Former Australia coach Bob Dwyer has launched an attack on the British and Irish Lions by claiming that Warren Gatland's men are using underhand tactics.

The 71-year-old, who led the Wallabies to World Cup glory in 1991, said that, having watched the Lions win their four warm-up games, he is not surprised that they are coached by a Kiwi.

"It's not supposed to be a contest to see who can cheat the best, it's who can play the best" the Daily Mail quote Dwyer as saying.

"You don't have to be smart to cheat. You just have to be a cheat.

"It doesn't come as any surprise they're coached by a New Zealander (Gatland), because they play outside the laws of the game as every New Zealand side does."

The Lions take on the New South Wales Warratahs today.