After the Lions squad was named last month, Robin McBryde got in touch with the disappointed members of the Leinster squad and offered them a one-to-one chat if they wanted an explanation.

The Welshman is balancing his roles as Leinster’s forwards coach and the Lions’ scrum guru ahead of the tour and so was part of the discussions that left Johnny Sexton, James Ryan, Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy and Garry Ringrose searching for answers.

“You can’t ignore what happened with regards to the selection for the Lions,” he explained.

“I gave them all an opportunity to have a chat if they wanted one. It is what it is. Warren Gatland would tell you himself, sometimes it’s down to one man’s opinion, so don’t get hung up on it.

“It’s important that they stay motivated, anybody who is on that standby list has got to be motivated and keep going because anything can happen,” he added.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve just had to put things in boxes in my head and park a few to the back.”

Whatever about Ryan, Kelleher and Healy, the backs know McBryde had little role in the decision.

“It wasn’t so much of a chat with Johnny really. I’m sure he respects that it wasn’t down to my selection views,” he explained of Sexton who is expected to return to action against Glasgow on Friday.

“Listen, he’s more experienced than anybody. I’m not sure if it was quite a wink and a smile, it was just acknowledgement more than anything really.

“He’s got plenty about himself, Johnny, with regards being able to deal with that and shake it off, and he’s been able to channel all that.

“The same situation with all the boys, the leaders in the group really with regards to working and putting things in place for next season.

“Having that opportunity to do that in the two-week break, and then at least two matches to do it, give a good account of ourselves, and we know we’re welcoming some supporters back for what could be the last game as well, and they all want to be part of that.

“We’ve missed having supporters there so to have them back for that game against the Dragons, that’s motivation in itself for any player to get back, wanting to play in front of a crowd.”

All the players will be hoping to feature on Gatland’s stand-by list.

“Definitely. I think that stand-by list is going to play a vital role,” McBryde said. 

“Especially for people who have that amount of experience, who are winners and have experienced playing at the highest level in Europe and internationally, competing at the top of the Six Nations, winning a Grand Slam, etc.

“You look at the history of the successful teams in both of those competitions, Six Nations internationally and then domestically in Europe, and both of those players (Sexton and James Ryan) are involved with one of the best teams in Europe.

“It’s going to put them in a good place. So definitely, they’ve got to keep the bit between their teeth and keep going, striving to improve, and making sure that when that opportunity comes that they are ready for it.”