Lions icon claims Marcus Smith should've been snubbed in favour of England rival

British and Irish Lions legend Keith Wood believes should've been snubbed for this summer's tour to with instead taking his place. The Harlequins fly-half is one of three No 10s heading Down Under.

His inclusion was the subject of debate in the weeks leading up to the squad announcement but - who were always expected to go following stellar seasons with Bath and Northampton respectively.

The Harlequins star has lost his starting spot with England but still got the nod ahead of Ford. The veteran fly-half has excelled with Sale in recent weeks with his experience coming to the fore in the final period of the Premiership season. Ireland pair Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley were both overlooked by their international coach.

Smith's versatility may have been crucial to his inclusion with the 26-year-old capable of covering fullback. But Wood would've picked Ford, who could win his 100th cap for England on this summer's tour to Argentina, alongside the two Fins.

He told : “The three out halves I feel should be going are Finn Russell, Fin Smith and George Ford in the manner in which he has come back to form.

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“I'm a huge fan of Prendergast. I love the way he sees the game. He is raw but has skills others don’t have. He would have needed to have continued his upward trajectory to be at the steepest level possible to get on the tour. He has gaps in his game that he needs to rectify and that is what I am sure he is going to work on now.

“Jack Crowley would have been very close. He had a dip in form at the start of the season, but if he had got more game time I think he would have been on the plane.”

Ford's snub means he will likely end his career without ever being a Lion having been overlooked in 2017 and 2021. He is regarded among the finest players to have never worn the shirt but admits the previous disappointments made this year's experience easier to digest.

He told : “Your ambitions as a player are to achieve everything you possibly can, so when you don’t get selected for something you are disappointed. But selection is very subjective at the same time. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it doesn’t."

Ford could yet get called-up should injury strike. Smith himself received the call to join the squad in 2021 when several players were sidelined and the Sale fly-half will need to remain primed. Logistical issues for the first warm-up game in Dublin against Argentina on June 20 also means Farrell may have to call-up several players for the game as a number of the current Lions will be involved in finals with their clubs.