Bath coach John Connolly backed the claims of uncapped hooker Lee Mears as a possible wildcard selection for this summer's Lions Tour to New Zealand.
Lions boss Sir Clive Woodward will announce his 44-man squad today, and the hooking position is a potential problem area.
Mears, 26, again underlined his superb club form by outplaying England hooker Steve Thompson as Bath easily overcame Zurich Premiership opponents Northampton at the Recreation Ground
30-12.
Lions selections are renowned for containing surprise call-ups, and Connolly believes that Mears fits the bill.
"He scrummaged better than Thompson, he is certainly a better lineout thrower, and he is better than the Irish hooker (Shane Byrne) by a country mile," said Connolly.
"Lee would go well in the southern hemisphere. His throwing is very good, his scrummaging is very good and his set-piece game will stand up."
Connolly also predicted that lock Danny Grewcock and prop Matt Stevens are "probable certainties" to tour, and he also believes that centre Olly Barkley, prop Duncan Bell and lock Steve Borthwick have strong claims.
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