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Published 11:46 8 May 2021 BST
"When you've already got Robbie Henshaw, who is a powerhouse, in theory, Bundee Aki just never crossed my mind. "One of the reasons he didn't was I don't think Bundee has been that brilliant. Bundee Aki is fit. Manu Tuilagi is not fit, and it's an attempt to fight fire with fire. I understand where Warren Gatland is coming from, but I wouldn't say it's a very good selection. Of the 37, he'd be my 37th most expected selection and my worst rated."Jones said he asked Gatland how close he had come to waiting on Tuilagi to prove his fitness. "Very close," was the reported reply from the Kiwi. To Alex Lowe, their colleague, the Aki selection resembles that of Ben Te'o, another surprise call, in 2017. He says he cannot see him getting in the Lions Test squad. Te'o, for the record, was selected for the Lions after making only eight Test appearances for England, and only one start. Aki has played 31 times for Ireland in four years, with all of them as a starter. Te'o started the First Test against the All Blacks in 2017 and had a decent game, but was dropped for the next Test as Gatland brought Johnny Sexton back and dropped Owen Farrell into midfield. He did appear off the bench in the Third Test, which ended in a draw. In fairness to Barnes, Aki is up there with Elliot Daly and Jack Conan as least expected Lions selections. As for 37th worst rated, that is not fair on a quality player.
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