Former Lions Test hooker Richard Hibbard has urged Andy Farrrell to pick Dewi Lake to take on the Wallabies this summer.
Lions head coach Farrell is due to name his British and Irish Lions tour party in a lavish ceremony at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday afternoon.
It has been suggested there could be a post-war record low representation of Welsh players in the group following two Six Nations campaigns without a victory.
But former Wales forward Hibbard – now a successful businessman as well as chief executive of Wales Rugby League – believes there should be at least four Welsh players in the squad, including the current Wales hooker, Lake.
The Ospreys forward has had an injury-hit couple of seasons, but managed to return to face Scotland and England in the Six Nations and Hibbard reckons the 25-year-old is worth a place.
“I think Dewi Lake is a fantastic player, and I would love him to get a shot with the Lions,” says Hibbard, who was a key figure in the successful 2013 Lions Test team that won a series in Australia.
“What he brings as well as his talent, is leadership. He’s my kind of leader, too, in that he leads from the front.
“As a hooker, he’s very abrasive and brings so much energy and ball-carrying drive.
“But the reality is that he’s probably an outside chance for the squad because of all the injuries he has had.
“Every time he gets on the cusp of showing the form that would prove he is Lions class, he seems to pick up an injury.
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“But if he stays fit, then you have a ready-made Lions-quality player.”
Hibbard powered his way past his rivals to claim the Test spot 12 years ago and was involved in a bone-shaking hit on the Wallabies’ George Smith that seemed thunderous enough to wobble nearby Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Afterwards, he necked champagne in the Lions dressing room alongside James Bond actor, Daniel Craig in pictures beamed around the world.
But that was a different era when Wales were winning Grand Slams and there were 10 Welsh players good enough to make that Lions starting XV.
Yet despite the poor results gained under Warren Gatland and then Matt Sherratt over the past 12 months, Hibbard still feels there should be enough Welshmen to count on the fingers of one hand without many leftover digits.
“I would say there is a possibility that maybe four or five Welsh players could be included, but it all depends on how Andy Farrell sees things,” adds the former Ospreys and Gloucester star.
“Unfortunately, because of recent results if there are any 50-50 situations between Welsh players and others, they are probably going to go against us.
“They are just more likely to go with players from a winning team, rather than those struggling for confidence.”
Back in 2013, Hibbard was by no means a certainty to tour, even though he formed one-third of a renowned Wales front row, alongside Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones.
“Waiting to find out is pretty nerve-wracking. Every player in the national squad for the Six Nations get a preliminary letter asking if you’re available – but that’s all you get.
“After that’s it’s just waiting until the day. You have no idea.
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“I wasn’t expecting to be named. I was watching it live in my bedroom, with my wife, and then suddenly my name came up. It was just insane.
“After that, your phone just blows up. I had to charge my phone twice that day.
“It felt incredible. But as much as it comes down to hard work, you do need a little bit of luck – to go from the end of the Six Nations, to go back and play for your club, and not pick up an injury.
“Dewi hasn’t had much luck this season, but thankfully he is fit at the moment, he is definitely among the top hookers in the British Isles, and hopefully he will get that selection.”
While Hibbard believes Lake is touch and go for selection, he is more confident over Wales captain Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams.
“I think Jac Morgan will definitely go. He has been phenomenal for a couple of years and Wales are a different team when he is involved.
“He deserves a Lions tour because he’s an impressive individual – a typical Welsh Lion in many ways – hard-working and unassuming, but high quality.
“The same applies to Tomos Williams. Even if he’s been in a Wales team that’s struggled, his performances for Gloucester all season have been sensational. He looks like a Harlem Globetrotter!
“Then, there’s Nicky Smith who deserves consideration because he can scrummage. You don’t play prop for Leicester every week unless you can really scrummage and Nicky’s been doing that.”
The numbers game will all be revealed on Thursday at 2.00pm.
