British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton is in doubt for this week’s tour opener against the Barbarians after sitting out training in Hong Kong with a knee problem.
Warburton was on the sidelines as his teammates, cooled by huge pitchside fans, sweated their way through an hour-long workout in afternoon temperatures hitting 32 degrees and high humidity.
Wales’s Six Nations-winning skipper, who arrived with the the 37-man squad on Tuesday, must be a doubt to lead the team against the Barbarians at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday.
Assistant coach Rob Howley said the 24-year-old picked up the injury in training before the squad flew out to Hong Kong.
“Sam had a slight bump in training last week. It was important not to aggravate that before Saturday,” said Howley. “It’s a bit puffy, that’s all.”
Coach Warren Gatland might decide not to risk Warburton against the Baa-Baas with nine more matches in Australia including three Tests.
“There is that thought process (not to take a risk),” Howley said. “The thing about the Lions is there is a lot of strength in depth among the 37 players. The quality we have in the back row is there for all to see.”
But the injury further complicates selection for the Lions’ first game in Asia after Gatland said he would not use those who were in action for their clubs last week.
The Lions will also be without prop Gethin Jenkins, who has a calf strain, while back-row Sean O’Brien has been struggling with a knee injury, meaning three players are doubtful of the 22 who have been together for the past two weeks.
Warburton’s absence would mean an early chance for his compatriot and exciting back-rower Justin Tipuric to stake a claim for a Test place in the No.7 shirt.
It could also mean veteran Irish lock Paul O’Connell, who led the Lions on the 2009 tour of South Africa, wearing the armband once more.
Gatland will reveal his starting line-up on Thursday but the Barbarians have already named their 15, with Sergio Parisse leading a beefed-up team from the one that were mauled 40-12 by England at Twickenham on Sunday.
As well as No.8 Parisse, fellow Italian stalwart and tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni and All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko were also drafted in as reinforcements.
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