Lions facing ‘brutal’ tour schedule down under, warns Isa Nacewa

Isa Nacewa fears the British & Irish Lions could be beaten up before they even reach the first Test given their “brutal” tour schedule.

The Leinster captain, who played against the Lions for provincial side Auckland on the 2005 tour, has joined the chorus of concern for the tourists over the punishing nature of 10 games in six weeks against top-level Super Rugby teams.

Warren Gatland’s 41-man squad were due to touch down in Auckland last night (Irish time), with just three days of acclimatisation and training before the tour kicks off against the New Zealand Barbarians in Whangarei on Saturday.