Three players who are blacklisted by Warren Gatland - and why

Below, we look at three players that Gatland controversially left out, and the reported reason why.

Despite a lacklustre Six Nations aside, many considered the 6’2, 130kg Saracens’ No.8’s size and power too enticing a prospect for Gatland not to pick him, especially given the ultra physical nature of the Springboks.

However, Adam Jones believes Billy Vunipola didn't stand a chance of making the Lions squad after comments he made four years ago.

Vunipola told the BBC at the time, “I wasn’t there on tour but I guess if he (O’Brien) is saying it and the authority he said it with, he’s probably right.

“For me to sit here and say the Lions would have probably won is wrong. But personally my opinion is that if Eddie Jones went as coach they would have won 3-0. He is that good.

“I don’t know how he would have done it, but Eddie would have found a way. Eddie has changed our mindset at England from always accepting we can’t always be too outspoken and confident and he’s really helped us a team to kick on.”

One of several England players who Gatland and Eddie Jones disagree on, with Jones considering May a key man for the Red Rose and Gatland snubbing him for the second tour in a row. A report in The Times suggests Gatland doesn't think he's a good player and sees him as only a 'speed' merchant.

Sir Ian McGeechan has speculated that a messy night out during the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour cost Sinckler his place in this year’s squad.

“The coaches have to be able to trust every player they take implicitly. I wonder whether this was behind the omission of Kyle Sinckler, which was to my mind the most surprising of all,” McGeechan wrote in a column for The Telegraph.

“Sinckler has attributes that no other tighthead has. He has become a key asset for England in recent years. But maybe he lost an element of trust where Gatland is concerned four years ago.

“Sinckler’s final contribution on that tour was to be arrested following a night out after the third test. Although he was released without charge, the Lions tour manager John Spencer did have to publicly remind him of his ‘responsibilities as a Lion’.”

McGeechan added: ““Sinckler has grown as a player and a man in the past four years. It would be unfair to hold that against him indefinitely. But he still has a slightly short fuse,” McGeechan commented.

“With Tadhg Furlong back to his best, Zander Fagerson impressing in the Six Nations, Andrew Porter able to play both sides, and no English coaches to advocate for him, perhaps Sinckler just did not have the faith of the entire selection panel.”