British and Irish Lions tour manager Andy Irvine has given his backing to head coach Warren Gatland over his makeshift team selection for their final warm-up match before facing Australia.
The Welshman has picked six players for the match against the Brumbies on Tuesday who were not part of the original 37-man party, with three players making their Lions debuts.
However, Irvine is happy that Gatland has opted to try to preserve his players for Saturday by not risking them just four days before taking on the Wallabies.
"The coaches made a great call in trying to preserve the players for Saturday, so that we have a fresh team with a bit of luck. The boys who play in Canberra have a massive responsibility because we want to go through the tour undefeated," Irvine told the Lions' official website.
"Tuesday's game will be a really tough encounter because the Brumbies are a hell of a side and they will be targeting us. Where we are right now is unusual because normally it is the forwards who take the battering.
"It is an incredibly physical game now, even more so than in 2009, but strangely it is our backs who are struggling. And that's despite the fact they've won the physical battle in every game on tour and have been wonderful in their bravery, defence and taking the game to the opposition."
The Lions take on the Brumbies in Canberra at 10.40am on Tuesday.
Matt Cotton
