Plantar fasciitis may rule Joe McCarthy out of second Lions test but Ringrose set for return

On Sunday, the Lions called in another lock, Scotland’s Gregor Brown, as a precaution, to join a trio of fellow Scots drafted in by Farrell from their national team’s New Zealand-based tour

SMILING JOE: Irish internationals Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy celebrate after Saturday's win in Brisbane, but the Leinster lock could miss out on the second test in Melbourne. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

The British & Irish Lions are confident Garry Ringrose and Blair Kinghorn will be fit to return to action on Tuesday night when the tourists play the First Nation & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium, but Joe McCarthy has emerged as a doubt for next Saturday’s second Test against Australia.

The 27-19 victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday saw second row McCarthy withdrawn after 42 minutes with head coach Andy Farrell explaining the Ireland lock is suffering from an inflammation of the fibrous tissue on the underside of a foot.