Warren Gatland has just picked his Lions Test squad - and doesn't include a single one of his Wales players in it.
Gatland's snub for his own stars comes on the back of a hugely disappointing Six Nations campaign which saw Wales lose four out of five games and finish only above Italy.
It is not the start to his new tenure as coach that Gatland wanted and the Kiwi says much work needs to be done to get the side ready for the World Cup this autumn.
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Reflecting upon the Six Nations, the three times Lions coach has named his current best of Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland in a column he writes for the Telegraph. None of his Wales players make the cut.
Quite what Wales' leading stars will make of that choice as they begin preparations for the World Cup is anybody's guess. It could even be argued Gatland picking some of his Wales players, but ignoring others, might prove divisive in the dressing room.
Whatever, Gatland's Lions match-squad 23 is made up of 12 Irishmen, seven Scots and four England stars.
The Wales coach says his call is "simply a reflection of where we are as a team" at the moment. He insists Wales will get better and a Lions selection could look completely different after the World Cup.
Defending his selection, Gatland writes: "Throughout my coaching career, I have always tried to be transparent and honest about my selections. Previously when I have been Lions coach, I have been criticised for not picking enough Scotland players, but that was because I felt it reflected where they were as a team at the time.
"Which explains why if I was to pick a Lions side to play a Test match next weekend, I would not have any of my Wales players in the 23. It is simply a reflection of where we are as a team right now. I thought we improved as the Six Nations went on, but we still have a long way to go."
He did, however, stress: "I am confident that we will get better, and it would be interesting to see if we do this exercise again after the World Cup warm-up games and the World Cup itself, how much it would change."
Gatland names an entire backline of Irish and Scots players. Ireland, of course, won the Grand Slam, while Gregor Townsend's Scotland finished in third place, above England and Wales.
Among the chosen ones are Jonathan Sexton, who Gatland says would be his Lions captain, and his Ireland half-back partner Jamison Gibson-Park.
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Gatland says of Sexton, his fly-half on the 2017 tour to New Zealand: "He had a tremendous Six Nations campaign and like a good wine seems to be getting better with age.
"He runs Test matches like a chess grandmaster – he has plenty of time on the ball and is excellent at making the right decisions in terms of when to run, pass or kick."
Two England captains, Ellis Genge and an old Gatland Lions favourite Maro Itoje make the forwards, which is otherwise dominated entirely by Ireland's pack.
In choosing hooker Dan Sheehan ahead of his own Wales captain Ken Owens, Gatland argues: "There are a lot of good hookers around at the moment and Ireland have a few of them, but Dan has some X-factor in terms of his pace and causes a lot of problems when he carries and scores tries."
His choice of Ireland No.8 Caelen Doris ahead of Wales 100-cap man and Lions stalwart Talulpe Faletau sees Gatland say: "He would have been in contention for the Lions in 2021 had he not missed the Six Nations that year because of concussion. Has emerged as one of the best No 8s in the world – a big ball carrier with an excellent work-rate."
On Itoje, Gatland says: "I feel Maro has plateaued in the last few years since his upward curve when he burst onto the scene, but I still think he is a world-class lock. I still think there is more growth in him - another level."
It's a similar story among the replacements, with Gatland choosing four Scots, two Ireland players and the England half-backs Alex Mitchell and Owen Farrell."
He calls scrum-half Mitchell "My bolter selection," and writes of Farrell: "I have gone for the experience and leadership of Owen. It could have been Marcus Smith if he had more game time and obviously Finn Russell would have probably come into the 23 if he was fit."
Gatland's Lions team: Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Huw Jones (Scotland), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), James Lowe (Ireland); Jonathan Sexton (Ireland, capt), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Ellis Genge (England), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), James Ryan (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Jack Conan (Ireland), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Caelen Doris (Ireland).
Replacements: George Turner (Scotland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Zander Fagerson (Scotland). Jonny Gray (Scotland), James Ritchie (Scotland), Alex Mitchell (England), Owen Farrell (England). Robbie Henshaw (Ireland).
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