"I suppose knowing that Jamie was coming back from injury and Manu [Tuilagi] was back [on the bench], that there was always the chance of being omitted and the fact that he went with a combination that has played together a lot of times, you have to just suck that up. It wasn't an easy thing to hear but life goes on.

"They had my full support, of course. This is never about one person; other guys that are in the 23 have to be able to get on with the job and worry about that themselves."

The Lions won 41-16 despite the heavy criticism coach Warren Gatland endured in the lead up to the game. 

"It was a disappointment but it's the guys that don't make the 23 that make or break the tour. You can't mouth words and then not live them when it's your turn."

Image: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland