Jonathan Davies is more than capable of filling the void at inside centre according to head coach Warren Gatland after he was named as one of eight Welsh players in the British & Irish Lions side for the first Test against Australia on Saturday.
With Jamie Roberts and Manu Tuilagi both nursing injuries, Davies has been given the nod for the No.12 jersey, along with seven other Welshmen who successfully defended their RBS 6 Nations title earlier this year.
Sam Warburton captains the side while Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert and George North comprise the back three while Mike Phillips is one of seven players selected to feature against South Africa in 2009.
Up front, Adam Jones is selected at tighthead while Alun Wyn Jones teams up with Paul O’Connell in the second row. The selection of eight Welshmen is one behind the record of nine selected for Tests 1971 and 1977.
Davies is an outside centre by trade and Roberts made formidable contributions in the warm-up matches before suffering his injury, but Gatland is convinced the Scarlets man is up to the task.
“I don’t think Jonathan Davies at 105kg is a small midfielder,” he said. “Just because he is not as tall as the other two, I don’t see him lacking a physical element at all.
“We’ve also got George North coming in and our nine [Phillips] and ten [Sexton] are both big half-backs too. What it does give us is a few more subtleties in midfield and we have got some pace and firepower in the team as well.”
Completing the front row are English duo Tom Youngs and Alex Corbisiero while Tom Croft and Jamie Heaslip are alongside Warburton in the back row and Jonny Sexton will marshal the troops from fly-half.
North’s availability, announced on Thursday, is a major boost for the Lions and attack coach Rob Howley, who in Gatland’s absence guided Wales to the RBS 6 Nations title this year, believes his best is yet to come.
“It is great to have someone of his physicality, power and speed,” said Howley.
“We have only seen glimpses of George so far. He is probably one of the best athletes I’ve been involved with.
“I remember his debut and he had 21 or 22 touches. His work-rate is phenomenal. You want your best players on the ball as often as possible, and he works tirelessly at his game.
“It is good for the Lions to have someone like George.”
