Lions discontent amongst wider squad

In the wake of Sean O’Brien’s comments last week, former Scotland international Jim Hamilton says he heard murmurings of discontent from within the camp but disagrees that the Lions would have won the series 3-0 with better coaching and preparation.

He also said those players not included in the Test squad and particularly those called up late as injury cover were not properly integrated into the group, which tainted what should have been a career highlight.

“There was a lot of discontent with Gatland. That’s what we’ve heard and kind of know. Whether or not they would have won 3-0, though, I beg to differ,” he said.

“I spoke to Finn in the hotel ahead of the second Test and there had been a lot of injuries. He was wearing the full stash and I asked him how he was getting on and he said he was finding it quite difficult.

“He said that he didn’t feel a part of the squad at all and that the guys were getting their jerseys presented but it was just the match day 23 there, which I thought was really bizarre. Surely, everyone in that Lions squad should be there for that historic moment.

“It should’ve been the best moment of his life being there as a British Lion in New Zealand and you could see that it wasn’t, which I thought was a real shame.”

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