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Ben James

Sam Warburton names the 10 Wales players who should definitely start and the ones to become Lions

Sam Warburton has named the young players he feels must play against Fiji in Wales' crucial World Cup opener.

Warren Gatland's side head into the tournament in France with few offering them much chance of making a splash after a tumultuous few years that has seen coaching changes, strike threats and embarrassing lows.

However, with Wales having lost over 400 caps of experience through retirements and injuries since the World Cup squad was announced, there's a chance for the younger guard to turn the fortunes around in a fresh start.

And former Wales captain Warburton, who skippered a fresh-faced side to the brink of a World Cup final in 2011, believes there's a group of younger players who Gatland should look to for the clash with Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.

"I would love to see a fully-fit Dewi Lake, Daf Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Jac Morgan," said Canterbury ambassador Warburton. "I really think you need Taulupe Faletau fit.

"You need some experience in that pack and Toby needs to be one of those guys. Tomos Williams at nine for me.

"You need Louis Rees-Zammit. Mason Grady too. I think you need the size and power of him and George North together in that backline.

"Someone like Josh Adams too. There's a lot of physicality and power there. If some of those guys can recapture fitness and form, we'll have a really good stab at it and there's a good team there.

"You've got to match Fiji physically as they're still incredible athletes. But they'll be gunning for that as it's basically their final. It's enormous for them. They'll be discussing that as their one big game.

"They win that and they're effectively through. They'll have one foot in the quarter-finals. It's an enormous game and I'd love to see those players involved. I'd hate to see any of them get injured.

"These are the young crop of player who will carry us through the next two or three World Cup cycles. I'd love to see them all fit."

Poll: How far will Wales go at the World Cup? Have your say here or below

That same young generation, Warburton believes, could play a big part in upcoming Lions tours.

Gatland made headlines earlier this year following a newspaper column in which he said he wouldn't pick any of his Wales players in a Lions team after the Six Nations.

However, Warburton, who captained the tourists in Australia and New Zealand, believes that there's a group of young players who could make a difference when the Lions face the Wallabies in 2025.

"If I was speaking to them and trying to nurture and mentor the ones who have potential, I think it's quite exciting looking at the next generation of young talent in Wales," he added. "We've gone through a bit of a lull over the last few years, but some guys have been blooded and given Test minutes.

"I'm thinking guys like Dewi Lake, Daf Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Jac Morgan, Mason Grady. I know Joe Hawkins won't be wearing the Welsh shirt any time soon, but I think all those guys have the ability to go on Lions tours.

"Tomos Williams is another. It's nice we're looking at guys of real Lion quality that will be coming through the system and will be playing for Wales for at least the next two World Cup cycles.

"Louis Rees-Zammit is another. We've been waiting for a bit but it's great that we're seeing that quality coming through. We could be looking at 10 lads in that tour in two years time. It's good to see Wales will be in a good place. Hopefully the World Cup is a springboard for that as well."

Sam Warbuton is a Canterbury ambassador. Sam was speaking as Canterbury and The British & Irish Lions extend their partnership for the 2025 tour of Australia, launching the Origins Schools programme, marking the first official collaboration between The British & Irish Lions, Canterbury, and schools’ rugby. You can visit the Canterbury website here.

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