Warren Gatland: 'I don’t know what planet Sean O’Brien is on'

It has been almost a month since Seán O’Brien questioned Warren Gatland and his coaches for their handling of the Lions’ drawn series with the All Blacks this summer, but the tour’s head coach has finally come out swinging with his case for the defence.

On a day when Gatland was back in his capacity as the Wales head coach, announcing a change in his national team’s selection policy, the New Zealander who led the Lions to unexpected success in his homeland against the world champions spoke of his hurt at comments made by Ireland back-rower O’Brien last month.

The Leinster star, who started all three Tests at openside flanker, criticised Gatland for overtraining the tourists in the build-up to the lost opening Test and singled out attack coach Rob Howley as a weak link, who was usurped by senior backline players Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell in dictating the Lions’ gameplan.