THE deal isn't sealed yet. Warburton may be a personable bloke who is popular with journalists and fronts press conferences impressively, but all that shouldn't matter. No-one doubts that he is a first-rate openside, but the issue is whether he has done enough to merit a Test place. A good display here would silence the doubters. An ordinary show would leave Gatland under pressure to leave him out.
IT is fair to say Jones has not been at his very best, perhaps because it means so much to him and he is desperate to do himself justice. Dropped passes and a yellow card have been the result. However, he is a top-drawer second row and this is an opportunity to put his name on a Test spot alongside Paul O'Connell, his partner against the Waratahs. The selectors will be looking for the pair to gel. It needs to happen.
THE big Scarlet has attracted a lot of new admirers on this tour but whether that's enough to secure a first Test place ahead of Jamie Roberts or Brian O'Driscoll remains to be seen. The smart money is on Warren Gatland giving those two the chance to reprise their 2009 partnership, but Davies is at least giving him options. Another strong display could prompt some serious thinking over the midfield spots for the opener against Australia.
IF Gatland installed a dartboard at the Lions hotel and told his hookers to use it at every opportunity, no-one would be too surprised, given the Lions' line-out concerns. In fairness to Richard Hibbard, only one glitch was his fault in midweek, while Rory Best has been spraying the ball all over the place. Youngs will never be confused with Phil 'The Power' Taylor, either, but he works hard and a good display here would do his cause no harm.
SHOULD the Lions' line-out go well against the Waratahs, it would strengthen the hand of Leicester pair Croft and Tom Youngs immeasurably. Croft is a quality jumper and an athlete, a forward who shows up well in attack, but he doesn't defend like Dan Lydiate or carry ball like Sean O'Brien. This is his big chance to show Gatland he is not deficient in the close-quarter stuff, that he can roll up his sleeves and mix it if required.
