Tour over for Ferris as Lions’ curse strikes another Irish star
The Grand Slam winners’ once 14-strong representation in the Lions squad has now been reduced to 11 – and that includes the call-up for Gordon D’Arcy – after injuries to Tomás O’Leary, Jerry Flannery and Ferris, and the suspension of Alan Quinlan.
Confirmed Lions coach Ian McGeechan: “(Wales’) Ryan Jones has been called up to replace Stephen Ferris who unfortunately sustained a knee injury during Monday’s training. He twisted his right knee and, following a medical assessment, it was decided that he should undergo a scan to determine the extent of the injury.
“He had the scan on Tuesday morning that showed he had a grade two tear to his medial collateral ligament. This usually requires a four to six-week recovery period and is severe enough to mean he will miss the rest of the tour. Therefore with six matches left on tour after Wednesday’s match against the Sharks, we believe we need to fly out a replacement as cover for the back row,” said McGeechan.
“Ryan is on the standby reserve list and has been playing for Wales over the last few weeks in the USA and Canada. He knows a lot of the players and was a Lions replacement on the 2005 tour to New Zealand. On that tour he showed how competitive he is forcing his way into the Test side for all thee matches against the All Blacks.”
Jones will arrive in South Africa tomorrow and will meet up with the squad in Cape Town.
However there was further concern last night over Wales international Leigh Halfpenny, who only arrived late in South Africa after remaining at home for intensive treatment on a thigh injury. He made his first tour start against the Cheetahs last Saturday.
“He aggravated his old injury,” said Lions assistant coach Shaun Edwards, who confirmed Halfpenny would be scanned. We’ll wait and see.”
The Lions tonight tackle a Sharks team shorn of Test stars like John Smit, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar and Adi Jacobs, currently in camp with the Springboks.
But the tourists can still expect a fierce battle from South Africa’s second-ranked Super 14 side – their line-up features Springboks such as Deon Carstens, Johann Muller and Jannie du Plessis.
If the Lions are to make it four wins out of four – they’ve never lost in 10 previous meetings stretching back 99 years – breakdown supremacy and vastly-reduced turnovers will be vital.
“The breakdown and what goes on at the ruck in terms of quick ball is the most important part of the game,” admitted Lions skipper Paul O’Connell.
“With three games to go, we are halfway through the build-up before the first Test and probably places are still up for grabs. The more I think the squad believes that and the more it continues that way, the happier the squad will be.”
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