Retired Wallaby Nathan Sharpe says the British and Irish Lions’ decision to select so many Welsh players for their tour of Australia could end up backfiring on the tourists.

Wales have won the past two Six Nations trophies, with their excellent form resulting in 15 Welshmen being named in the Lions’ 37-man squad.

Sharpe hopes the selection will play into the hands of the Wallabies, who have won their past eight Tests against Wales and seem to hold a psychological edge in close matches against the Red Dragons.

Four of those wins were by three points or less, including Sharpe’s farewell Test last year when Kurtley Beale scored a try at the death to lift the Wallabies to a 14-12 win in Cardiff.

Sharpe said when times get tough during the upcoming series, Welsh players might crumble under the pressure due to their history against Australia.

“There’ll be seeds of doubt for both teams. It’s just going to be who handles that doubt the best,” Sharpe said.

“The fact that there’s a lot of Welshmen in the team – and Australia’s won seven or eight on the trot against them – it’s going to be in the back of their minds.

“It will make (Welsh players) hungrier. But I think when times get tough on the field, there will be that lingering bit of doubt.

“That doubt is something that top teams manage the best.”

Sharpe, who is working with the Wallabies as a forwards coach, predicts Australia will beat the Lions 2-1.

But he said the ability to keep calm under pressure would prove critical, claiming 95 per cent of Test rugby came down to the mental battle.

“Everyone’s a skilful player. They’re all capable. It’s a matter of who can apply that attitude the most courageously,” Sharpe said.

Although the Lions haven’t won a series in 16 years, the Wallabies appear the team most vulnerable following a spate of recent injuries.

Lock Sitaleki Timani (thumb) and loose forward Scott Higginbotham (shoulder) have been forced out of the initial 25-man squad, while star winger Digby Ioane is struggling to regain fitness following recent knee surgery.

Sharpe enjoyed a glittering 116-Test career with the Wallabies, but Australia’s most-capped forward never had the chance to play against the Lions.

The 35-year-old, who has taken up commentary and promotional work for HSBC since his retirement last year, said he didn’t have a desire to return to the field.

“I was at training on Monday and the ball went up and I caught it. There were about five guys charging through on me, and I s*** myself,” Sharpe said with a laugh.

“So it probably tells me I’m well and truly finished.”