A Championship of strong performances has put winger Elliot Daly firmly on the plane for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand believes England’s World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson.

The Wasps centre, who has been played on the wing by Eddie Jones, had just three England starts prior to the Six Nations but was an ever-present as the Red Rose won the title with a game to spare.

The 24-year-old scored a long-range penalty against France before a match-winning try against Wales which he followed up with a second try against Italy at Twickenham.

And he maintained his place despite the return of Bath’s Anthony Watson and the form of Jack Nowell with Jonny May left out of the squad completely against Ireland.

A second consecutive Grand Slam was missed with defeat in Ireland but Johnson, who captained the Lions in 1997 and 2001, has been impressed by Daly’s temperament at international level.

Johnson said: “I think he was always a Test player from the first game of the Championship, a very assured player, I think he missed a tackle on Saturday but that’s picking out one mistake.

“He hit another fantastic kick down that left-hand side and he’s been, for me, the form left wing of the championship in terms of his all-round performances.

“He scored a crucial try to win a game that was not easy, his all-round game has been good, he’s playing out of position so you think of the mentality of him to do that and still play.

“He’s not over played and tried to force things as often guys do when they first come in, ‘look at me I’m going to make something happen’. He’s done what’s needed to be done at the right time and done it well which is the definition of a good player.”

Daly is a centre by trade but has looked equally adept on the wing and can slot in at full-back, a position England head coach Eddie Jones has claimed could be where his long-term future lies.

That versatility could be bad news for the Lions hopes of his England team-mate Mike Brown who, Martin Johnson thinks, could struggle to force his way into the thoughts of Lions head coach Warren Gatland.

“Mike Brown, he might be a guy that may struggle,” Johnson added.

“I think Hogg will certainly go, who the second full-back is, that could be Kearney, Halfpenny, Brown? Is there somebody else from outside they may look at? Can Daly play there?”

“If they’re looking for some more attacking pace at full-back we could get a surprise, could they try moving Elliot Daly there, it’s very interesting.

“Daly is flexible, he’s a centre by nature but can play on the wing so I think he’ll certainly be on the tour I’ll be very surprised if he’s not and he’s a good find for England.

“It’s a position, on the wing, that a lot of guys have had a go at, done okay, come out someone else has come in so it gives England another option there.”

Daly isn’t the only Englishmen to demonstrate his flexibility around the field throughout the last two months though with Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje also pressing their Lions’ claims.

Farrell has been utilised as an inside centre to accommodate George Ford at fly-half while Itoje has wearing the number six jersey in the Championship as opposed to his regular second row slot.

And while Johnson admits their versatility is a very useful addition on a Lions tour where injuries will occur to key players, he’s confident both have the quality to start in New Zealand in a single position.

“You have got to have a position you are going on the Tour as,” he explained.

“If you’re picking Farrell as a 12 then you have to give him an opportunity at 12 if he’s a 10 he needs that opportunity. Particularly Owen because he’s such a good player and Maro too could nail down either of his two slots.

“You take them in a position and their flexibility is a bonus.

“England have won the Championship and I think it (their numbers on the Tour) will be into double figures, whether it’s as many as 15 I don’t know.

“They’ve had a very good record, not just the last two years, but actually in the 6 Nations I think they’ve lost six games in the last seven years in the tournament so they’re pretty consistent.”

Martin Johnson is an Ambassador for British & Irish Lions Principal Partner Standard Life Investments.