British & Irish Lion Michael Owen believes any of the 10 Welsh players going to New Zealand can make the Test side to face the All-Blacks.
Only Martyn Williams of the Welsh contingent has tasted the unique experience of a Lions tour before when travelling to Australia in 2001 but after a Six Nations campaign that saw Wales clinch the Grand Slam, number eight Owen reckons what has gone before will have no bearing on team selection.
"Everyone on the tour has a chance of being in the Test team," he told the WRU newsline.
"It’s just about who’s on form at the time in a pressure-cooker atmosphere.
"Previous form will go out of the window and all the Welsh boys have a chance of making it. We just have to play as well as we can, and then we can have no regrets."
Owen himself is excited at the prospect of testing himself at the highest level of competition:
"I can’t wait to tour New Zealand. It’s a rugby-mad country with the best players in the world," he added.
"It’ll be an incredible challenge. It’s the ultimate testing ground, and hopefully myself and all the Welsh players can rise to the occasion."
