Simon can satisfy yen to play proud Lions part

NEVER mind the congratulations for his call-up to the Lions squad in New Zealand, the first thing Simon Easterby received from his Ireland colleagues was a 2,000 yen fine for leaving the Japan-bound squad early.

Easterby's hasty departure from the Ireland party heading for a two-Test series in the Land of the Rising Sun may have hit him in the pocket to the tune of 15 but the Llanelli flanker, a replacement for the injured Lawrence Dallaglio, is sure to benefit in many other ways over the next five weeks Down Under.

Easterby joined up with the Lions at their Auckland hotel yesterday still a little shocked at his change in circumstances. "It came as a bit of a surprise but obviously I'm delighted. There are always going to be injuries because it's a tough tour, but I wasn't expecting this. Of course I was hoping that if there was an unfortunate incident and there was a replacement then I would be in the frame." The Irish squad had watched the Lions opening game against Bay Of Plenty on Saturday morning, said Easterby, but had not been aware that Dallaglio's injury had ended his tour.

"I didn't know how serious the injury was. We'd left for the airport before we heard any other news." The Irish international was keen that he should not be seen as direct replacement for the England World Cup-winning No 8. "I'm not coming here to fill Lawrence's boots. He's a one-off and, looking at the game with Bay Of Plenty, he was in outstanding form. He looked really sharp and it's a huge blow for him. I've got to hopefully bring something of my own to the tour and make a positive impact when I get the chance."

Easterby got a reassuring vote of confidence from the man he replaced. As Dallaglio begins his recovery from surgery on the fractured dislocation of his right ankle, he said: "whenever you lose anyone from the squad it's going to be a setback but it's a fact that one person's misfortune is another person's opportunity and Simon Easterby is coming out here after a fantastic Six Nations, played really well and has a really good opportunity."

To take his chance, Easterby recognises he has some catching up to do.

"The squad have been together for a few weeks now and I've just come in, so there's a lot I need to fill my mind with, a lot of systems and stuff I need to get used to. There's plenty to think about but hopefully I'll get my chance over the next couple of weeks."

Easterby already had plenty to think about in his personal life he is getting married to Welsh television presenter Sarra Elgan on July 30. While his insistence that he had already put in lots of wedding preparations was met with widescale scepticism, Easterby added: "she's got it well under control with her mother. She's delighted and proud."

The news will also delight future father-in-law former Neath and Wales wing Elgan Rees, who toured with the Lions to New Zealand in 1977 and to South Africa three years later.

The rugby connections will continue on the big day as former Llanelli team-mate and Lions colleague Stephen Jones is the best man, which will be a neat reversal of roles for the fly-half and the loose forward; now Jones has to look after Easterby for the rest of summer.