First Test

Aristo whilst i understand why you feel that way I can't think of much better development than being on a Lions Tour...especially considering two of our best coaches are there already

I guess I can find solace in the fact that Jonny May gets a shot now and Wade has probably done enough already to be first choice wing.

Crazy news, Shane Williams is playing for the Lions on Tuesday.

Team is:

Team: R Kearney; C Wade, B Barritt, B Twelvetrees, S Williams; S Hogg, B Youngs; R Grant, R Best (capt), M Stevens, I Evans, R Gray, S O'Brien, J Tipuric, T Faletau.

Replacements: R Hibbard, A Corbisiero, D Cole, G Parling, D Lydiate, C Murray, O Farrell, S Zebo

Sporty thats bloody ridiculous!

I know Shane's a pro and always been in top shape but surely as soon as you join a Japanese team at 36 years old you tone the training regime down a lot?

Of course. Look he was a magic player. No doubt,But let be honest. He Retired at the right time. On the downslope of a great career. There is no way in hell he's going to be at this level. Even if he was playing in a decent part of the rugby world. He was pretty much outgunned when he retired in the first place. All anyone needed to do was kick at him and have a decent winger chace and he was always caught shot in the air due to his size.

This is an awful decision by Gatland. I know he's got a bias toward the welsh players but this is just beyond belief

Have to agree on this one.

If they picked him because he's geographically closer than most other options then thats bonkers. If they picked him on form then that's even worse.

Big admirer of Shane btw, and for a few years he really was right up there with the best but this is a bizarre decision.

One thing to note is that Gats wants him for 3 days only, to feature in one game. I guess maybe he didnt feel he could ask an aspiring player to commit to that although I bet any of them would

Agree with all of the above

This is extracting the urine now.

I could agree with Wade, but Barritt and then Williams is just getting stupid and its a bit unfair on Australia. Sure there will be injuries, buts thats why you take a squad rather than a first XV and replacements and how must players like Visser & Gilroy feel - they'll need no motivation when they next line up against Wales!

Not to mention what this must do to the moral of the squad. They have got to be thinking that a lions shirt is not as special as all that if a bloody pensioner hobbit can be called into the squad on the whim of a total bloody fool manager. I really thought it would be Gats big mouth that would land him in hot water, but this is just nuts! No other way to see, particularly if you consider Shane Williams Only started the dead rubber game in South africa 4 years ago! He wasn't good enough then to start and he's certainly not good enough now. Sorry but on this i feel very strongly about. Gatland has just turned this tour into a bloody farce!

I'm annoyed that Shane didn't turn it down. I thought he had more respect for himself than that.