The Harlequins player started just two Tests for Wales this season, and he was on the bench during the entire Six Nations campaign, providing cover for a preferred midfield partnership of Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams.
The Wales back-row was named skipper when Lions coach Warren Gatland announced a 41-man squad Wednesday for the three-Test series in June and July.
Among the other 30 Lions tourists selected, none of the 12 Wales players, two Scotland players and few of the 16 England players have experienced a test victory over New Zealand.
This season saw Warburton's Wales place called into question amid fierce competition from fellow loose forwards Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau and Ross Moriarty, all of whom have been selected for the Lions by Gatland, the Kiwi on secondment from his role as Wales boss. But it is more likely that the Twickenham result provided Gatland with the excuse he was looking for when Scotland challenged his pre-conceived ideas. "It's not about picking teams who beat us in Chicago".
Scotland haven't been to New Zealand since 2000.
Gatland forgets that, given the opportunity of playing for a stronger team, talented individuals have a greater chance to shine.
New Zealand-born Lions coach Warren Gatland, has spoken to the BBC regarding the particular difficulties Lions tours.
"They will come with a lot of expectation and I think it will be very interesting how they cope with that - a lot more expectation than they have been used to because people will expect them to win".
Fitch joins S&P in downgrading South African credit rating to 'junk'
But South Africans' concerns for their futures, their investments and their pensions were not shared by the inner circle. Zwelinzima Vavi, South African Federation of Trade Union leader also addressed the crowd and called for Zuma's ouster.
"I feel humbled and extremely proud to be given the opportunity to captain the Lions for a second tour, and look forward to playing the world champions on their own turf with the best players of the United Kingdom and Ireland at my side", he said.
The Lions toured Australia four years ago, winning the three-Test series 2-1, while their most recent trip to New Zealand was in 2005 when they were whitewashed 3-0 by the All Blacks.
Stuart Hogg says his previous experiences with the Lions tour has made him a better player, and says he will do everything he can to win a starting jersey this time round.
"You try to tell yourself that you've done it before and it won't be a big deal of you don't make it this time but ultimately, waiting for the announcement was very tense and nervous and no matter how much you try to kid yourself, it would probably have felt like the end of the world for a few hours if I hadn't have".
"When they asked me about the Lions this time round it was an easy decision to say yes because I feel in a good place with my form and the way my body feels".
"I wouldn't have been in the right frame of mind but because I do feel I am playing well and I feel very confident about my game at the minute, that is why I said yes". One of the things about our 10s is that all of them are strong defenders and that's going to be paramount in that channel, having players who can get off the line. When I was driving home I was thinking "surely the boys have gone on my contacts and changed their name to Gats".
"There was always going to be a tough call and someone was always going to be disappointed".
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