Taylor was forced to fly home from his second consecutive Lions tour after a hamstring strain failed to clear up.

With Logans former Wasps team-mate Lawrence Dallaglio also ruled out of the tour after sustaining a broken ankle in the first match against Bay of Plenty, Logan reckons Taylor was set to deputise at number eight until injury struck the 25-year-old yet again.

A knee injury saw him return home from the last tour to Australia four years ago after only 45 minutes of play and, having only just returned from another knee problem, to not even get on to the pitch this time round has left Logan gutted for his friend.

Speaking as he helped launch a charity bike ride round all four home nations rugby grounds in aid of Nephrotic Syndrome charity NeST, he said: Im really gutted for him. Ive played with Simon for a long time and its disappointing for him, especially after the last Lions tour.

With Lawrence going he would probably have had a big chance of being in the Test team.

He will have another Lions tour and hes been lucky because some people dont get as close to a tour as hes got.

But Im devastated for him because hes a top player, one of Scotlands best players, and to then not get a chance, especially after what happened in his first tour, is very sad.

However, Logan has higher hopes for the remaining two Scots on the tour, scrum-half Chris Cusiter and hooker Gordon Bulloch.

He added: I think Cusiter will be behind Dwayne Peel, but at the moment I think its between the two of them. Cusiter has played well in the games hes come on and in the games hes started.

I think Gordon Bulloch is playing pretty well. His throwing in is good so that puts pressure on Steve Thompson and I dont think he wont be involved for the first Test.