Such is the way of these things that news of Lawrence Dallaglio's knee problems and the ensuing threat to his Lions' participation invariably prompted speculation as to whether the Irish quotient might be increased to seven by the addition of, say, Eric Miller, or David Wallace.

As it transpires Dallaglio's damaged cruciate knee ligament injury is expected to clear up within three weeks and so he has been given until the last week in May, when the squad assembles in England, to prove his fitness. In any case Martin Corry or Joe Worsley are supposedly top of the standby list of loose forwards.

Indeed, somewhat remarkably, not one Irish loose forward apparently makes the unpublished standby list, much less the original eight backrow forwards included in the squad of 37. It is believed that among those on standy are Peter Clohessy and John Hayes, and wingers Denis Hickie and Tyrone Howe.