Warburton to lead Lions on 'toughest tour'

"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 don't think we should get on the plane unless we think we've got a chance of beating the All Blacks", he said.

"But captaining the Lions for a second time and the fact it is in New Zealand, it definitely ranks as the pinnacle of my career so far", added Warburton, who expects to have recovered from a knee injury by the time the squad departs at the end of May.

"He will be undoubtedly very, very disappointed by it but the thing about Dylan, one thing that's really struck me, is just how resilient he is", Borthwick told reporters after the 41-man squad was announced on Wednesday.

"I was in the gym, my phone was unlocked and they were all pretending it was "Gats" calling".

There remains plenty of speculation of not only who will get the nod alongside him, but, perhaps more so, who will miss out with a clutch of England's back-to-back Six Nations champions facing a nervous wait. I obviously said yes straight away - it was a no-brainer - but I didn't see the captaincy coming.

Jones could well have a similar role to play, with captain Warburton another heading into the tour now on the sidelines with a knee injury that should clear up in time to return before the end of the domestic season, but Gatland admitted that the thought of appointing either a vice-captain or a leadership group has not crossed his mind.

"It's an extremely hostile position to play in and I guess it's a bit of a luxury that, if someone else has to be called up [in case of injury], you know you're going to be able to call up another quality player".

"I don't think there's an aspect of the game, whether it's scrum, line-out, kicking game, contact area, tactically - you have to be on the money pretty much every game".

And Bulloch feels that contributed to several Scotland players just missing out.

"Impact off the bench in New Zealand is important, especially given what the weather can be like there in winter". "Probably the hardest one we've had". Four years on and now a test captain, the hooker was judged on his playing abilities alone but was overlooked in favor of three rivals - Ireland's Rory Best, Wales' Ken Owens and Jamie George, Hartley's understudy for England.

The squad is only three fewer than Clive Woodward took on the ill-fated 2005 New Zealand campaign.

With barely a chance to get to know their room mates, the squad will then take on the Blues, followed by the Crusaders, the Highlanders and the Chiefs - all teams packed with quality who are now tearing up the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby competition. "He knows what is needed to win", Fitzpatrick said.

"I was trying not to get excited about it". They're the world's best as well at taking setbacks, staying calm and getting back continuity of play again. "He is exactly the type of player we need to take to beat the All Blacks".