The Australian Rugby Union has reacted to criticism about the strength of Australian provincial sides playing the British and Irish Lions by releasing four Wallabies to play for their Super Rugby sides over the next five days.

Waratahs captain Dave Dennis and inside centre Rob Horne will now be available to play for NSW against the Lions at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, while Brumbies forwards Peter Kimlin and Scott Sio will play for the Brumbies next Tuesday.

It is a major concession to the provinces and to the Lions, who have spent the past two weeks remarking on the relative weakness of their opponents when stripped of their Test players.

The decision will also give Wallabies coach Robbie Deans an inside line into the tourists' playing style when Dennis, Horne, Kimlin and Sio go back into camp after the completion of their matches.