Taylor fourth to fall to injury

THE Lions bowed to the inevitable yesterday and finally admitted defeat in the battle to get Simon Taylor fit in time to play a meaningful part in this tour of New Zealand.

The 25-year-old Scottish No 8 hasn’t played since the middle of May.

The unfortunate Scotsman also had to pull out of the 2001 tour to Australia with a knee injury and will now start a new, graduated rehabilitation programme, which will take at least two weeks.

Taylor is the fourth injury victim to withdraw from this Lions tour after Iain Balshaw, Malcolm O’Kelly and Lawrence Dallaglio.