NEW ZEALAND assistant coach Steve Hansen, the former Wales chief, today names the Welsh players he expects to be on board with the British Lions this summer.

He believes at least a dozen Welsh players will be on the tour, and his one certain Newport Gwent Dragons player is something of a surprise - scrum half Gareth Cooper.

Hansen told the Argus from his New Zealand base he believes both Welsh scrum halves will make the Lions squad, Dwayne Peel and Cooper, though the Dragons player wasn't even in the 22 for the last two Six Nations games against Scotland and Ireland.

Cooper was on the bench before that, but he has been dogged by injuries for most of the past year, starting with a shoulder operation last summer, then a knee injury which handed the position to Peel for the Autumn series, and then an ankle injury which is still hampering him.

But Hansen picked Cooper right through last year's Six Nations campaign and said today: "Dwayne Peel and Coops will both go, I'm sure."

Of Michael Owen, the Dragons number eight who took over the Wales captaincy from Gareth Thomas, Hansen said, "I'm not sure, but he could come" while he doesn't mention Kevin Morgan at all.

Surprisingly, one of his Welsh Lions is Adam Jones, who has hardly got a mention from any of the pundits because "there aren't many tight head props around."

Hansen is eagerly anticipating a lot of Welsh Lions in his native land this summer while he also expects many, many more - the Welsh fans.

"I hope there are a lot of Welsh Lions, it'll be their just rewards," he said, adding, "whatever team they pick it's going to be a great series and we're excited about the challenge. A lot of Welsh fans coming out will be awesome.

"There's a huge fondness for Welsh rugby in New Zealand, but some of the respect had been lost. That's now been regained and everyone here is very happy to see one of the great rugby nations is back.

"I've been sat back and watching it all with great interest. But when you look at it and see the progress made there is an emerging pattern, for the players are better skilled and stronger than last year.

"We weren't far away in last year's Six Nations. We had good wins against Scotland and Italy, we were very poor against Ireland, we were in front for 60 minutes against England but weren't quite strong enough to hold them in the last stages and lost by seven points to France after a poor scrummaging game.

"Everyone criticised Gethin Jenkins but look at him now. I laugh when people say 'look at the new style' but everyone saw how we played in the World Cup and before that, it's just that Wales are getting it right more often now."

He is also upbeat about Wales' future prospects. "The key is they are still a young side. When you look at the tight five they will get better and if they keep training hard and smart they're going to be a real force," he said.

Hansen says the next task is for the regions, and the fans, to get it right. "People's attitudes need to change.

This is the best system for Welsh rugby so they ought to get on with it," he said.

"There's no point being pigheaded, it's the right thing to do, though a lot does also depend on the quality of the coaching," he said.