BRITISH & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland believes the 2011 World Cup has demon-strated that selecting a large number of England players for this summer's tour to Australia will result in unwanted media attention.

England's position at the top of the RBS 6 Nations table indicates they will be well represented Down Under.

And while Gatland stresses "the best players will be selected", he fears that the English come with their own baggage.

"At the moment England are playing well," Gatland said.

"They did well in the autumn, particularly the outstanding victory against the All Blacks and, if they do well in the Six Nations, there will be a reasonable contingent of English players.

"But that brings a certain element of – how do I say it – other pressures that come with selecting a lot of English players."