Steve Hansen believes a split has occurred in the Lions squad. One which divides Warren Gatland's panel of players into two clear groups - the midweek side and the weekend side.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Gatland named his team to play the Maori All Blacks on Saturday - it will be captained by Peter O'Mahony.
It is a much stronger team than that which lost to the Highlanders during the week, one which definitely resembles what is presumed to be the Lions XV for the first Test against the All Blacks on June 24th.
Gatland believes that prior that first Test, Gatland will call in further reinforcements. Though, that is something which he chose no to do following the tour-ending injury to Stuart Hogg.
There is a clear difference between the two teams, the Wednesday team and the Saturday team.
There is definitely a difference between the two squads in the way they're performing.
I think he is about to bring a few extra players out to give himself the ability to play two squads. He's at the stage where he wants to do that.
Asked if it would be from the 'UK' that Gatland would be sourcing these new players - presumably the reporter believes no further Irish players are deserving of a call-up - Hansen drew a laugh from the gathered media.
I guess so. I don't know where else he's going to get them from.
Hansen followed that up with what appeared to be a little dig at the number of southern hemisphere born players in the Lions squad.
