Hayes bulling for tour action

JOHN HAYES had his hands full when he received a call up to this Lions Tour.

“I was just covering a silage pit when the mobile phone rang,” Ireland’s most capped player revealed last night.

“I answered the phone and it was Louise (Cheetham) from the Lions asking about my availability.

“I didn’t hesitate.”

Hayes, 35, is no stranger to the Lions – the Munster legend played four games on their tour of New Zealand in 2005.

The Bruff man was disappointed at failing to make the initial squad but managed to find some positives

“The thing I looked at non-selection was that it would give me time to rest; it was a summer off and I might get a bit of a break because I had toured most years before. But when I got the chance to go I jumped at it.”

He admitted he faces a huge challenge in this evening’s game against the hugely competitive Emerging Springboks.

“I felt fine in training already, but I know that it will be a big challenge to take them on in the scrums. I recognise that they have had a bit of scrum practice against the Springboks but we will just have to get down to the challenge.”

Hayes felt sympathy for Phil Vickery who struggled throughout Saturday’s opening Test.

He said: “These things happen. The Springboks started at 100 miles an hour and they got a big hit on in the early scrums and managed to drive through, never pausing for a second. It can be difficult in situations like that, not just for props but for the whole opposition pack.

“Eventually, the Lions got it right, but I suppose the fact that the Emerging Boks got to pack down with the senior side in the last couple of weeks will mean we must be ready for a similar challenge.

“If they decide to hit and chase, we just have to chase the hit ourselves and try to not let them get momentum.

“It’s more than about one man, it’s more about a unit, so hopefully we will get out there as a unit for this one.”