Warren Gatland shows no emotion as he kills three the World Cup hopes of three Lions stone dead

Career ending?

After last week's shambolic performance against Ireland, Wales coach Warren Gatland has take out his scythe and hacked the World Cup ambitions of three of the country's most well known rugby players to little-bitty pieces. Mike Phillips, James Hook and Richard Hibbard could be facing the end of their international careers after the former Ireland coach reduced his panel to 38 today. All three are former Lions and featured in last week's 35-21 loss in the Millennium Stadium. Phillips has 94 caps for his country and despite his move to Racing Metro has been very much a major feature of the Gatland era. The axe on his international career leaves Wales heading into a World Cup with Rhys Webb, Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams as  scrum-half options Ronan O'Gara expressed his sympathy for the One Direction fan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonanOGara10/status/631830342681411585 However the most head scratching could be the omission of Hibbard who is widely regarded as still one of the best forwards in world rugby. Sections of the Welsh public are not happy with Gatland's call. https://twitter.com/Dan9james9/status/631813989819908096 https://twitter.com/basaba07/status/631811647980617728 https://twitter.com/Mattster5950/status/631813967531409408