Shock at 'amazing' Darcy Graham's British and Irish Lions omission

“I'm disappointed for him,” he began.  

Cockerill continued: “I know he's had his injury issues in the last 18 months, and I don't know whether that's counted against him, but I think he's an amazing player. 

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• Why Darcy Graham's Lions dream might not be over just yet

“He finishes, he's got great feet and creates something from nothing.

"Duhan [van der Merwe] is an out-and-out finisher, whereas Darcy will get the ball with nothing on and he'll go inside-out and make a line-break because he's just so quick. 

 “And he's brave, he's great in the air. I mean, you never know. Hopefully he'll get an opportunity, but I am surprised.  

“There's some very good players in that group, obviously. But I'm disappointed for him because I think he's a quality player - good enough to get in most test teams.” 

Darcy Graham has had an excellent season (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) Lions boss Farrell said he was keeping two spots open in his squad, while Cockerill believes Graham must be ready in case of injury, and if called up, could go on to play an important part in the tour.  

“From the guys that I know that I've coached and played in the Lions, it's the end of the season and normally, everybody's a little bit tired, and then you turn up to the Lions camp, and the first training session's like a test match because everybody's bashing the s*** out of each other because they want to play in the first test match.  

"Someone will get injured.

"Generally, the guys that don't go in the first place have a bit of rest and keep ticking over and by the time they get called up, they're actually fresher and keener than the guys that have been there for two or three weeks, and they tend to get in the test team, so never say never.” 

While disappointed for Graham, the former Edinburgh head coach expressed his delight at seeing two players he signed, Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman, picked by the Lions.  

Cockerill signed both Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe during his time at Edinburgh Rugby (Image: Edinburgh Rugby) "Duhan's a world-class player,” he declared as the wing prepares for his second tour after starting all three tests against South Africa four years ago.  

“If he's fit and on form, there aren't many better wingers than him in the world.” 

And on Schoeman’s selection, he said: “I'm really happy for Pierre because he's worked really hard.” 

Cockerill coached a young Ellis Genge at Leicester Tigers and believes the pair could make a good partnership on the Lions loosehead.  

“They're quite similar in ball-carry, work-rate and scrummage-ability. 

“I think [Schoe] is amazing. He’s world-class – one of the best looseheads in the world, and such a good man with it.”