Lions boss Gatland would welcome call from disgruntled Brown

Warren Gatland says he would be happy to explain to Mike Brown or any of the other players who failed to make the British and Irish Lions squad why they were omitted.

England full-back Brown took a dig at Gatland after the Lions head coach left him out of a party of 41 for the tour of New Zealand.

The experienced Brown felt he had done enough over the last two years to have made the cut for the huge challenge of taking on the All Blacks, saying he was “gutted” to miss out and “didn’t take it well”.

Gatland on Monday revealed that he has not spoken to Brown, but would be prepared to answer a call if the Harlequins man wants to take him to task.

“I haven’t spoken to Mike Brown. I spoke to Graham Rowntree and he said he spoke to Mike about the Lions,” the New Zealander said.

“I can understand the frustration and disappointment. I’m more than happy for him to give me a call if he feels that he’s been hard done by.

“There’s a number of players in the same situation and I think that’s why we said if any player wants to call us or talk to any of the coaches we are more than happy to take that.

“When we select a squad and make a decision on players it’s not always about the rugby content.”

Gatland also stated that the Lions coaching staff do not have a list of back-up players set in stone if and when there is a need to call for reinforcements.

“As coaches we’ve put sort of a back-up group together, or at least we’ve discussed a group of players, but everyone who is on tour at the moment I see as being part of that potential back-up list to be called in,” said Gatland.

“If you look at the history of the Lions, six to 10 players get replaced. So there are six to 10 players there who are probably going to be called in at some stage on this tour, so be prepared, be ready, if you get that opportunity to come out.”

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