I was so looking forward to the battle between Taulupe Faletau and Billy Vunipola for the Lions’ No.8 jersey in the Tests against the All Blacks.

But it’s not going to happen after England ball-carrier Vunipola pulled out of Warren Gatland’s best of British and Irish squad following his club Saracens’ agonising Aviva Premiership title play-off semi-final at Exeter Chiefs.

It’s clear Billy, who used to live in Pontypool and played for the town’s Under-11 school team with his brother Mako and their cousin Faletau, was suffering pain from his damaged right shoulder.

It was heavily padded and clearly troubling him. He said it had been an on-going issue but he could have easily not said anything and gone on tour to New Zealand with the Lions in the hope the problem would ease.

Billy Vunipola receives treatment during the Aviva Premiership semi-final between his club Saracens and Exeter Chiefs

Billy has to be respected for the brave decision he took to withdraw from coach Warren Gatland’s squad. This may turn out to be the only time in his playing career he has the chance to be a Lion and it’s big of him to say his shoulder isn’t up to it.

Needless to say, it’s a major blow from a physical and mental point of view for the Lions. They will miss his strength and power at getting his team on the front-foot while, psychologically, it’s a negative for Gatland’s plans and a positive for New Zealand, who hold Billy in high regard.

Having Faletau and Billy in the squad could have seen them driving each other on to new heights. They may be related but there would have been a real rivalry for the No.8 jersey in the three Tests against the back-to-back world champions.

I’m sure one of those two would have been packing down at the base of the scrum with Ireland’s CJ Stander concentrating on blindside flanker.

CJ Stander
CJ Stander

I believed Billy would have been Gatland’s starter because he fits the coach’s likely tactics. I felt he would have brought the early grunt to the Tests the Lions will need with Faletau coming on when the game breaks up in the second half.

But, with Billy gone, Gatland and his coaching cohorts will have to come up with an alternative plan. They have called up the versatile and experienced James Haskell as Billy’s replacement.

Haskell has worn No.8 during his playing career but was known more as a blindside flanker until being moved to openside by England after Eddie Jones became their coach in the fall-out following the hosts’ 2015 World Cup exit.

Haskell has been a revelation wearing No.7 and was tremendous when the English made history by walloping Australia 3-0 Down Under last June.

Video Loading

So he will bring something to the Lions, being something of a personality and character. At the very least, I’m sure he will be one of those people the Lions will need to whip up the so-called second-string when it faces the Super Rugby franchises in what will be tough fixtures.

I don’t expect Haskell to figure at No.8 when it comes to the Tests with it now being between Faletau, Stander and young Ross Moriarty, who was sensational for Wales during the Six Nations.

Stander is another strong ball-carrier – the Lions have plenty of them – and Gatland will have to decide whether he needs him to supply the early beef I was expecting to come from Billy.

Of course, there are other factors to be considered. Does Gatland see his captain Sam Warburton as an openside or blindside flanker now Billy is no longer in the squad?

Warburton had a superb Six Nations as a No.6, and he can carry the ball, as well as having a key role to play in slowing down possession at the breakdown, which will be vital if the Lions are to keep the All Blacks in check.

Billy withdrawing has given Gatland a headache but it’s not a severe migraine. It’s just how he goes about it managing it.

Graham Price's column is in association with Nigel Jones, experts in dental implants