The British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland. Photo / Brett Phibbs.
If Steve Hansen's barbed comment about the British and Irish Lions calling in reinforcements in order to separate their test squad from their mid-weekers struck home, the tourists weren't showing it today, although, significantly, they haven't ruled it out.
All Blacks coach Hansen believes Warren Gatland will call in up
to five new players to the tour party, which will boost the squad to 45 after fullback Stuart Hogg's departure with a facial injury.
There is no doubt that such an influx of players after Gatland denied the need to replace Hogg could de-stabilise the already very large squad ahead of the first test at Eden Park a week tomorrow.
It is thought that some of the new players could come from the Wales squad currently based in Auckland and preparing to play Tonga at Eden Park tonight, a curtain-raiser to the All Blacks v Manu Samoa test.
Today the media were given their first chance to question the Lions' management about Hansen's comments, which were clearly designed to needle. "I think he is about to bring a few extra players out to give himself the ability to play two squads," Hansen said after naming his squad for the Manu Samoa test. "He's at the stage where he wants to do that."
