We were about to get offended until we discovered Mark Chapman was right.
With the Six Nations in the history books, last month, and England crowned champions, talk turned to the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
Warren Gatland named his 41-man touring squad on April 19 and he was flanked by his coaching staff and Lions captain Sam Warburton.
We weren't expecting this.
Not at all.https://t.co/dJ6ApgxYUC#Lions— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 19, 2017
Several pundits and writers had suggested Conor Murray and Owen Farrell for the role while Peter O’Mahony ferociously flung his hat in the ring in Ireland’s victory over England at the Aviva Stadium..
The BBC Five Live panel discussed the Lions captaincy and a left-field, but not altogether mad, suggestion was made. Rugby commentator Andrew Cotter said Gatland could do worse than look at Ireland tighthead Tadhg Furlong for the role.
Cotter claimed Furlong was a shoe-in for the Test Series against the All Blacks and, with so few other certainties, should be considered.
However, before former England internationals Matt Dawson and Simon Grayson could weigh in, host Chapman pointed out that there are no odds on offer for the Wexford native to lead the Lions. One glimpse at Oddschecker backed that up – you can get Danny Care, Iain Henderson and Ben Morgan [all at 200/1] but you could not get Furlong.
With that in mind, Cotter opted for another leading candidate – Ireland captain Rory Best. That pick was backed up by Dawson while Grayson opted for Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones.
Who would be your #Lions captain this summer?@PaulGrayson10, @MrAndrewCotter & @Matt9Dawson choose theirs: pic.twitter.com/Pyffsw3hcG
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) March 20, 2017
Asked about his Lions chances after the Six Nations, following the win over England, Furlong’s response was humble. He told us:
“If it comes it comes, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. You only get to throw so many punches whatever way.”
He may not be captain. There may not be any odds on it. Still, Furlong is a Lion after less than two years in international rugby.
That’s some going.
*This article was first posted on March 22
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