A bold call.

Former England and Lions scrumhalf Austin Healey reckons Warren Gatland should call up Mike Brown to his squad in the wake of Stuart Hogg’s withdrawal. Hogg was forced to withdraw as a result of a cheekbone injury he picked up while playing against the Crusaders.

Healey reckons Brown is the man for the job if Gatland’s side are to beat the All Blacks. He reckons Brown will be needed to implement the Lion head coach’s game plan, and should not only be called up, but put straight into the team.

“I never thought I would be writing these words, but if the Lions want to win the Test series against New Zealand then not only should Warren Gatland bring Mike Brown into his squad, he should put the England full-back straight into his team.” Healey writes.

“I have not always been Mike’s biggest fan. But if the Lions are going to implement Gatland’s game plan, which seems to be trying to win by stopping the All Blacks from playing, he is the only man for the job.”

“In Gatland’s style the primary job of the full-back is to catch every high ball, make every tackle and fight every man wearing a black shirt. If those are the criteria then Brown is a far better bet than Anthony Watson, Jared Payne or Liam Williams, the current front-runners for the job.”

What do you think? Does he have a point?

[Telegraph]