ROSS MORIARTY is out of the British and Irish Lions tour in another blow to Warren Gatland’s plans.
The Wales flanker suffered a back strain in the tour-opening 13-7 win over the Provincial Barbarians and has admitted defeat in his fitness battle.
The Lions added four for Welsh players and two from Scotland – meaning Eddie Jones’ plea that Gatland picked on merit and not ‘geography’ fell on deaf ears.
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Lions coach Warren Gatland has added Cory Hill (lock), Kristian Dacey (hooker), Gareth Davies (scrum half) and Tomas Francis (prop) from the Wales team which beat Tonga in Auckland on Friday.
Scottish duo Finn Russell (fly-half) and Allan Dell (prop) have also got the nod.
His touring squad which now numbers a hefty 44 players with only five matches remaining after Saturday’s clash with the New Zealand Maori.
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen speculated this week that Gatland would call up additional players to make it possible to break his squad into test and midweek combinations through the remainder of the tour.But the decision is also seen to have made an already large squad more unwieldy and has been interpreted as a sign of panic as the test series against New Zealand approaches.
Gatland explained the decision on Saturday as being pragmatic.
He said: “We have said all along that we need to give ourselves the best chance of winning the Test series and that could potentially involve calling up players.”
“Bringing in these players from an identical time zone, who can hit the ground running and step straight in rather than having to adjust following long-haul travel will help us manage players before the first test.
“(It will) give us quality training numbers to prepare properly as well as offering us options for selection for the Chiefs match.”
Gatland is expected to summon even more players, including the Scotland duo of Finn Russell and Allan Dell, ahead of the first test next weekend in Auckland.
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