Heaslip forgets Lions talk for Zebre hunt

You have to hand it to the men and women responsible for marketing the British and Irish Lions.

There may be seven months still to navigate until the squad departs for Hong Kong and Australia, but thoughts of the red jersey have permeated the entire season and so it was again this week with the launch of the latest bit of kit in Cardiff.

Warren Gatland played his part, as far as Irish interest was concerned, talking up Craig Gilroy’s chances of making the party, while his assertion that Jamie Heaslip was now a live contender for the armband was useful fodder for the banter sessions round Leinster’s way.