O’Kelly’s Lions misery as tour comes to premature end

Simon Lewis, Auckland

The 30-year-old lock, Ireland’s most capped player with 73 caps, was given the bad news following a visit to a specialist in Auckland yesterday after Lions team doctor James Robson sought a second opinion.

That came from a New Zealand doctor who decided the lower abdominal injury would not heal in time for O’Kelly to make a contribution to the Lions’ 11-match tour.

Simon Shaw has been called up as O’Kelly’s replacement.

The Irishman was forced to withdraw for the second Lions game in succession on Wednesday when a recurrence of the abdominal strain

denied him a place on the bench for tomorrow’s opening tour fixture against Bay of Plenty.

A similar injury robbed him of a start in the Lions international against Argentina in Cardiff 10 days ago.

The Leinster forward had thought he was over that problem and on Wednesday declared himself fit following his return to full training. Hours later, however, his withdrawal from the Bay of Plenty match was announced, with Munster’s Donncha O’Callaghan drafted into the replacements in his stead.

During a briefing yesterday morning at the Lions hotel in Auckland, team doctor Robson revealed that treatment on O’Kelly’s original injury had uncovered another problem for which he was being sent to a local specialist for a second opinion.

“Initially Mal’s injury, I felt, was an abdominal wall injury and he’d be recovering in about five to seven days,” Dr Robson said.

“We managed to return Mal to full training only for something else to occur. Without giving you a detailed anatomy lesson, you could describe him as having a lower abdominal oblique groin injury.”

Dr Robson said it was a peculiar injury that had prompted him to consult colleagues in the UK, Australia and then New Zealand.

“It’s a very complex case but I think we’ve unmasked something that’s been going on for a while and may have contributed to the injury that we were presented with a week ago.”

O’Kelly said: “I am obviously very disappointed that for me the tour is over. I have had this problem for a while but managed to keep it at bay. I have to be philosophical and accept the judgment of the doctors. It is as well just to accept it and go home, and let the coaches and players get on with the job of trying to win the series against New Zealand.”

His replacement Simon Shaw was thrilled. “I am delighted but feel for Mal and wish him well in his recovery. It is a great honour to be involved with the Lions, and it is all just sinking in but it will be fantastic to get out there and I am looking forward to the challenge that we will face in New Zealand.”