For Stephen Ferris, representing the British & Irish Lions was the peak of his rugby career.
A league win with Ulster, his first Test cap, a Grand Slam, a Heineken Cup final – all surpassed by lining out for the Lions on the 2009 tour to South Africa.
Ferris is no different to so many in looking upon his time in that red jersey as the high-point of a storied career.
It is with no small consideration, then, that Ferris has criticised the Lions’ current management for calling up four Welsh outsiders to fill spots in the squad for Tuesday’s warm-up match against Chiefs, and possible games ahead.
Four more Welsh players added https://t.co/ht7ujpwEnP
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 17, 2017
The inclusions – and the expected calls for two Scottish players – were discussed on Sky Sports before their coverage of the Lions game against the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua. Lions head coach Warren Gatland conceded:
“Yeah, there’s a bit of geography [to the call-ups]… When you look at the positions where you have lads you are covering 1, 2, 3, lock, scrum-half and out-half, it’s really tough.”
Gatland cited Christian Wade’s apparent “struggles” when he was called up for the 2013 Lions tour to Australia and explained he wanted players called up that would not have to deal with jet-lag.
In the Sky studio, Lions legend Ian McGeechan commented:
“It’s difficult to justify geography… I think Joe Launchbury and one or two others will be feeling upset about how it has been done.”
McGeechan also pointed out how, in 2005 and 2009, call-ups to the tours ended up featuring in Test matches. To that end, the Scot argued, why not call up the very best players available, whatever part of the world they are in.
Ferris, who was also in the studio, took a stronger view of the matter. He said:
“I know if I was Joe Launchbury or one of the guys on the fringes, I’d be pissed off. I know, for me,
“For me, playing for the Lions was the pinnacle of my career… Calling in guys like this does devalue the jersey slightly.”
The former Ireland and Lions flanker’s comments were applauded by many:
https://twitter.com/BlacklambMuz/status/875976791386619904
Stephen Ferris goes a little further – "devalues the badge". Hard to disagree and you've got to feel for Launchbury.
— Graham Jenkins (@grahamajenkins) June 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/RavWilding/status/875978021492191232
This one will rumble on.
