Elephant in the room becoming harder to ignore

Cian Healy did his best to feign, not indifference, but peace of mind at the thoughts of tomorrow’s announcement of a British and Irish Lions touring squad but such equanimity will surely be in short supply come the appointed hour.

The Ireland prop and the rest of his Leinster teammates will be availing of a well-earned day off when the chosen 37 or so are revealed on live TV and he is expected to be one of at least six or seven of his club colleagues who makes the cut.

Healy aside, Rob Kearney, Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Jonathan Sexton are all virtual certainties to travel while Mike Ross has a solid case to be taken as one of six props.