Andy Farrell 'gutted' for Jac Morgan and explains why he picked no Welsh players

British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell revealed Wales captain Jac Morgan was "as close as you could imagine" to securing a place in the Test squad to take on Australia in Brisbane this Saturday.

The Ospreys back-row was omitted from the matchday 23, marking the first occasion since 1896 that a Lions Test team has been named without a single Welsh representative.

Ireland No. 8 Jack Conan was always expected to claim the starting berth at the base of the scrum, whilst Tadhg Beirne - despite not hitting peak form during this tour - was an unsurprising choice at blindside flanker. Nevertheless, the openside position proved particularly difficult to determine.

Ultimately, Tom Curry was chosen to start at Suncorp Stadium - with Farrell's favourite Josh van der Flier also missing out in an intensely competitive back-row battle.

"That's the hotly contested one," declared Farrell following his team announcement. "Part of the side that's been talked about for quite some time and rightly so because of the quality we've got there.

"Obviously we feel that's the right balance for the first Test, the combination of Tadhg being the type of player that he is, his quality in the set-piece but his all-round ability either as the jackaler or a ball-playing six, complements Jack.

"In a similar regard, Tom being the engine that we all know that we need in regards to Test match football."

When questioned about how close Morgan was to being selected, Farrell responded: "As close as you could imagine.

"Look, you're gutted for players like that and Josh as well, and Henry as well, because they're playing good rugby and could easily be in this side on Saturday, but I suppose that shows the good place that we're at as a group."

In contrast to Morgan and former world player of the year Van der Flier, Curry possesses experience from a previous Lions Test series, having faced the Springboks in Cape Town four years ago.

"You 100 per cent throw everything into the mix," said Farrell when asked if previous experience played a part. "It's a big responsibility representing this group, first up.

"This is what we came for, Test match football and it's a big responsibility to show each other how we're going to attack this game.

"You take a lot of things into account, form is one but you also take into account big match temperament and we've got a good few of those in the starting line-up.

"(It's) seeing them around the group and how they're going to make each other feel this week.

"You don't just have to be a Lions legend to do that, it's how you cope with the here and now also. So, it's just the feel of the group. That's the main thing."

This article originally appeared on WalesOnline.