Lions hope Hook can face Baby Boks

THE Lions are hopeful that James Hook will be passed fit ahead of tomorrow’s clash with the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town.

Hook’s return to action must be signed off by an independent neurologist today but the Welsh fly-half has made good progress after suffering a concussion against the Southern Kings last week.

“James continues to make excellent recovery from his head knock last week,” said Lions doctor James Robson.

“We have high hopes of him being passed [today].

Hook will visit the same neurosurgeon who ruled Ryan Jones was not fit enough to join the tour after suffering a blow to the head playing for Wales in North America.

If passed fit, Hook is likely to feature at Newlands and he could also come into the equation for the second Test.

It would be a bold call for head coach Ian McGeechan to promote Hook into the starting XV but he does offer something different to both Stephen Jones, who struggled in the first Test defeat, and Ronan O’Gara.

Robson is still dealing with the injury fall-out from the 26-21 defeat in Durban, with full-back Lee Byrne their main injury concern.

Byrne was replaced before half-time with a strained left foot, which Robson believes to be only a “mild recurrence” of a long-standing injury.

“We have had time to initially assess him but it is still early. He needs treatment over the next two days and our aim is to get him ready for selection on Tuesday,” said Robson.

“It may well be that he has pulled a few fibres but he is walking fine”

Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts have both suffered no ill-effects after both centres took heavy blows to the shoulder.

Tom Croft suffered a slight calf strain and there were fears he had also suffered a twisted knee but the Leicester flanker responded well to a recovery session in the pool.

Winger Tommy Bowe sustained an elbow strain but, like Croft, Robson is confident he will be available for the second Test in Pretoria on Saturday.

Meanwhile Wasps and England loose head prop Tim Payne has been called into the squad for the remainder of the tour of South Africa. Payne has come in as cover for fellow England player Andrew Sheridan who has been suffering with a back injury.