New Zealander Jared Payne has had his first taste of Lions action as the squad gathered for their opening practice in Wales overnight (NZ time), but not everybody's pleased about his presence.
Payne's inclusion has come under fire of late, with former Ireland lock Neil Francis highly critical of the fullback's selection for both the Ireland and Lions squads on the grounds of what he perceives to be flawed eligibility laws.
Francis said he "profoundly and vehemently disagreed" with the 36-month qualification rule for foreign players earning representative rights in his Irish Times column, citing both Payne and South African born flanker CJ Stander as examples.
"Payne [born and bred in New Zealand] gets to play against his own countrymen with a red jersey on his back. In the meantime, Garry Ringrose, born and raised in Ireland and a product of the Irish schools and provincial system, is left behind," wrote Francis, who played 36 Tests for Ireland between 1987 and 1996.
"Their rugby integrity too is undoubted. Nobody questions their commitment. The issue is that they are not Irish.
"The green shirt is not for sale. Only Irish people should represent Ireland in our sport, no matter how good a foreign alternative is."
Payne, who represented New Zealand at age group level, dismissed the criticism, stating he believes he's now well and truly a "converted Irishman."
"I'm more about the guys you play with, if they'll accept you then that's what counts to me," said Payne.
"Everyone's always been more than welcoming so it's no skin off my back...I'm more than happy with how the guys treat me and how they view me as a local."
"It's the longest I've ever been in one place now in Belfast - I've got my fiance and she's from Belfast, we've got a 9-month-old baby boy who was born over here, and we've got a house and a dog and the whole nine yards really.
"So I'm well and truly converted and I can't see myself going anywhere in the near future."
The former Northland captain couldn't help but feel a few nerves as the day's proceedings took on an undeniably surreal feel, admitting to feeling slightly overawed to be part of such a storied set-up.
"I think when you've got the best of the best up here getting together it is pretty intimidating.
"Not everyone's in yet so I think when everyone comes together and gets on that plane it's going to sink in pretty quick.
"You still feel like you're floating on cloud nine a bit, to tell you the truth. It all seems a bit unreal."
The Lions squad is expected to arrive in New Zealand at the end of the month before their first match against the Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on June 3rd.
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