Ronan O'Gara's Lions verdict: Snub is a mammoth blow to James Ryan

James Ryan of Ireland. Ronan O'Gara says he is 'gutted' for the Leinster man who missed out on the Lions squad. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

I had only just come in from training and finalising a plan for Montpellier when I had a chance to scroll through the Lions squad for South Africa. What a fascinating collection of talking points it provided.

We are almost conditioned in the first instance to focus on those who missed out. While there is understandable comment on the exclusion of Johnny Sexton, his Leinster colleague James Ryan is another I am truly gutted for.