Lions Tour: Greenwood hit by injury

Will Greenwood’s hopes of a Lions Test debut have been dashed by injury for the second successive tour.

England centre Greenwood has withdrawn from the Lions 22 on duty against world champions Australia in tomorrow’s Test series decider.

Greenwood, who missed out on Test recognition in South Africa four years ago and both Tests during the current Wallabies series through injury, should have been among the substitutes at Stadium Australia.

But the 28-year-old experienced a reaction to an ankle problem in training yesterday, and is also suffering from flu.

His place on the bench will be taken by 30 times-capped Wales centre Mark Taylor, who now joins Swansea team-mates Darren Morris and Colin Charvis as back-up personnel.

‘‘Will trained on Tuesday and Wednesday, but suffered a reaction to an ankle injury yesterday. He also has a bit of flu, and so is not fit to take his place on the bench,’’ said Lions manager Donal Lenihan.

Wing Austin Healey, preferred to dropped Welshman Dafydd James, didn’t train today because of a slight back spasm, but Lenihan added: ‘‘We are confident that he will be fit.’’