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Thumbs up for Alun-Wyn Jones and Paul O'Connell. ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
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Open thread: Who do you want as your Lions second row?

The lock situation was looking bleak for Warren Gatland until two stalwarts returned to stake a claim.

WE ARE JUST OVER a week away from Warren Gatland’s Lions squad announcement [30 April] we are looking for a healthy, lively debate on vital selection calls.

The common consensus in the first of our Lions tour open threads had Cian Healy, Adam Jones and Richie Hibbard as certain front rows with shouts for Dan Cole, Rory Best, Gethin Jenkins and Alex Corbisero.

Today, we are asking who Gatland and his coaching staff should select in the second row.

In the opening months of the year, it seemed like slim pickings for the Kiwi as the Welsh second row was decimated by injuries, England started the championship with relative newcomers, Richie Gray was struggling with a poor Sale Sharks team and Paul O’Connell was up on blocks.

The situation has become increasingly rosy in recent weeks and selecting locks will be one of Gatland’s hardest decisions.

Alun Wyn Jones returned as pack leader for Wales as they captured the Six Nations, Jim Hamilton gave Ireland nightmares at Murrayfield and English pundits whinnied over the performances of Geoff Parling and Joe Launchbury.

As if from on high, O’Connell returned with a try, against Connacht, and a performance full of machismo and heart, against Harlequins, to play himself back into the selection, and captaincy, equation.

O’Connell celebrates Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final win. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Ireland’s outside bet comes in the form of Donnacha Ryan. The Tipperary native was outstanding in the draw at home with France and made 17 tackles [not missing a single one] in the victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

A strong showing against the Clermont duo of Jamie Cudmore and Nathan Hines, a potential Lion despite his Scottish retirement, in the Heineken Cup semi-finals could push him over the line.

What do you think? Who should Warren Gatland select as his second row?

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