British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has delivered an upbeat fitness bulletin on three members of his squad.
Captain Sam Warburton, halfback Conor Murray and lock Alun Wyn Jones are all currently injured.
They were named last month in the 41-man squad for the tour of New Zealand tour, beginning next month, and remain on course to be fully fit.
Warburton is sidelined with a knee injury but he could play for Cardiff ahead of the Lions’ departure for Auckland on May 29.
Ireland star Murray, meanwhile, has not played since mid-March due to a shoulder problem, and Warburton’s Wales teammate Jones also has a shoulder injury.
“He (Warburton) is good,” Lions head coach Gatland told Sky Sports News HQ.
“I spoke to Sam yesterday, and he feels that he could play now, and so he has made some really good progress and is really happy with how he has responded to treatment over the last few weeks.
“I expect him to play before he goes to New Zealand.
“(Jones) is making good progress as well. (Lions assistant coach) Steve Borthwick went down and saw him last week, and he’s confident that he is going to be okay as well.
“Conor Murray, the prognosis with him looks pretty positive in terms of hopefully getting back and getting a game for Munster as well, and that will be good for him over the next few weeks if he can get a game.”
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I hear what you are saying and that tactic will most likely be used by AB's. But I think we can be just as certain that BIL will target Beauden Barrett nonstop. As a fellow Neutral I also look forward to this series very much. So pumped already.
Kaizer
Roar Rookie
I was moreso in the thought that AB's will flood that 10 & 12 Channel with SBW and others as it takes Sexton and Farrell out of the game (ever so briefly) which allows the second wave with Barrett running at a line without those two in it. Its all hypothetical but it will be mouth watering. As a neutral I expect the highest order of rugby, sadly we have been deprived of that in Australia.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
AB's have better edge and depth among the backs (but Beauden and Bender would be very hard to replace for them) Among the forwards no one has a clear edge, but B&I Lions depth is a lot better. It will most likely be a brutal battle all over the field, but I don't think Gats is losing any sleep worrying about SBW & Co will smash Sexton and Farrell (they are so used to it and deals with pretty good and none of them is a soft pretty boy).
Kaizer
Roar Rookie
The series may come down to the battle of the back lines. Truly believe it will be trench warfare up front and I'd say parity at best for both respective forward packs but the edge for me would be the All Blacks back line. That 10 & 12 channel (assuming that it's Sexton and Farrell) will be peppered with SBW, Savea, Naholo et al. However, we all know that the kiwis will play a smart brand of attacking rugby. I'd honestly keep George North as far away from the Lions starting line up or even the bench as he is a liability that will be exposed by Barrett & Co.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
To be fair, it is only Warburton and AWJ that are injured right now among Gats Welsh favorites. But if he plans to play both from start it smells trouble, how can anyone go from rehab straight to Test rugby in NZ against AB's? And neither of them have proved themselves against AB's with honors. Personally I totally understand why Gats made Warburton captain, but I really hope that Gats will stay true to his word that if the captain don't merit at starting spot, he will be benched. And for me Sam Warburton is neither the best 6 or 7 in the Lions squad, but he is a perfect captain for the midweek side and a solid option for a bench spot in the Test squad if some of the other starters get injured. At the moment I would pick 1. McGrath 2. Best 3. Furlong 4. Kruis 5. Itoje 6. O'Mahony 7. O'Brien 8. CJ Stander (Billy on the bench as impact player from minute 50) 9 Murray 10. Sexton 11. L Williams 12. Farrell 13. Joseph 14. Daily 15. Hogg 16. Mako 17. George 18. Sinckler 19. Lawes 20. Billy 21. Youngs 22. Henshaw 23. North
Londoner
Guest
It worries me that Gatland is going to be putting alot on players coming back from injury. Rugby union is like league and nfl the most brutal of games and surely it is wise to plan around players who are not coming back from injury for roles like captain and vice captain. For what it is worth, Rory Best would have been a Ideal choice for captain I hope the Lions win the series however right now I am feeling it is likely to be 3-0 to Nz in the series and probably 2-3 of the non test matches will be lost as well. Am not going to say Gatland is not a good coach as clearly he is, however I do think he's placing too much faith in players whose best days are behind them - this idea that it matters if someone is a good tourist or that they played well 4 years ago is not going to count for much in the face of the array of talent NZ have. Further, to think attrition based rugby with a good goal kicker will beat them is wishful thinking, south africa showed that last year in the rugby championship games. It did not work for them.... As others have Said it's very likely up to 50 players will be used for this tour when injuries are taken onto account. The likes of Haskell, Launchbury and the Gray brothers may yet get a look In....
Jock Cornet
Guest
That lions pack is extremely strong, I agree it is the lions backs that are weak.
englishbob
Guest
Cant argue with the launchbury comment, gatland is possibly considering the well worn partnership between itoje/kruis greater than the sum of its parts. Harsh on launch but selfishly as an england fan ill be glad to have him in Argentina which may turn out to be a tough tour. The itoje blindside experiment is, at best, a work in progress and he's one of the few lions that might challenge for a place the all blacks team so you have to start him
Kaizer
Roar Rookie
I'd honestly go with Itoje and Kruis in the locking department allowing CJ, Warburton and Billy as your loose forwards. Warburton only because he's captain, had it not been for that, I'd have SOB in the 7 jersey with Tipuric on the bench. I think the forwards are the least of WG's worries. Back line combinations seems to be more of a concern. 1.Mako Vunipola 2.Rory Best 3.Tadhg Furlong 4.George Kruis 5.Maro Itoje 6.CJ Stander 7.Sam Warburton 8.Billy Vunipola
cuw
Guest
http://www.planetrugby.com/news/wasps-and-exeter-flying-but-overlooked-internationally/ Wasps and Exeter flying but overlooked internationally Date published: May 4 2017
cuw
Guest
at least 3 more weeks before the tour party gets on a plane - so am sure there will be few injuries in the domestic matches. then the tour itself is long match-wise but short time - wise ; so there will be a few more injuries. this tour may end up with about 50 players being named. but the countries are also playing tests . so availability of replacement players will become an issue as the tour goes on...
adastra32
Guest
I'm off to the Wasps v Sarries match-up on Saturday with the DTRR boys so will check out Launchbury's status as a Lion manqué...probably (if I can remember).
Fionn
Guest
The main thing that can be said about AWJ is that he would have good leadership qualities if brought in off the bench. I think it is hard to argue that he is better than the 2-3 best English locks (incidentally, the best current English lock is Launchbury, who was overlooked entirely, but that is another story). Warburton shouldn't start at 7.
englishbob
Guest
good news for the lads themselves but the two welsh lads should be confined to the mid week team. Both have proven time and again they aren't capable of beating NZ, and barely beating the 2013 wallabies is no comparison to this all blacks team. both warriors but not what's needed in this case