The results are in, and SARugbymag.co.za readers have decided that Ireland loose forward CJ Stander is the most valuable player left out of Warren Gatland’s British & Irish Lions squad.
Coach Gatland announced a 37-man squad that included gigantic SA-born winger Duhan van der Merwe along with a few bolters, though the real surprises were the omitted players which included the likes of Stander, Johnny Sexton, Jonathan Davies, Jonny May and Kyle Sinckler.
After a poll on this website, the majority of readers decided that Stander would’ve added the most value of those on the omissions list.
Just over 27% of votes went to Stander, which is surprising considering he had announced his retirement at the end of the current European season.
The next biggest omission according to our readers was that of Sexton, with 19,46% of votes. The Ireland flyhalf is still recovering from a head injury, though, and it is unclear whether he will have fully recovered by the time the Lions jet off to South Africa.
Meanwhile, it is clear that fans rate Davies high, with the Welshman getting 9.55% of the votes in the poll for Gatland’s biggest misses.
England trio May (9%), Manu Tuilagi and Sam Underhill (both 7.75%) complete the top five of most valuable Lions absentees.
Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Getty Images
