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Published 17:10 26 Apr 2021 BST
Updated 17:18 26 Apr 2021 BST
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Rather than picking and choosing from Warburton's comments - at that launch and on his recent House of Rugby appearance - we felt the best way to do the Welshman justice was to present his unfiltered version of events.
Selecting Itoje as an out-and-out second row, here are Warburton's comments on his 10 leading contenders for those Lions back row places.
TOBY FALETAU: Toby is a shoe-in. One of the classiest players I've played with. I said in the autumn Toby would be Lions No. 8 and I got a bit of heat on Twitter. I knew he'd turn up and lo and behold, he turned up for the Six Nations. Anyone that writes him off is a fool. You ask any coach, they'll tell you they don't really tell Toby what to do. There's a lot of structure in rugby and they say Toby is one of those players who is just so naturally gifted, you just let him fit in.
JOSH VAN DER FLIER: Josh has been phenomenal lately. I'm not much of a stats guy, but he made the most metres out of every flanker in the Six Nations. He made the most tackles, just behind Justin Tipuric. He's just so good. Technically, he's a brilliant 7. He does exactly what a 7 is supposed to do.
TADHG BEIRNE: Tadhg, for me, is nailed-on to go on tour. He has a good chance to be a Test starter and I think 6 could suit him as well.HAMISH WATSON: Hamish Watson is never too small... I said this on Twitter recently, power trumps size every day of the week. I’ve played against plenty of big guys who were slugs, but it is that repeated power that you need and personally I think Warren Gatland would have been purring watching Hamish Watson over the Six Nations, I thought he was outstanding.
TOM CURRY: He was the shining light for England... he is a stand-out shoe-in for me. I don't see a game where he doesn't have an impact. He always has an impact at the breakdown, he carries well and he gets up in the air well.
SAM UNDERHILL: When he's fit, he punishes people. It's explosiveness what counts when you're playing at flanker... he'd be one guy, in defence, bursting off the line and just destroying people.
COURTNEY LAWES: England missed Underhill and Lawes massively. You can't overlook them just because they missed the Six Nations. Those guys have way too much of an impact and they're two of the most physical guys you can have.
[caption id="attachment_227369" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
<> at Westpac Stadium on June 27, 2017 in Wellington, New Zealand.[/caption]
That's why Courtney Lawes went on the last Lions tour over other second-rows because they knew his physicality and aggressiveness would pay dividends down in New Zealand. He was there in the Test squad. Gatland likes his style and the fact he covers six.
SAM SIMMONDS: I think Sam Simmonds will go. [On BT Sport Warburton also said] It looks like he is going to take some handling as the weather dries up and pitches dry up. He is going to run with some abandon.
Sam Warburton was speaking as Canterbury launched the British & Irish Lions Test Jersey. Get yours from www.canterbury.com
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