Wednesday 28 June 2017 22:51, UK
Former Lions flanker Stephen Ferris has said Warren Gatland's refusal to use the mid-tour replacements he called up against the Hurricanes is "embarrassing for them".
The Lions head coach controversially called up six players from the Wales and Scotland squads ahead of last week's game with the Chiefs, in the aim of protecting the matchday 23 for the Test matches against the All Blacks.
Wales players Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Gareth Davies, who had played against Tonga in Auckland, were called up, as were Scotland duo Finn Russell and Allan Dell, who were touring Australia.
Gatland received a torrent of criticism for appearing to pick players based on location and not merit or ability, but explained his decision as making the most sense logistically.
Over the two tour matches they were called in to cover, however, the six players featured in a total of 16 minutes between them, with four players failing to make it onto the pitch at all, something Ferris admitted he doesn't understand.
"The lads sitting on the bench, to be honest I think it's slightly embarrassing for them," Ferris told Sky Sports News HQ.
"They've been brought in and they're obviously wanting to represent the British and Irish Lions. If you've been called in you want to get on the pitch.
"Finn Russell makes a two or three-minute appearance, he's on the plane today or tomorrow back home to Scotland.
"Then you have other lads who are itching to get on and they're not given that opportunity, so for me, Warren Gatland has come out post-game and said there's so much talk about devaluing the jersey, then why bring the guys in the first place?
"Why not get Joe Launchbury, Dylan Hartley? Bring these guys over.
"For me, I think it's a bit of a weird call and you could see that in the performance because the Hurricanes were getting stronger and the Lions were getting weaker as the match went on."
Ex-Ireland international Ferris toured with the Lions to South Africa in 2009, scoring two tries before a knee injury in training prior to the first Test cut his tour short.
The powerful former blindside expects changes to the Lions XV that lost the first Test 30-15 at Eden Park, and has backed locks Courtney Lawes and Iain Henderson after their performances against the Hurricanes.
"I think a lot of lads stuck their hand up, especially in the pack," he added. "The two second-rows, Courtney Lawes and Iain Henderson, really put in physical, dominant performances.
"They were probably told before the match that they had an opportunity to get into the Test team and I thought the two lads stood up really well.
"They said: 'give me the ball, I'll get you go forward', and that's exactly what they did and they didn't just do it for bits and pieces, they didn't drift in and out of the game, they did it for the whole match.
"Courtney Lawes getting dragged off after 51 or 52 minutes, for me is a good indicator that he's going to be involved in the Test said this Saturday."
