Gavin Hastings: Lions squad still strong

Welshman Sam Warburton is sure to captain the Lions in Saturday's first Test after his fitness concerns were erased. Picture: PA

But, having said that, the head coach is unlikely to be too unhappy with the choices he has to make, because I still believe that his squad is strong enough that it has two genuine contenders for every position.

So although in recent days there have been concerns about the fitness of Jamie Roberts, Tommy Bowe and George North – with only the last named apparently still in the running for the game against the Wallabies – I don’t think that has materially affected the strength of the team that the head coach will pick. For example, I was sure that Roberts would start at centre alongside Brian O’Driscoll, but he will have a more than able replacement in the shape of fellow-Welshman Jonathan Davies.

Obviously you hope there are no further injuries in today’s match against the ACT Brumbies, but looking at the starting XV you would have to say that none is expected to start at the weekend. On the other hand, some of those who are on the bench today look likely to find themselves in the same position at the weekend.

Speaking of the team that will start today, I am absolutely sure that Shane Williams will do himself justice. He will be match-fit, having played for his club in Japan, and I’m utterly confident that he will give his all.

Shane was due to be travelling down to Australia anyway, as a match commentator, and in that sense he’s extending a Lions tradition. Remember when former Scotland captain Andy Nicol was unexpectedly called up, again because of  injuries to others and his own availability?

Turning to the Test team, there is no doubt that Leigh Halfpenny is the front-runner to be full-back. One realistic alternative would be to play Stuart Hogg at 15 and Halfpenny on the wing, but that may only be considered if North fails a fitness test. Sean Maitland could play at full-back too, of course, but I expect Gatland to go with Halfpenny.

On the right wing I must admit that Alex Cuthbert is the slight favourite to be picked ahead of Maitland. On the left, North will start as long as he is passed fit; if not, Cuthbert could move across, with Maitland starting in the No 14 jersey.

In the centres, as I said, Gatland appeared to have settled on the first-choice pairing of O’Driscoll and Roberts, but he will be quite happy to partner O’Driscoll with Davies instead. Davies is a very good player and he could have considered himself unlucky to be omitted if that had been the case.

Jonathan Sexton and Mike Phillips are even more of an automatic choice at half-back than O’Driscoll and Roberts would have been at centre. They are a strong and formidable combination.

The front row is an interesting call, and I expect Gatland to go with Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs and Adam Jones. In the second row Paul O’Connell’s name has been inked in for some time, and I still expect him to be accompanied by Geoff Parling. In the back row, Captain Fantastic Sam Warburton will be at openside, Tom Croft at blindside and Jamie Heaslip at No 8.

The captain should always be someone who is sure of his place, and once those slight injury concerns were dispensed with there was no doubt at all about Warburton’s. Heaslip and Croft will combine with him well, and like the half-backs this area of the team could again have a decisive role to play.

Things are altogether less certain when it comes to choosing the bench. Owen Farrell and Ben Youngs will be there as back-ups to Sexton and Phillips respectively, and there may only be one other backs replacement. Hogg and Maitland will be in the running, and have a stronger chance of being on the bench than they do of making the starting line-up. And Billy Twelvetrees, although only recently called up into the tour party, might even come into the equation.

Richard Hibbard will be the replacement hooker, and the two props on the bench should be Dan Cole and possibly Matt Stevens. The back-row choice is a difficult one, but I think Dan Lydiate will get the nod ahead of Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau. Provided there are only three backs replacements, that leaves the second row. Richie Gray is starting today, and if he does enough in the first half I think he may well be taken off and told to rest his considerable energies for the weekend.

So, to sum up, I reckon the three Scots who made the original tour selection – Maitland, Hogg and Gray – are in with a chance of being named on the bench. The fourth, Ryan Grant, will benefit enormously from the experience of being a Lion, but so far at least does not seem to be in Test consideration.

And what of the series itself? I’ve believed from the start that only the Lions are capable of winning the series 3-0, and the way they have played in the warm-up games has only strengthened that opinion, no matter the modest nature of the opposition. Having said that, if Australia win on Saturday they will then become favourites to win the series 2-1.

But I don’t believe that will happen. I think it will be a relatively open game, with a few tries, and I back the Lions to win by 28 points to 20.

• Gavin Hastings is an HSBC ambassador. HSBC is proud Principal Partner to the 2013 British & Irish Lions on their Tour to Australia. The Legendary Journey continues. Follow The Lions’ Legendary Journey on Youtube