Croft called up for Lions

Tom Croft has tonight been called into the British and Irish Lions squad after Alan Quinlan failed with an appeal against a 12-week suspension.

Munster back-row forward Quinlan was banned for making contact with the eye area of Leinster captain Leo Cullen in the Heineken Cup semi-final on May 2.

Lions coach Ian McGeechan sympathised with Quinlan, a surprise pick in the original squad, but insisted the rangier and more athletic Croft would offer a new dimension to the back row.

With just 11 caps Croft is still a Test rookie but the 23-year-old had a major impact in the latter stages of the RBS 6 Nations and was considered desperately unlucky to miss out on initial Lions selection.

“When you have a squad of 37 there are always going to be some close calls and Tom fit into that category,” said McGeechan.

“I rang Tom and spoke to him and he said yes. I also put in a courtesy call to Martin Johnson before that just to let him know.

“Tom brings speed and his line-out ability to the squad. We can look at developing his role in the back row. His presence is another string to our bow.

“I’m very disappointed Quinlan will have to miss out on a Lions tour but Tom is a young buck with a lot of talent. He gives us something different.”

The abrasive Quinlan, 34, becomes the third player selected in last month’s initial 37-strong Lions squad to be ruled out.

Quinlan’s Munster colleague, scrum-half Tomas O’Leary, broke his ankle three days after the party was announced and has subsequently been replaced by Scotland skipper Mike Blair.

Wales centre Tom Shanklin then suffered a serious shoulder injury and faces four months out with the Lions management opting against plugging the gap.

A fourth player’s involvement was also placed in doubt today when it was revealed Shanklin’s Wales team-mate Leigh Halfpenny will not depart with the squad for South Africa on Sunday.

The Lions medical team have decided Halfpenny should remain at home to undergo intensive treatment on a thigh injury that has proved to be more significant than first thought.

Halfpenny remains part of the squad and he will join the Lions in South Africa once he has regained full fitness. He is expected to be sidelined for up to a fortnight.

McGeechan said: “Leigh’s injury will take longer than first thought and we have decided to only go with fit players.

“You don’t want to be on tour not training or playing and he will get full medical attention in Cardiff.

“If the recovery goes as planned he we will join us as soon as he’s fit.”

With Halfpenny effectively ruled out of the Lions’ first two tour matches, McGeechan will summon an alternative tomorrow to take the squad back up to 37.

The Lions will be looking for a replacement not only to cover Halfpenny’s position on the wing and, potentially, at full-back, but his goalkicking.

England full-back Delon Armitage missed the chance of a call-up when the Lions opted not to replace Shanklin but his name will return to the frame.

The retiring Josh Lewsey is on the standby list and would offer cover on the wing and the centre, though he is not a goal-kicker, while Scotland’s Chris Paterson is also a possibility.