Wynne Gray: There's power in the union, so far

Steve Borthwick (England), Andy Farrell (Ireland) and Rob Howley (Wales) will assist Gatland for the 10-game Lions Tour next June and July. Photo / Photosport

The rumble has started, the drumming optimism from north of the Equator that the Lions will do the business in New Zealand for the first time in 45 years.

Coach Warren Gatland unveiled his sidekicks this week as confidence went to another level after the string of performances from England and Ireland's historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago.

Those results were a hefty counterpoint to the failure of any sides in Europe to crack the semifinals at the last World Cup.

A year on and it's all change with the assembly lines swarming with talent.

Chuck in improvement from Scotland beside the work of Wales and the player bullion is mounting.

You can smell the confidence and certainly read about it as each block in the Lions' building programme is cemented in to place.

If you know your rugby history and embrace the Lions concept, the chance to redress the multi-level mistakes of the 2005 side with a quality coaching and playing group will be an optimistic topic.

From this summer vantage point after another year of strong All Black success, the prospect of a rousing Lions challenge on the field and engaging in social warfare with their boisterous supporters is a warm prospect.

There'll be some tasty needle too from the writers and commentators who cover rugby in Europe.

The scent of change about 2017 in New Zealand is hitting their nostrils hard as they ask whether some trepidation is fanning anxiety in New Zealand before the new season has started.

When Gatland confirmed Andy Farrell and Rob Howley would suit up again for the Lions after their 2013 work in Australia and would be joined by forwards tutor Steve Borthwick, there was unified support.

They will bring some formidable and current expertise and will be joined by a few other specialists.

Not Eddie Jones though, nor Joe Schmidt nor Vern Cotter, who have led their sides through the furnace to success in Europe and also have a deep understanding of rugby in this part of the world.

Gatland does as well but he could do with a touch more homegrown knowledge in his coaching crew.

There will be a heavy depth of class across most positions in the Lions but they will need that to deal with a six-game itinerary before they set their sights on three tests in the last four matches.

Team harmony will get a serious workout among the players once the squad is announced next April and gets in to its work here in June.

There is every chance the current media spearhead of optimism will splinter into single-nation grievances when the squad is announced or more likely when test selections approach.

New Zealand and the All Blacks better hope that pattern unfolds because a unified Lions side, with all that talent, one that finds a style and makes it work, will provide a massive challenge for the No1 side in the world.