Warburton opted to give up the Wales captaincy ahead of this year's Six Nations to concentrate on improving his form but he said there was no hesitation in accepting the role for the Lions.
Hansen also dismissed criticism of the Lions gruelling schedule, which includes fixtures against all five New Zealand Super Rugby teams, the Maori All Blacks, as well as three Tests.
"There was a genuine discussion about what Dylan could bring to the party", Lions coach Warren Gatland said Wednesday after the squad was announced in central London.
Wales back row Sam Warburton has, as expected, been named captain and will hope for a repeat of when he was previously skipper on the Lions' victorious tour to Australia in 2013.
Launchbury was another to slip out of contention in the ferociously competitive second row position despite emerging as England's stand-out performer during the Six Nations, winning two man of the match awards.
Fellow England centre and rugby league convert Ben Te'o was also in, as was Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler, who has yet to start a test for England, and winger Jack Nowell, who has struggled to nail down a starting place under Eddie Jones. I thought it was one of the boys messing with me.
"The great thing about Jared Payne is that I coached Jared when I was at Waikato and I didn't renew his contract and let him go". Wyn Jones, who has since replaced the 28-year-old as Wales captain, stood in for the third test and joins a squad high on power and physical prowess.
Open Season On Wenger And His 'cowards'
And on this occasion, Allardyce says, Wenger's tactical setup was his team's very undoing. We came back into the game and had some risky situations that we couldn't score from.
In 1993, Fitzpatrick led the All Blacks to a 2-1 series victory over the tourists in what was the last Lions tour of the amateur era.
"Dan has played particularly well in the [Six Nations] Championship and I think he was outstanding against England", Howley said.
Gatland, who was born in New Zealand himself and played for provincial side Waikato, says too many sides arrive under-prepared for the challenges posed off the field in his native country, as well as on it.
"We just needed to make sure we have the depth and quality in the squad to make sure we can handle the quality of the sides we're coming up against", was Gatland's message at the unveiling of the squad.
Gray's commission, as well as Finn Russell's, means full-back Stuart Hogg and wing Tommy Seymour are the only Scottish representative in the squad.
Borthwick added: "Throughout the whole squad there are going to be top quality players who missed out on selection because the talent is that great now".
11 Irish players have been included among them are Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton, Rory Best, Jack McGrath, Tadgh Furlong, CJ Stander, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony and Sean O'Brien are all included. This explains the extra four taken this time around, to ensure there is always a competitive number for training despite the toil.
Comments