Schmidt added: “I coached Bundee for several years and know him really well and respect him massively as a player. He’s a great contributor to the team environment.
“I’ve only had glancing conversations with Sione but again, by all accounts a champion bloke. You don’t get to be captain of a national team without being a great bloke and really professional in those high-performance environments.”
That eight of Andy Farrell’s 38-man squad were born overseas has been a talking point before the side make the trip down under.
Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth was later asked about Schmidt’s comments and said every player involved in the tour has “earned the right” to represent the side.
“I don’t know if they are questioning their commitment. Everyone has earned the right to pull on the Lions jersey,” said the former England scrum-half.
“They are, to a man, incredibly proud to be here.
“It is not your background or how you have got here, it’s what sort of player you are and what sort of man you are. We have got great men and great players.”
