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.

That said, none will rest easy tonight.

“We’re trying not to think about it and you lot are always asking about it so it is something you have to switch off from,” he said after Saturday’s obliteration of Biarritz Olympique at the RDS.

“You can’t be thinking ahead to stuff like that. You have to keep focused and do the job at hand. If you are playing well doing that job then that is how you get picked, so that’s what you do.

“Of course it is something you want to do. You want to play for your country and you want to play for the Lions. Those are pinnacles of your career so it would be a huge honour, but we will see how that goes.”

Timing is everything for a Lions tour and, though Wales will still provide the bulk of the squad and Test XV, few of their number had the opportunity to ply their wares in front of the tour management last weekend.

Rob Howley, Graham Rowntree and Neil Jenkins were all in the RDS’ decrepit old main stand as Leinster swept through the gears against the Basques, their collection of tour probables to the fore from first to last.

“It was a big game and they are big-game people and players,” said Schmidt.

“Even Rob Kearney busting the line for our second try. He is looking like he has sharpness back.

“He spent a long time out in the early part of the season and he is looking like he is coming right so there are a few other guys who hopefully are putting their hands up and causing a few headaches.

“I have a few of my own so it would be nice to see a few other coaches have them too.”

Warren Gatland could do with packing a case full of painkillers going by that logic. Few people are placated by Lions squads or teams, most are peeved and some downright outraged and this summer will be no different.

Among the most interesting choices facing the Kiwi in Australia will be who to play at number eight for the jousts with the Wallabies and it must be suspected that Toby Faletau has been in the box seat for the majority of the season. Jamie Heaslip’s form has been criticised endlessly in comparison and yet Declan Kidney made him Ireland captain while his coaches at Leinster have praised his input time and again when pressed in recent months.

On Saturday, with the rampaging Sean O’Brien rested because of a calf strain, Heaslip gave a display reminiscent of his early days.

“He was immense, to be honest,” said Schmidt. “He was really deserving of the player of the game. All week there’s been an edge to him, when we didn’t have Sean, the plays are set-up for him to carry a bit more.

“A lot of people talk about him not carrying enough ball, but I think he does a massive amount of unseen work. He’s great on the poach, on the ball and he and Richardt Strauss put a lot of pressure on Biarritz ball.”

He can do no more. For now. None of them can.