By Gregor PaulIt's not hard to understand why British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland tried to persuade Billy Vunipola to still come to New Zealand even if his shoulder was shot. Gatland has always been hoping to offer more than bump and grind and Vunipola was his trump card. He's never been fit enough to give 80 minutes but the Lions were banking on him bringing 65 minutes of ball-carrying carnage. No Vunipola means the Lions suddenly look less dangerous and their gameplan without him feels short of what it will need. Faletau is a harder worker, more mobile and more aerobic than Vunipola but the qualities the English No 8 lacks are not the qualities the Lions need.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 23, 2017 06:35 UTC