Lions 2013: Chris Robshaw unlucky - Graham Rowntree
British and Irish Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree says England captain Chris Robshaw is "unlucky" to have missed out on the tour to Australia.
Flanker Robshaw, 26, was left out of the 37-man squad named on Tuesday, led by Wales' Sam Warburton.
"He was upset and quite rightly so, he's been exceptional for England," Rowntree told BBC Radio 5 live.
"There's going to be injuries and Chris will be one of the first names we turn to. He's desperately unlucky."
Lions down under 2013 - Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong
- Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth
- Sat 8 June v Queensland Reds, Brisbane
- Tue 11 June v Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle
- Sat 15 June v NSW Waratahs, Sydney
- Tue 18 June v ACT Brumbies, Canberra
- Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane
- Tue 25 June v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
- Sat 29 June v Australia, Melbourne
- Sat 6 July v Australia, Sydney
Harlequins star Robshaw's fellow Englishman Jonny Wilkinson was also not among the names that will travel down under for three Test matches.
The Toulon fly-half, 33, turned down a place in the squad because the French side are his "absolute priority", with the Lions' opening tour match against Barbarians in Hong Kong due to be played on 1 June, the same day as the Top 14 final.
With Wilkinson absent, only two fly-halves - Ireland's Jonny Sexton and England's Owen Farrell - are part of the touring party and Rowntree did not rule out the possibility of the 2003 World Cup winner being called up at a later date.
"We'll consider that as when we need to with injuries," added the former England international prop. "People talk about our reserve list, but we'll deal with that with each instance, seeing who is available and who is in form around the world.
"Those two 10s, Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell, we want them to play a lot of rugby going into the first Test to get this Lions backline firing.
"It give us enough to work out who we want to start in the Test, and give them enough time to work out how to navigate this Lions team around the field.
"We've not left it [Wilkinson's spot] vacant, we think we've got cover there for an emergency 10."
The Sydney Morning Herald has described the Lions squad as "slabs of red meat" , but Rowntree rejected claims that the party is one-dimensional. "We want a balance of size and power," he said. "We want to play different games, a power game and quick game. I think the squad represents that nicely.
"You can't put all your eggs in one basket with one style. That's why it was so hard to pick the squad because we've trying to get the balance right."
Harlequins star Robshaw's fellow Englishman Jonny Wilkinson was also not among the names that will travel down under for three Test matches.
The Toulon fly-half, 33, turned down a place in the squad because the French side are his "absolute priority", with the Lions' opening tour match against Barbarians in Hong Kong due to be played on 1 June, the same day as the Top 14 final.
With Wilkinson absent, only two fly-halves - Ireland's Jonny Sexton and England's Owen Farrell - are part of the touring party and Rowntree did not rule out the possibility of the 2003 World Cup winner being called up at a later date.
"We'll consider that as when we need to with injuries," added the former England international prop. "People talk about our reserve list, but we'll deal with that with each instance, seeing who is available and who is in form around the world.
"Those two 10s, Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell, we want them to play a lot of rugby going into the first Test to get this Lions backline firing.
"It give us enough to work out who we want to start in the Test, and give them enough time to work out how to navigate this Lions team around the field.
"We've not left it [Wilkinson's spot] vacant, we think we've got cover there for an emergency 10."
The Sydney Morning Herald has described the Lions squad as "slabs of red meat" , but Rowntree rejected claims that the party is one-dimensional. "We want a balance of size and power," he said. "We want to play different games, a power game and quick game. I think the squad represents that nicely. "You can't put all your eggs in one basket with one style. That's why it was so hard to pick the squad because we've trying to get the balance right."