No favourites with Lions squad, claims Gatland
Wales captain Ryan Jones "not playing well enough" for Lions call
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Wednesday, 22, Apr 2009 09:37
Wales coach Warren Gatland has claimed the exclusion of national captain Ryan Jones from his British and Irish Lions squad proves there will be "no favouritism" towards his own players on the tour.
Gatland, who is the Lions forwards coach and was part of the selection panel that chose to overlook the Wales back-row forward, reacted angrily when questioned over his decision to omit his own skipper.
And the coach claimed Jones "is not playing well enough at the moment" to warrant a call-up ahead of international counterpart Andy Powell or Ireland's in-form number eight Jamie Heaslip.
"There's no favouritism here - the team has been selected purely on form," Gatland explained.
"It's not about captains or countries or nations - it's about picking the best players and the best combinations to do a job."
He continued: "The squad has been picked on form and he is not playing well enough.
"I hope he will take his disappointment on the chin and I am sure he will continue to work hard."
Jones could even face a tough task to make the squad as an injury replacement reserve, after Gatland admitted England back-rower Tom Croft was the closest to making the squad of the players who were overlooked.