Gatland calls up cavalry
The British and Irish Lions have called up six players to join their squad for the remainder of the tour in New Zealand.
The Welsh quartet of Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies and Tomas Francis joined the squad yesterday afternoon, following their test against Tonga in Auckland on Friday.
Scotland pair Allan Dell and Finn Russell will link up with the Lions in Hamilton today after starring in their nation's dramatic win over Australia yesterday.
“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,” Lions coach Warren Gatland said.
“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, give us quality training numbers to prepare properly as well as offering us options for selection for the Chiefs match [on Tuesday in Hamilton].
“These are players currently on international duty who we are looking forward to welcoming into the tour party as we did with several players in 2013.
“I spoke to all the Home Union coaches prior to departure and explained our thinking and they were all supportive.”
Russell and Dell are not expected to stay with the squad for the whole tour, although Russell could remain in New Zealand if Owen Farrell does not recover from a leg injury.
Gatland has selected Scottish and Welsh players only because they were well placed to make short-haul trips from Sydney and Auckland.
England, meanwhile, are on tour in Argentina and Ireland are in Japan.
The composition of three front rowers, one lock, a halfback and a first-five will, in theory, allow Gatland to rest his entire 23-man test squad against the Chiefs.
Despite Stuart Hogg’s departure with a facial injury, the half-dozen arrivals will leave Gatland with a 46-man squad — two larger than Sir Clive Woodward’s 2005 party.
The Lions have been maintaining a “one squad” mentality but All Black coach Steve Hansen pre-empted the call-ups and mischievously hinted at a split in the camp.
“I think he is about to bring a few extra players out to give himself the ability to play with two squads,” Hansen said earlier. “He’s at the stage where he wants to do that. I guess he will bring them out from the UK.”
Lions lock George Kruis, however, claimed Hansen is in no position to comment on what is going on behind the scenes.
“He is entitled to his opinion and he is obviously a well-respected coach but he doesn’t know what is going on inside the camp,” Kruis said. ●