The Lions wasted no time in starting Keith Earls’ mental and physical rehabilitation following his painful tour debut in Rustenburg. The 21-year-old Lions rookie endured a game to forget, epitomising an error-strewn first-half display from the team in general.
His frustration was laid bare when he angrily booted the ball away after spilling a high kick from the Royal XV.
And adding injury to insult, he now has a shoulder problem which means he probably will not be available for Wednesday night’s clash against Super 14 side the Golden Lions at Ellis Park.
But the Lions are already at work on the talented Munster and Ireland back.
“The Lions badge and jersey can make you do funny things,” said Lions assistant coach Rob Howley. “It can make you feel 6ft 8in tall, or you can drop that first ball and second ball.
“Keith Earls will be a much better player from the experience of yesterday.
“We’ve all had the t-shirt of those games we want to forget. With Keith, it is about nipping it in the bud now by talking about his experience so he will learn and gain confidence from that.”
Earls was not the only player who struggled, with passes often going to ground or being woefully misdirected, and the tourists will require a significant improvement in game two.
Lions head coach Ian McGeechan is set to make wholesale pre-planned changes when he announces his side tomorrow.
And while Earls is expected to be sidelined for two or three days, Lions doctor James Robson issued a largely positive squad fitness bulletin today.
Joining Earls in the wars were scrum-half Mike Blair (ankle) and centre Riki Flutey, who missed training today because of a slight strain, while skipper Paul O’Connell required anaesthetic drops to an eye abrasion.
Elsewhere, Ronan O’Gara took a bang on his shoulder, Mike Phillips is progressing well from a dead leg, prop Andrew Sheridan has blisters on his feet and wing Luke Fitzgerald is recovering from a minor knee strain.
Robson, meanwhile, delivered an upbeat assessment of two players who missed the Royal XV encounter through injury.
Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris is now fit after suffering a mild leg muscle strain getting off the team bus last week.
Robson said: “It was a bizarre injury, and an early contender for bizarre injury of the tour.”
And Wales number eight Andy Powell was back in training today doing weights after picking up a hand injury that denied him a starting place.
Robson described the current injury situation as “better than usual” for a Lions tour. He is on his fifth successive Lions trip.
“In 1997, we had 18 players injured halfway through the tour,” he added. Even minor ailments have to be documented — we catalogue them all.”
And the Lions, meanwhile, remain hopeful that Wales wing Leigh Halfpenny is on course to link up with the squad in South Africa.
Halfpenny stayed at home when the Lions flew out last Sunday in order to have intensive treatment on a thigh injury.
Robson said: “Leigh is doing very well, by all accounts. He did a very good kicking session on Friday, he had a day off yesterday, and he is now going to repeat his kicking and place kicking session.”
If 20-year-old Halfpenny stays on his current course back to fitness, it is possible he could arrive at the Lions base by midweek.
