Local media reported widely that Hartley had missed out and that Jamie George, his England understudy, would join Ireland's Rory Best and Welshman Ken Owens in the battle for the hooker's jersey on the 10-game tour. "We want to play really attractive rugby and do what Lions teams have done in the past and get out into the community".
"Looking at the fixture schedule, I don't think there is going to be time for any team bonding exercises, it's just spending time together", he added.
The 24-year-old full-back was named in the 41-man squad along with fellow Glasgow Warrior Tommy Seymour and he can not wait to build on his experience from Australia in 2013 in New Zealand this summer.
Jonathan Joseph was included after Gatland decided a player who has caused Wales so much torment on his watch could not be overlooked.
"There could be no more appropriate place to welcome the team and their supporters to our shores as they embark on their six-week tour of New Zealand".
"It doesn't surprise me one bit because he was probably one of Wales' best players in New Zealand when we went there last summer".
The popular Warburton's appointment ensures he will emulate a feat only England legend Martin Johnson has achieved, becoming the second man to have skippered the Lions on two tours.
Fresno shooter has Sacramento connection
Muhammad led investigators through the crime scene at the motel as well as the locations from Tuesday's shootings, Dyer said . The third victim, 58-year-old David Jackson, was the last one killed, just standing in front of Catholic Charities.
There will be a traditional powhiri, or welcome, for the visitors at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in Northland on June 4, the day after the first match against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei.
"Our job is to make sure we keep a good eye on what they do in the games they play prior to us and try and get a read", Hansen said.
Hansen is expected to rely largely on his established squad, for the opening Test at least, though Meads (below) says some of those who featured for the All Blacks previous year need to be wary.
The New Zealand head coach, Steve Hansen, disagreed with the notion of Henry, his former boss, that the Lions were on a suicide mission. "I was in a supermarket vehicle park and didn't believe him at first", he said. Those are the sort of players, with no disrespect, who might struggle to make the first test team but they will be giving everything they can on and off the field.
Jones is suffering from a shoulder injury, as is scrum-half Conor Murray, and Gatland has insisted that both players demonstrate their fitness by playing for their clubs before they travel to New Zealand. "We have to be prepared". "It's a lot more expectation than they've been used to, because people will expect them to win". "The selections reflect that". "That's what creates the controversy with the way that social media is now", Gatland said.
"We just felt we'd looked at the footage, we'd done our due diligence, looked at the game in Twickenham", he said. "We have to perform away from home, that's going to be paramount".
Comments