I'm torn on this issue.
On the one hand, I do think we would benefit from having Smith in our squad. A quick look at our team and its obvious that outside of Horwill and Genia (and maybe Moore) we lack guys with test leadership experience. Smith definitely brings that to the table. Gill and Hooper haven't even played at a World Cup, let alone a Lions Series (as Smith has).
On the other hand, qwerty is right in saying that we have two outstanding no.7s available for selection. I probably wouldn't rate them in the top 3 in the world but they all certainly well in the top ten behind only Pocock, McCaw and Brussow. I think both guys are capable of outplaying warburton (when on song). Whether they are better than smith is debatable. I don't think we need to push the panic button.
If we were a risk of being horribly exposed then I would be concerned. If you look back to the RWC2011, we really had no quality back up for Pocock. That ultimately bit us on the arse. Robbie Deans went with McCalman
, with the alternative at the time being Beau Robinson (who you probably wouldn't rate in the top 25 no.7s in world rugby).
I think both Gill and Hooper will do a good job for us, and in fact I think both are capable of putting in man-of-the-series performances, such is the caliber of their play. And at the end of the day, the team that wins the series will be the team that is greater than the sum of its parts (slightly worrying given that Robbie Deans seems incapable of getting the best out of our players).
One added benefit of playing Gill and Hooper this June is that it is an investment. Pocock's injury has created a rare opportunity for these guys to gain top level test experience. Whilst a Lion's series win would be nice, the World Cup is what I really want. 2015 is our end goal.
If your view is that Deans' Wallabies are really incapable of winning with the series without Smith then ponder this scenerio - smith is brought in, we win, Deans gets reappointed as coach, Smith leaves, we are no better off and we are stuck with Robbie Deans. Personally I expect McKenzie to take over later this year, barring a clean sweep of the major trophies, so I dont really care if no concessions are made for Deans.
So would like to see George in the June tests? - Yes
Is it essential? - no, we have world class back-ups