Warren Gatland has been accused of an 'insulting people's intelligence' and being self indulgent by an Irish media outlet after his Lions squad selection last week.
The head coach has revealed his chosen 37 to take on the best South African rugby has to offer this summer and it's caused outrage across the Irish sea.
There are eight Irish players in Gatland's squad - their lowest representation in 20 years - with big name omissions including Johnny Sexton and James Ryan.
Irish Independent scribe Eamonn Sweeney is the latest to take a swing at the three-time Lions boss.
"Warren Gatland’s Lions selection isn’t just an insult to Irish rugby, it’s an insult to the intelligence," his column began.
"Its weird combination of hubris and whimsicality suggests the New Zealander is so convinced of victory over a South African team which hasn’t played since 2019 he feels able to indulge himself.
"Ireland’s eight player representation is our lowest since 2001. Making this particularly galling is that England have more than anyone else after a year in which they suffered comprehensive defeats against the other three home nations."
Sweeney took great issue with Ryan's omission and turned his pen on two players that were selected at the Irishman's expense, calling Courtney Lawes 'past his best' and branding the Jonny Hill selection 'baffling'.
Gatland's calls at centre have provoked the most debate across all four home nations and Elliot Daly, Chris Harris and Bundee Aki were next to get it.
"Daly is a winger-cum-fullback in poor form, Harris is a journeyman whose inclusion speaks volumes for the persuasive powers of Gregor Townsend and Aki’s main contribution to Ireland’s Six Nations campaign was a foolish red card which almost let England back into the game," wrote Sweeney.
"Does anyone really think those three are superior to Henry Slade, Jonathan Davies and Garry Ringrose?"
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Sweeney then branded Sexton 'the best outhalf available to the Lions' despite his non-selection before concluding: "The absence of an Irish input in the selection panel cost us."
Ex-Ireland international Luke Fitzgerald - who toured with the Lions in 2009 - was similarly dismayed at a number of Gatland's decisions.
Fitzgerald's main issue, though, was with the omission of Sexton.
"When I look at Finn Russell being selected over Johnny Sexton - as much as I'm a huge fan of Finn Russell - I just don't think they're really comparable in terms of their ability at the top level," he told Scrum V.
"Regardless of what happens on the tour, I don't think he'll be selected ahead of Biggar or Farrell. If Sexton went out on tour and played great, he could well.
"I think that's a bit of an odd selection."
