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Stephen Ferris Believes Leaks In Lions Camp Will Be A Big Concern For Gatland

Stephen Ferris Believes Leaks In Lions Camp Will Be A Big Concern For Gatland
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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After four years of buildup, the test series between the Lions and South Africa will finally get underway tomorrow.

It is set to be a hugely intriguing clash, with both sides making some interesting personnel selections for the game in Cape Town.

There were a few surprises in Warren Gatland's side, with Jack Conan and Duhan van der Merwe two players who were not expected to be picked.

However, we did learn about these decisions much earlier than the Lions coach had anticipated. The team was leaked to the media on Tuesday night, with Gatland going on to name the side publicly on Wednesday.

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It may not make all that much difference on the outcome of the game, but Stephen Ferris believes the leaks in the camp with concern the Kiwi.

Speaking on The Buildup podcast, the 2009 tourist said that information leaking out on the week of the first test is not something that bodes all that well for the team.

If there was ever a week that you need your team to be honest, you need your team to be united, to be committed to each other and have nothing go out to the media, this was the week.

It might not mean anything, Warren Gatland named the team that was leaked anyway. It might not matter, but for me you need to be more together than that.

You need to be able to make sure you can count on each other off the pitch as well as on it. At the minute they couldn't.

Someone leaked the team. Whether that's players, management, it's not good enough. Warren Gatland knows that.

In his press conference he sort of addressed that, saying next week he will name the team and come out and say it in the press straight after, there will be no messing around.

That was a little bit frustrating for me. I was really hoping that it wasn't the team. You want it to be released and say you can't wait for the matchups, but when it was leaked it took a small bit away from it.

They need to draw a line under it and move on, that's what he seems to be doing. Fingers crossed that the team that was leaked goes well on Saturday.

Warren Gatland will be hoping the leak does not hurt the team on this occasion, although he does seem concerned about the impact it could have moving forward.

He will certainly be hoping to keep the entire squad on side for the remainder of the tour.

Listen and Subscribe to The Buildup Podcast here or on Spotify here.

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