The ruthless nature of the 2009 British and Irish Lions has been revealed as Warren Gatland explained why he had voted against his own Wales captain Ryan Jones for the three Test tour of South Africa this summer.

A year ago, Jones was the Welsh Grand Slam-winning captain and the obvious candidate to lead the tour but now he must be content with a place on the standby list.

Jones now only has the distinction of being the highest-profile example of why the Lions management were prepared to ditch anyone who they believe cannot help win the series against the world champions.

Gatland, the Lions forwards coach and Wales head coach, said: “Ryan wasn't good enough to make the Lions. He wasn't playing well enough and I left a message telling him that on his phone.”

South Africa are desperate for revenge after suffering a humiliating 1997 Test series loss to the Lions and will be aiming to batter the touring team every time the players leave the dressing room. While it won't reach the ridiculous level of violence of the infamous 1974 tour to South Africa, this trip will not be for the faint hearted.

The Lions will need battle-hardened, experienced forwards and lightening fast backs and that is exactly what head coach Ian McGeechan has assembled in his 37-strong tour party.

Gatland also admitted that Tom Croft, the England flanker, was the unluckiest player in the sport having been the final player to be crossed off the list.

The enormity of the challenge facing the Lions was summed up by scrum coach Graham Rowntree, who said: “The sheer nature of the Springbok scrum and line-out means we need some big guys who can work in the tight and also have high work rates around the pitch.

“One of the reasons Steve Borthwick, the England captain, was not picked is because we need beasts.
“We are taking on the biggest pack on the planet and our selection reflects that challenge.”

It is patently obvious from the comments of every member of the Lions management that they are singing from the same hymn sheet and that is bad news for the Springboks.

The Lions intend to arrive in South Africa at the end of May for a 10-match tour with a group of forwards ready to go toe to toe with the opposition, create quick ball and then unleash the speedsters in the backs.

Even Shane Williams, the World Player of the Year, almost failed to make the tour after his drop in form caused concern and but he will take on the Springboks because the Lions need his special side stepping talents.

A side step is not one of the requirement of the Lions forwards and they will be prepared to use Alun-Wyn Jones, the Wales lock, in the back row if they have to bolster the line out.

The seven backrow forwards named in the squad will spearhead the Lions effort, combining ball carrying power and the ability to steal possession at the break and finding the balance will be down to Gatland. It is his job to find, as quickly as possible, the best pack to absorb everything the world champions will throw at them and then give even more back.

The success of the tour will be determined by these forwards, led by captain Paul O'Connell and that is why 34-year-old Alan Quinlan, the wild man of Irish rugby, has been drafted into the squad despite failing to make the Ireland Grand Slam side.

The Lions need real characters, men who will, on and off the pitch, provide a rallying point for others and Quinlan fits the bill. He may not make the Test side, but he will be a larger than life personality and will relish the chance to create mayhem on the pitch.

This fiercely-competitive pack may be able to squeeze the Springboks in the scrum, but may find the line-out is another matter.

In the backs, McGeechan has put his faith in Stephen Jones and Ronan O'Gara to kick the team into the opposition half and then initiate rapid deployment of the three-quarters.

Long midfield passes and the ever present threat of Lee Byrne coming into the line at full-back, will be used to stretch the Springbok defence.
There is a belief within the Lions camp that they can cause all kinds of trouble by pulling the big Springbok pack all over the pitch and create mis-matches — backs against forwards — as a tiring defence realigns.

Defence coach Shaun Edwards believes it is unreasonable to expect the Lions to score “four or five tries” against the best defensive team in the world but that is a smokescreen.

The selection of wingers like Ugo Monye, Williams and Leigh Halfpenny gives the Lions three of the quickest men to ever pull on the famous red jersey and that pace will be set free at every opportunity.

McGeechan likes a simple game plan and stressed today that: “We don't have time to be complicated.”

They will play at a high tempo with ball retention and the ability to put seven or eight phases of play together vital if they are going to win the three-Test series.

McGeechan's ruthless selection process has assembled 37 players who will be tasked with pulling off a shock triumph.

It all sounds like a re-run of the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa when the home side were also world champions and full of their own importance.
The Lions won that series by displaying many of traits this latest party will have to reproduce this summer.

The 37 Lions heading to South Africa this summer