam Warburton has backed the British and Irish Lions’ to secure their first Test series win in 16 years after he was named captain of the side which will tour Hong Kong and Australia this summer.
The 24-year-old is the youngest Welshman to lead a Lions touring party and will be the first since Phil Bennett skippered the 1977 trip to New Zealand.
There were two notable absentees from the 37-man squad, which was announced by Lions manager Andy Irvine in London, with England captain Chris Robshaw and 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson not included.
Head coach Warren Gatland did, however, hand surprise call-ups to Scotland wing Sean Maitland, England prop Mako Vunipola and 2005 Lions tourist Matt Stevens, who retired from international rugby last year, as he bids to engineer a first series win since 1997.
Warburton, who also led Wales Down Under last summer where they suffered a 3-0 Test series defeat, believes the blend of players from the four nations will prove to be a winning mix in the year which marks the 125th anniversary of the first ever Lions tour.
He told Sky Sports News: “I have found Australia a very tough place to go.
“If you look at the class of the players that will be added from the other three countries and a Welsh team that came very close last year, I think that will be enough to make it a victorious Test series which we want to achieve.”
Of Robshaw’s omission, he added: “The back row was always going to be a talking point and some big players have been left out.
“Warren alluded to it earlier, that you usually get about six injuries so I’m sure someone will be involved in that tour who is not involved now.
“He could have picked between 10 or 12 players and there are still some that are injured so the competition is immense.”
Glasgow and Scotland wing Maitland, a 24-year-old New Zealand-born three-quarter, only came over to Britain at the start of the season.
His Scottish grandparents meant he was eligible to make his Scotland debut against England at the start of the Six Nations, where he scored an early try.
“I’m pretty speechless, I am over the moon, words can’t describe what I’m feeling at the moment,” Maitland said after finding out he had been included in the touring party.
“The squad went live, I was watching it with the Glasgow boys in the changing room and that’s when I found out. It’s been a rollercoaster for me, coming over here to try and achieve new goals.
“Playing for Scotland was a very proud moment and in a Lions year it has worked out well for me, but the hard work begins now.”
Maitland is also the cousin of Australia fly-half Quade Cooper, and would relish the chance to lock horns if the Reds playmaker is included in the Wallaby squad.
He said: “We could talk about a rivalry that started at the age of five when he beat me in a long-distance race. He’s had the wood over me in a few recent battles so hopefully we can get one over him.”
Back-row Tom Croft is one of six players from Aviva Premiership side Leicester who have been included in the squad.
Centre Manu Tuilagi, scrum-half Ben Youngs, prop Dan Cole, hooker Tom Youngs and lock Geoff Parling all hail from the Welford Road side.
Croft toured with the Lions four years ago but was a doubt for this year’s squad after he broke his neck and had eight months out of the game, only making his comeback for the Tigers in January.
“When I got injured I was just hoping to get back and playing and I was very fortunate to be involved at the end of the Six Nations,” Croft said.
“My train of thought was getting on to the England tour of Argentina. That would have been a massive bonus and a highlight for me so being included in the Lions squad has far surpassed that.”