FORMER Gloucester captain Kingsley Jones believes flanker Ross Moriarty ought to be thrown into the biggest game of his life on Saturday and prove he can be a British and Irish Lions star the following week.

Cherry and Whites ace Moriarty has only played one match of the Lions tour of New Zealand which was the first unconvincing 13-7 victory over the Provincial Barbarians, a team of amateurs, last Saturday week.

He has since suffered a back niggle and missed the defeat to the Blues last Wednesday, the stunning victory of the unbeaten Super Rugby franchise Crusaders on Saturday and this Tuesday’s loss to the Highlanders.

With the first Test against the All Blacks now only 11 days away and Lions coach Warren Gatland picking the side to play the Moari All Blacks – rated as the unofficial ‘fourth’ Test of the series – Moriarty needs some game time to mount a bid for a back row spot on Saturday week.

Jones, who captained Gloucester between 1998 and 2001, said: “Yes. If I was Warren Gatland, I would pick him for the Moaris game.

“He has stepped up every time he has been asked and he has the mental toughness to relish the challenge.

“And if he plays well against the Moaris, why not pick him in the squad for the first Test?”

Jones, however, is not so sure that former Gloucester captain Greig Laidlaw can make the cut to face the All Blacks.

Laidlaw has played every game so far, starting against the Provincial Barbarians and coming off the bench for the rest.

However, said ex-Wales skipper Jones: “I would pick Rhys Webb to start and pick Connor Murray on the bench.

“Greig Laidlaw is doing a great job when plays but the other two have the edge.”