“We couldn’t leave Jamie out” says Lions coach Gatland

Former Scotland and Lions hooker Gordon Bulloch felt his countrymen’s sparse representation in Warren Gatland’s squad was somewhat predictable given the lack of influence among selectors. Gats would have okayed the idea – I’m sure they would have spoken to him about what sort of itinerary the Lions would need.

“I certainly wasn’t that mature going into the last tour but now I fully believe I am and as I say I was a better player coming off the back of that”. The last [Six Nations] game against England, he fulfilled a role in terms of calling the lineouts and that’s important for us, having players capable of doing that. Can they beat the All Blacks?

However, he admitted: “It’s going to be the toughest thing I’ve done”.

“So the first week together we’re going to be doing a bit of singing and a bit of choir practice to get that right”.

The snub is a great shame for players who struggled against England because they had a team-mate sin-binned after just over one minute of play, and were further handicapped by injuries to a string of key players. Maybe “Whale Rider”. “Boy”.

“There could be no more appropriate place to welcome the team and their supporters to our shores as they embark on their six-week tour of New Zealand”.

“New Zealanders pride ourselves on our hospitality to global visitors and the event at Waitangi will prove a unique and fitting welcome for the visiting British & Irish Lions”, he said. “We might disagree but that’s what makes it interesting”.

Fitzpatrick believe his old All Black understudy Gatland has been “quite clever” with the makeup of his squad which will be led by an inspirational player (Sam Warburton) whom New Zealanders will warm to.

He then joined England club Worcester a year ago.

Yet the idea that the Lions coaching staff are pinning their hopes on reprising the Chicago formula was given short shrift by one of its principal architects, Andy Farrell.

In the backs, New Zealand-born Ben Te’o, the England centre, provides a powerful midfield option, with Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton set to orchestrate the attack.

“There are a number of people who are playing very, very well who haven’t been All Blacks, and there are a number of All Blacks who are playing well”.

“It used to be the home team didn’t get the players to a few days before the game”.

Hansen said: “I’ve never seen him do anything else other than that”. That gives an idea of what their expectation is. If the All Blacks play to their best the Lions are not going to win. “Joe is unlucky and we had a discussion about the second-rows”, Gatland said.

Sam is a great player, an outstanding leader and a winning Lions captain.

“You could see a build-up through the Six Nations of Pete being fit and then he had a little hamstring tweak which sat him out for a week or two”.