England Lock George Martin Ruled Out of British & Irish Lions Tour
===========================================================
England lock George Martin has been ruled out of the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia due to ongoing injury concerns, according to reports from the Daily Mail. The Leicester enforcer has struggled with a combination of knee and shoulder injuries that have disrupted his season.
The 23-year-old hasn’t played since being replaced in the second half of England’s Six Nations win over France on February 8. As a result, he will also miss England’s summer tour of Argentina and the USA. Martin’s absence is a significant blow to the Lions, with two-time former captain Sam Warburton previously highlighting his potential as a tourist.
Lions head coach Andy Farrell is facing a number of fitness headaches ahead of the tour, with several players struggling with injuries. The Daily Mail reports that Leinster No 8 and potential captain Caelan Doris will undergo surgery on a shoulder problem, likely keeping him out for several months.
Injury Concerns Mount for Lions Ahead of Tour
——————————————–
The expected absence of Doris means England captain and Saracens second row Maro Itoje is now the overwhelming favourite to be named as Lions skipper. Behind the scrum, Farrell has concerns in the back three, where Ireland wing Mack Hansen has become the latest contender to join the growing casualty list.
Hansen will miss Connacht’s last two games of the season due to an ankle injury and is projected to be out of action for five weeks. Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe also suffered ankle damage while playing for Edinburgh against the Dragons on March 28, and his availability for the tour is uncertain.
England pair Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and George Furbank are also sidelined, while Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn is injured and facing a late arrival on tour due to club commitments with Toulouse. Farrell also has problems in midfield, with England centre Ollie Lawrence out of the tour after Achilles surgery, Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones both injured, and Bundee Aki of Ireland preparing to return from an enforced break.
Farrell’s Selection Headaches
—————————–
Farrell also has a big fly-half decision to make, with Scotland’s Finn Russell a nailed-on selection. However, England’s Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, George Ford, Owen Farrell, and Ireland’s Sam Prendergast are also vying for playmaker places.
Fin Smith has had a superb season, becoming England’s first-choice No 10. He got the better of Prendergast when Northampton beat Leinster in a thrilling Investec Champions Cup semi-final last Saturday. The Daily Mail quotes Fin Smith as saying: “You really go from not having thought about it to being like, ‘I’m going to be pretty nervous when the announcement’s happening’.”
Smith added: “I’m trying to prepare for the worst and if the best happens then how good!” He also spoke about his family connections to the Lions, with his grandfather Tom Elliot having toured in 1955.
Lions Squad Announcement
————————
Farrell will confirm his final squad for the tour at a glittering event at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday. The announcement is eagerly anticipated, with many players hoping to be selected for the hotly-anticipated series with the Wallabies.
The Daily Mail reports that Itoje is likely to be named captain, with Fin Smith pushing for a spot at fly-half. The Lions tour of Australia is set to be a thrilling series, with many top players vying for selection.
Conclusion
———-
The British & Irish Lions tour of Australia is set to be a challenging series, with both teams eager to emerge victorious. However, with a number of injury concerns, Lions head coach Andy Farrell has his work cut out for him in selecting a strong and competitive squad.
According to the Daily Mail, the final squad announcement will be made on Thursday, and fans will be eagerly anticipating the selection of players for the tour. With many top players in contention, the Lions tour of Australia promises to be an exciting and unpredictable series.
Source link
