Former Ireland international Denis Hickey has claimed that it is difficult to look at Brian O'Driscoll's axe from the British and Irish Lions squad as anything other than "emotive".

Head coach Warren Gatland has opted to exclude the Irishman from the squad to face Australia in the final Test of the series this weekend.

"The omission of Brian, if you don't look at it emotively, you are basically saying he is responsible for the lack of penetration in the last Test because the rest of the backline is the same," Hickey told BBC Radio Five Live. "He has carried the can. It is a very emotive decision over here."

The Lions head into the clash at 1-1 in the series.