British an Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland announced his 37-man squad to travel to South Africa on Thursday; a job that will always see some people upset that their favourite players were not selected.
After much preamble, the captain of the tour was finally announced; none other than Wales' Alun Wyn Jones.
While there were many fans in favour of the Welshman taking the lead against South Africa, there were some that see his captaincy as a poor decision, with Maro itjoe largely being touted as the captain by English media in the lead-up.
Weak captain. Not even in the top 4 locks in Britain and Ireland.#Lions
— Boxing Bet Guru (@Richboxingbets) May 6, 2021
YEEES!!! AWJ! #BritishAndIrishLions #Lions2021 #Lions
— Daniel Jenkins (@DanWJenkins) May 6, 2021
Welcome back, Skipper 💪
1997, 2001 - Martin Johnson
2005 - Brian O'Driscoll
2009 - Paul O'Connell
2013, 2017 - Sam Warburton
2021 - Alun Wyn Jones (C)#LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/7cdzEZzP7g— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 6, 2021
Congratulations @AlunWynJones 👏#GuinnessPRO14 | #LionsRugby https://t.co/KSxS0T8hpf
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 6, 2021
Llongyfarchiadau, Alun Wyn Jones 🦁
British & Irish Lions captain, 2021 🇿🇦#LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/fUr1ThWgxW— Ospreys (@ospreys) May 6, 2021
From Bonymaen to the British & Irish Lions...
Alun Wyn Jones is our 2021 #LionsRugby captain. pic.twitter.com/MoSO4hf7iy— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) May 6, 2021
However it was the manner in which Wyn Jones was announced that caught the attention of many fans, as he was beamed in like an outtake from a 1980s episode of Star Trek.
That graphic they used to announce AWJ as Captain is one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I think I’ve ever seen. #LionsRugby Beam me up Scotty 😂
— A-P (@rugby_ap) May 6, 2021
Big fan of the #Lions announcing AWJ as captain by beaming a hologram of him in like it's Star Trek
— Michael Richards (@90mrichards) May 6, 2021
Not sure if I'm watching Star trek or a British and Irish Lions squad announcement #LionsRugby
— Paul Conolly (@paul_conolly) May 6, 2021
The Lions announcement continued to drag on, with many spectators beginning to speculate who would be in the squad that was extended to 37 men from 36 late on Wednesday.
One name that popped up was an Irish legend that some fans were hoping to make a startling return from retirement.
Bet Gatland leaves O'Driscoll out again.#Lions #Lions2021
— Padraic Ryan (@ryan_padraic) May 6, 2021
After much preamble, the Lions squad was officially named, with not a small amount of controversy, most notably the omission of Ireland captain Johnny Sexton.
The Originals, 1888
The Invincibles, 1974
The heroes of 1997
The Unbeaten Tours of 2013, 2017
Over to you Class of 2021 - Time to write a new chapter in our history 🦁
Meet our #LionsRugby 2021 squad...🤩 pic.twitter.com/T5ujqOB0Lr— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 6, 2021
The omission of Sexton took many fans by surprise, with the 35-year-old being one of the standout players, even through injuries, in the two previous Lions tours.
No Jonny Sexton 🙈 #lionsrugby
— CA Stewart (@Curtystewart) May 6, 2021
I think they forgot to read out Sextons name? #LionsRugby
— Matty D (@Dreno95) May 6, 2021
The wrong Jonny 😭 #Lions
— Mhairi McFarlane (@MhairiMcF09) May 6, 2021
After the initial shock of Johnny Sexton being left off the plane, a lot of Irish fans were quick to notice a left-field pick in the centres, with Bundee Aki being selected ahead of the likes of a Garry Ringrose.
Bundee Aki!!!!!!!! #LionsRugby
— Owen Webb O Rourke (@OwenWebbORourke) May 6, 2021
However, with Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter all making the cut, there were some big Irish names that some fans believe have been snubbed by Gatland in his Lions squad.
Official: CJ Stander and Billy Vunipola snubbed. Sam Simmonds in.#LionsRugby #LionsTour
— Dylan Jack (@dylmjack) May 6, 2021
No James Ryan. A joke.#LionsRugby
— Jack Ryan (@Jack1Ryan_) May 6, 2021
The Lions will travel to South Africa to take on the current world champions in June, and will be hoping to get their first series win in South Africa since 1997.
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