Itoje: Every player has a role to play with Lions

MARO Itoje insists that the new arrivals on the British & Irish Lions’ tour of Australia will be treated differently to the controversial ‘Geography Six’ of 2017.

- DUNCAN BECH

Scotland trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham will join up with Andy Farrell’s men over the coming week, swelling the size of the squad to 44 in the wake of Jamie Osborne, Jamie George and Tom Clarkson also being added.

The fresh faces have been brought in to provide cover that will prevent key personnel from playing in the Test series while backing up in next Tuesday's match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV.

Farrell's decision to turn to those from Scotland's tour of nearby New Zealand has evoked memories of eight years ago when Finn Russell, Allan Dell, Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Gareth Davie joined Warren Gatland’s Lions.