Josh Lewsey can make it on to the Lions tour but he and Wasps both need to be playing at the top of their game. I still remember his tackle on Matt Rogers in the summer of 2003 and his performance against France in the 2007 semi final. His epic display at centre to help Wasps win the Heineken Cup in 2007 at Twickenham was another effort at the very top of his game on the big stage. There's no doubt when he plays well with the right players performing round him that he is world class but he has struggled this season with a lack of consistency mirrored by Wasps.
In my mind he's not quite behind the black ball in teams of selection for the Lions but close and it will take something pretty special between now and April for him to go on tour. Realistically, he knows that Wasps need to win the Heineken Cup or Premiership for him to showcase his claims for a place, and from this position, that would be an incredible effort.
However, Wasps showed signs versus Edinburgh on Friday night that they are heading in the right direction. They can now come back to High Wycombe and, with the confidence of last week's victory coursing through their veins, will back themselves to win again. Qualification for the knock out stages is likely then to hinge on their Twickenham clash with Leinster in the New Year and it would be tricky to back against them at a venue where they have had such success as a team.
The England players have come back and given the side a lift, mentally as well as physically, and by tapping into their famed 'champions' mindset, they may just surprise their detractors once again.
