British and Irish Lions

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."

Less than 24 hours after losing their unbeaten record in Canberra, the British & Irish Lions were given a huge boost on arrival in Brisbane when Wales wing George North was declared fit to play in the first Test on Saturday.

Qantas Wallaby wonder scrum half Will Genia is ready to torment the British & Irish Lions and end any hopes of a first Test series win in 16 years this month.

Geoff Parling has revealed that the Brumbies taught the British & Irish Lions a lesson in what it means to teams and players in Australia to beat the tourists.