Lions legend Gavin Hastings insists coach Ian McGeechan was left with little choice to shun the Lions Scottish contingent ahead of the first Test.

Scrum-half Mike Blair, hooker Ross Ford and second-row Nathan Hines have all been overlooked with Euan Murray ruled out through injury.

There has now not been a starting place for a Scot in a Test shirt for eight years since Tom Smith's appearance against Australia in 2001.

But Hastings, the 1993 Lions captain on the tour of New Zealand, said: "Not having any Scots in the Test side is a fair reflection of the way our guys have performed on the tour so far.

"On tour some people play well and others struggle and it's unfortunate that Ross hasn't performed and his throwing in hasn't been good enough.

"Mike hasn't had a lot of luck either and I feel sorry for him and he will be disappointed with the way that he has performed."