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.
Well Ruck me.
Guest
"They do, thats news to me" What, have those players ceased to exist? If Warburton is injured they will bring in a replacement like all squads do. Roarer obviously knows very very little about rugby if he thinks those players are "laughable". Robshaw should be a starter in the Lions team in my opinion and over the last 12 months has been excellent at test level. Warburton has been poor, dropped, reinstated and had the captaincy taken from him in the last 12 months. So laugh it up Roarer.
Derm
Roar Guru
They do? News to me.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
That's a sound and insightful analysis. Cheers.
Roarer
Guest
Those 4 players are laughable.
Well Ruck me.
Guest
Because he is a 33 cap veteran from one of the best teams in the world. Ahhh Australians, the country where fans hate their own players.
Well Ruck me.
Guest
Because they have Armitage, Robshaw, Wood and Brown as replacements.
Roarer
Guest
You'll soon notice the difference without Warburton. A lot of his work goes unnoticed. He tackles his heart out, always in the rucks slowing down possession (probably illegally, but hey ho who doesn't these days) and makes turnovers. As of late he has started to come back into form, so I don't understand how he'll be no loss.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Bit of a joke Rowan Varty isn't even playing for the BaaBaas
Bayxxx
Guest
Token australian
DJW
Guest
How did Mumm get a call up for the Baa Baa's?
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
Ahh. Still love watching the clip of Ngwenya running around Habana to score a few years back . Man, that boy has some serious pace. No Warburton? A shame for him personally if he cannot tour of course, but no huge loss to the Lions side IMO.
moaman
Roar Guru
Heard of 'Google'? ;-) Reuters) – Barbarians coach Dai Young named the following team on Wednesday to play the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong on Saturday. 15-Jared Payne (Ulster), 14-Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne and New Zealand), 13-Elliot Daly (London Wasps), 12-Casey Laulala (Munster and New Zealand), 11-Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz and U.S.), 10-Nick Evans (Harlequins and New Zealand), 9-Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz and France), *8-Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais and Italy), 7-Sam Jones (London Wasps), 6-Samu Manoa (Northampton and U.S.), 5-Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs and Australia), 4-Marco Wentzel (London Wasps and South Africa), 3-Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester and Italy), 2-Schalk Brits (Saracens and South Africa), 1-Paul James (Bath and Wales). Replacements: Duncan Jones (Ospreys and Wales), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso and Italy), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester and Scotland), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz and France), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro and Italy), Kahn Fotuali’i (Ospreys and Samoa), James Hook (Perpignan and Wales), Mike Tindall (Gloucester and England). * Denotes captain
Nugget
Guest
Can anyone tell us where we can find the barbarians lineup?