Baa-baas & Warburton knee injury
Today the Barbarian XV to face the British and Irish Lions was announced. If the Lions were hoping for an easy opening match to their tour then they would have been left disappointed this morning as they attempt to acclimatise to the humidity of Hong Kong. Italian rugby supremo, Sergio Parisse, will captain the Baa-baas with internationals such as New Zealander, Joe Rokocoko, by his side. If this was not already a big challenge for the freshly united team, new concerns over captain Sam Warburton's fitness were also reported today.
The Welsh flanker is said to have bumped his knee during training and spent today's (Wednesday) training watching from the sidelines. However, assistant coach Rob Howley did not seem very concerned during today's press conference as he stated that Warburton's knee was "just a bit puffy, that is all". Over the next 24 hours the coaching staff will be keeping an eye on the Lions captain's knee to make sure that he is fit enough to play on Saturday. The last thing the tour needs is for Warburton to increase the seriousness of his knee injury by playing against the Barbarians that could prevent him from leading the side out to the field during the first series test match against the Wallabies.
The next few days will be very important for the Lions as they continue to develop the bond between each other as players and as friends as well as battling the humidity, prepare themselves to face their first opposition and to monitor Warburton's injury ahead of the official start of the 2013 tour.
Video from guardian.co.uk
Barbarians XV: Jared Payne (Ulster), Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne), Elliot Daly (London Wasps), Casey Laulala (Munster), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz), Nick Evans (Harlequins), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Sam Jones (London Wasps), Samu Manoa (Northampton), Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs), Marco Wentzel (London Wasps), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester), Schalk Brits (Saracens), Paul James (Bath).
Replacements: Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro), Kahn Fotuali'i (Northampton), James Hook (Perpignan), Mike Tindall (Gloucester).
The Welsh flanker is said to have bumped his knee during training and spent today's (Wednesday) training watching from the sidelines. However, assistant coach Rob Howley did not seem very concerned during today's press conference as he stated that Warburton's knee was "just a bit puffy, that is all". Over the next 24 hours the coaching staff will be keeping an eye on the Lions captain's knee to make sure that he is fit enough to play on Saturday. The last thing the tour needs is for Warburton to increase the seriousness of his knee injury by playing against the Barbarians that could prevent him from leading the side out to the field during the first series test match against the Wallabies.
The next few days will be very important for the Lions as they continue to develop the bond between each other as players and as friends as well as battling the humidity, prepare themselves to face their first opposition and to monitor Warburton's injury ahead of the official start of the 2013 tour.
Video from guardian.co.uk
Barbarians XV: Jared Payne (Ulster), Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne), Elliot Daly (London Wasps), Casey Laulala (Munster), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz), Nick Evans (Harlequins), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Sam Jones (London Wasps), Samu Manoa (Northampton), Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs), Marco Wentzel (London Wasps), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester), Schalk Brits (Saracens), Paul James (Bath).
Replacements: Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro), Kahn Fotuali'i (Northampton), James Hook (Perpignan), Mike Tindall (Gloucester).
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