O'Kelly critical of Lions management

Irish second-row Malcolm O'Kelly has become the latest member of the British and Irish Lions party to criticise the management…

Irish second-row Malcolm O'Kelly has become the latest member of the British and Irish Lions party to criticise the management of the tour in a newspaper column.

O'Kelly, left out of the squad for all three tests, said members of the mid-week "dirt trackers" side felt they had been overlooked from the start.

"From the time we first gathered together as a squad, we were all inspired by the thought that there were no preconceived ideas of what the test team would be," he wrote in the today's Irish Independent.

"Now, however, one can't help feeling that the test team had been pencilled in from the very start, that management were oblivious to whatever the rest of the squad was trying to do.

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"Instead of trying to promote their development and to let players flourish in such talented company, the feedback we received, if any, felt negative and hostile."

O’Kelly’s comments follow public criticism of the Lions management from scrumhalf Matt Dawson, utility back Austin Healy and winger Dan Luger.

The English trio all complained of over-training by coach Graham Henry, fuelling rumours of disharmony in the squad.

O'Kelly's outburst came as the Lions named a 25-man squad for Saturday's series decider against Australia in Sydney, with Henry and his management team again opting not to pick a specialist second-row forward among the substitutes.

"It is hard not to feel bitter about the lack of faith or confidence in the second rows," O'Kelly said.

"Personally, I will come out of this tour motivated by the prospect of playing England, Scotland and Wales when, hopefully, a point or two will be made."