Gatland calls up the cavalry

FINN RUSSELL is set to lead a six-man arrival of Scottish and Welsh reinforcements to bolster the Lions ahead of their first Test against the All Blacks. Warren Gatland will finalise the additions over the weekend but Sportsmail understands Russell, Gareth Davies, Kristian Dacey, Allan Dell, Tomas Francis and Cory Hill are on the shortlist. The low-profile group have no chance of making the Test team but will provide additional bodies to help with training and Tuesday’s game against the Chiefs. They are not expected to stay for the whole tour, although Scottish No 10 Russell could remain if Owen Farrell does not recover from a leg injury. Gatland will use the call-ups to help protect his stars ahead of the series opener at Eden Park — a strategy he revealed when he was named as coach in September. He said at the time: ‘The hardest game is the Chiefs before the first Test. How do you protect that Test match 23? There’s an opportunity to bring in four or five to maybe sit on the bench.’ The Kiwi has selected Scottish and Welsh players because they are in location to make short-haul trips from Sydney and Auckland. The composition of three front-rows, one lock, one scrum-half and one fly-half will, in theory, allow Gatland to rest his entire 23-man Test squad against the Chiefs. Lions lock George Kruis said: ‘If we win, we celebrate together. If we lose, we’re all upset. ‘There will be a big emphasis on any new guys having to add to the group. They’ll obviously be helped out in getting up to scratch.’