Bowe could be fit in fortnight

Munster and Ireland’s Simon Zebo was last night winging his way from Texas to Australia following his call-up by the British & Irish Lions as injury cover for international team-mate Tommy Bowe.

Zebo, 23, got the call from Lions operations director Guy Richardson following Ireland’s hard-fought 15-12 victory over the United States in Houston on Saturday night, as Bowe was having surgery on a broken bone in his hand, suffered earlier in the day against Queensland Reds in Brisbane. Bowe’s injury dealt a serious blow to Warren Gatland’s plans for the first Test against Australia back at Suncorp Stadium in 12 days as the Ulster man Bowe was in the process of cementing his place on the wing with a fine performance in the 22-12 victory over the Reds.

The head coach had already lost two loosehead props with tour-ending injuries to Cian Healy and Gethin Jenkins, with Alex Corbisiero and Ryan Grant arriving as replacements in time to watch the Lions overcome the considerable challenge offered by Queensland. Yet Gatland, speaking before Zebo was sent for, held out hope that Bowe’s surgical procedure to stabilise a bone fracture may go well enough for him to return in a fortnight.