Counting cost of ‘brutal’ tie

DR James Robson yesterday described the second Test against South Africa as “brutal” after it left five of the British and Irish Lions in hospital.

Props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones both had to undergo surgery and will miss the third and final Test of the series in Johannesburg next weekend. Jenkins suffered a fractured cheekbone in a clash of heads with Bryan Habana while Jones dislocated his shoulder in a challenge from Bakkies Botha.

The Springboks lock, who relishes his role as second-row enforcer, was subsequently cited for the offence.

Brian O’Driscoll was replaced early with concussion while Jamie Roberts has a sprained wrist and Tommy Bowe an elbow strain.

Dr Robson said: “It certainly was a fairly brutal game. As the casualty list goes it is not something I am happy with. To lose two of our most colourful characters in Gethin and Adam is distressing. Gethin has had a plastic plate inserted. The timescale for his recovery is six to eight weeks.

“We couldn’t get Adam’s shoulder to pop back in at the stadium and he was required to go to theatre. He will be subject to further investigation and specialist opinion. Brian is very much alert and conscious today (Sunday) but he is subject to the usual return to play protocol.”

The Lions will not send for any further replacements ahead of the third Test and will monitor the likes of Bowe and Roberts closely before deciding whether they are fit to feature at Ellis Park.

The squad have been given two days off and the majority of players – apart from the walking wounded who have been kept behind in Pretoria – are going on safari. Along with Jenkins and Jones, Ronan O’Gara is one of those to remain behind after his left eye was forced closed by a nasty cut. He had to have the wound stitched to complete a thoroughly miserable personal weekend.

If McGeechan intends selecting from within for the third test, it will mean a call-up for Andrew Sheridan and probably Phil Vickery to the front row, although John Hayes could feature despite his lack of match practice.

Gordon D’Arcy is now in line for a place in the centre, an area that is particularly worrying for McGeechan and the rest of the party. They will be hoping that at least one of the two injured players recovers in time.

Jenkins’ injury was a complete accident when he clashed heads with Springboks winger Bryan Habana, but there was a more sinister side to the injury suffered by Jones, who was taken out by second row Bakkies Botha.