Lions coach Dick Muir says criticism of Carlos Spencer’s chequered return to Super Rugby is unwarranted and he has given the struggling former All Black his vote of confidence at the tournament’s halfway stage.

The Lions sit bottom of the table without a win to go alongside seven consecutive losses.

Spencer’s inability to inspire improvement in the struggling Lions has drawn plenty of debate in the rugby-mad republic with the first five-eighth was signed up on a massive two-year deal that brought him to South Africa from England where he had almost fallen off the radar.

Muir has retained Spence at No 10 for this week’s match against the Reds where he will line out against the form inside backs combination of Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

Muir had some words of encouragement for Spencer ahead of the Johannesburg showdown.

“I think it has been a bit harsh,” Muir told South African website Supersport when asked about the criticism of Spencer.

“But it shows the high standards people set for him and the high standards he sets for himself.

“Carlos has been a massive influence on the team and has been very valuable for us all.

“I’m sure he is relishing the opportunity of carrying on with a good performance on Saturday.”

There is undoubtedly an element of Muir backing Spencer in order to back his own coaching after rubber-stamping the costly acquisition of the former Blues star.

Muir, the successful Sharks coach and Springboks assistant coach, has had a tough introduction to life on the high veldt.

He has had Spencer helping with the coaching of the backs and it’s an area that the New Zealander is keen to explore.

The Lions have shown some reasonable moments on attack, averaging three tries a game.

But their defence has been woeful at times. They have leaked 37 tries and conceded 313 points to have the worst record by far.

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE – Stuff