RUGBY/ LIONS TOUR: KEITH EARLS is the only player in the 36-man Lions squad who will not be considered for selection for Wednesday's second match of the tour against the Golden Lions – the South African Super 14 side sacked their coach Eugene Eloff three days ago – at Ellis Park.
The young Munster and Ireland centre suffered a shoulder injury in the tourists’ 37-25 victory over the Royal XV in Rustenburg on Saturday.
The injury compounds what was a disappointing day for the 21- year-old but Dr James Robson, who heads the Lions medical team, is hoping that the player will be sidelined for just a couple of days.
He explained: “Keith Earls was very sore this morning. He sustained damage to the right shoulder area, specifically the joints at either end of his clavicle (his s/c and a/c joints). It is very sore and he is probably going to be out of action for two or three days.
“He sustained that very early in the game. I think one of their props fell on him. That may make more understandable how he got on in the first half. At the moment Keith Earls is unlikely to recover enough to be considered for selection (on Wednesday).”
Coach Ian McGeechan had to make two late changes to his match-day squad on the morning of the Rustenburg game with number eight Andy Powell crying off the team and Stephen Ferris from the replacements.
Ireland’s David Wallace started the game in the middle of the backrow while his compatriot Jamie Heaslip came on to the bench.
Powell’s injury was originally suggested to be an infected insect bite but he actually took a blow to the hand in training. It swelled up and was too painful for him to play.
Stephen Ferris is in the running for the most bizarre rugby injury of the tour after he managed to mildly strain a leg muscle getting off the team bus.
Lions captain Paul O’Connell suffered a corneal abrasion and was also sporting a bandage around his head. Robson confirmed: “He has a little corneal abrasion, possibly got a poke in the eye or scratched it himself. He finished the game fine but as I am sure anyone who’d had one of these injuries will testify they are incredibly painful. (There was) liberal use of anaesthetic drops last night; (I) patched him for a bit and hopefully sleep has worked its magic.
“My colleague, Gary O’Driscoll, stuck a needle into his ear to take out a little bit of blood and prevent further ‘caulification:’ I don’t think that’s a word but you get my drift (cauliflower ears).”
Luke Fitzgerald didn’t train for a couple of days because of a minor knee strain and a slight chest infection.
Mike Blair (rolled ankle), Mike Phillips (dead leg), Ronan O’Gara (shoulder contusion), and Riki Flutey (strained knee) are also nursing minor ailments that Robson described as no more severe than bumps and bruises.
There was also some good news about 20-year-old wing Leigh Halfpenny. He underwent two rigorous training and place-kicking sessions over the last three days in Cardiff and provided there is no reaction from his damaged thigh could join the tour by the end of the week. Powell and Ferris were available for selection on a Lions team to be announced at lunch-time today.
McGeechan may have to alter his plans slightly following the late withdrawals on Saturday and the inclusion from the start of Wallace against the Royal XV.
Rob Kearney – who had a bit of a stiff neck last week – should make his debut at fullback.
Assuming Fitzgerald is fit then he could make up a three-quarter line that includes the centre partnership of Brian O’Driscoll and Riki Flutey and Ugo Monye on the right wing.
There had been a suggestion that the Ireland captain wouldn’t play until Saturday but the indications are now that he will lead the side at Ellis Park in two days’ time.
Stephen Jones, the only unused replacement from Rustenburg, should form the halfback partnership alongside Phillips.
Again assuming that those on the bench from the weekend will start on Wednesday, it should see Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins joining England internationals Lee Mears and Phil Vickery in the frontrow.
Alun Wyn-Jones, a try scorer against the Royals, will be partnered in the secondrow by either Nathan Hines or Donncha O’Callaghan with the Australian-born Hines favoured to be given the vote.
This would allow McGeechan to partner O’Callaghan and O’Connell in next Saturday’s game against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Scot was thought to be considering playing an all-Irish backrow of Ferris, Wallace and Jamie Heaslip but that may now change given that Andy Powell requires game time and Wallace played against the Royal XV.
The coach’s problem is that he doesn’t have too many options at openside flanker.
It’s really down to Martyn Williams or Wallace. Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Tom Croft, O’Callaghan or Hines, Harry Ellis and James Hook will also presumably play against the Cheetahs.
McGeechan will also stay close by a television set today as his South African counterpart Peter de Villiers announces the Springbok squad for the upcoming three-Test series.
Upcoming Fixtures
Wednesday
Golden Lions v British and Irish Lions, Ellis Park (6.10, Irish time).
Saturday
Free State Cheetahs v British and Irish Lions, Bloemfontein (2.0, Irish time).
