Gordon said: "It's hugely disappointing, but I really enjoyed Tuesday night and I was very tired after a tough 80 minutes. "I was hopeful of getting into the Test squad this week, but with not being taken off against Auckland, which I was glad of to be honest, I had a feeling my Test chance had gone. I feel very sorry for Chris because I know how it feels to sit on the bench right through a midweek game like that and then miss out on the Test selection. I had eight minutes on the field in the first Test [against Australia] in 2001, but was then a sub against the Brumbies before the second Test and didn't get on, and never got in a Test squad again.
"It's difficult, but the decision has been made and you have to live with it. Steve Thompson played really well on Saturday and I'm delighted for him."
On Gordon, Clive Woodward said: "He was very, very close. He had a huge game on Tuesday, but we wanted a fresh player. He has been brilliant as the midweek team captain, but we need a fresh team out there at the weekend."
The same standards don't seem to apply to Matt Dawson, however, who also played 80 minutes on Tuesday but is considered fresh enough to be named among the substitutes. Gordon's fellow-Scot, Chris Cusiter, by contrast, was on the bench for the entirety of the Auckland game, and misses out yet again. Gordon could easily have been taken off and replaced by Andy Titterrell against Auckland were Woodward of a mind to promote him. In fact, the coach has selected three players from the win over Auckland to start tomorrow against the All Blacks.
Shane Byrne is understudy to Steve Thompson for Saturday's Test.
This is now the first Lions tour not to feature a Scot in the Test series.