No danger of O’Driscoll missing opening Test

Brian O’Driscoll’s is not in danger of missing the British and Irish Lions’ first Test against Australia next weekend, head coach Warren Gatland insisting the veteran centre’s fitness is merely being carefully managed.

O’Driscoll played a full 80 minutes on Tuesday when he captained the Lions in a one-sided match against the Combined Country in Newcastle and was injured late on chasing a lost cause, stretching to keep a ball in play and doing the splits in the process.

With Manu Tuilagi also picking up a minor knock against Queensland Reds last Saturday and wing/centre George North developing a tight hamstring which forced his early withdrawal on Tuesday, Gatland yesterday called up Billy Twelvetrees as midfield cover, the England centre leaving his country’s tour of Argentina last night.

O’Driscoll won’t be involved against the Waratahs but Gatland said he would have been fit to do so if required.

“Brian’s 34 now, and we’ve spoken before about managing him. He’s been great on tour for us. We’ve spoken to Brian and Paul O’Connell who have both been around a fair while.

“It’s about being smart how we manage them, and we want to make sure they are fit for when next required.

O’Driscoll, Gatland said: “just woke up a little bit sore,” on Wednesday but was never a consideration for tomorrow’s game.

“We spoke about that with him specifically before the tour, saying that we didn’t really want him to play more than one game a week and at any stage if his body was a little bit sore we’d make sure that we keep him fresh and didn’t tire him out.”

As for the rest of the squad’s fitness status, the head coach said Tuilagi had a sore shoulder but was improving and the Leicester centre was training.

“We got a few bodies among the backs who have been knocked around, which is why Billy Twelvetrees has been brought in as cover.

“Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell have both been passed fit by the medical staff. We could easily have gone again with Stuart Hogg at 10, but Jonny is playing [against the Waratahs].

“There’s always the chance they might be a bit sore again after the weekend, so we have the cover as Billy can fill midfield and fly-half.”

Gatland said there had been an increase in physicality in the game since the Lions last toured four years ago and that may force a rethink in considering squad sizes for future tours.

“I think that as you move from one tour to the next, you realise how tough it is, especially for the players.

“The game’s physicality has increased from 2009 in South Africa, it has stepped up a level, and players handling two games in a week is tough. It’s something we need to be mindful of.

“If you’re writing a report at the end of the tour, you need to consider whether there’s a case for bigger squads from the start because of this step-up in physicality.”