The British and Irish Lions touched down in Australia, with head coach Andy Farrell revealing lingering damage issues over Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan.
Farrell’s squad arrived into Perth after a 20-hour journey from Dublin through Doha forward of Saturday’s opening fixture on Australian soil in opposition to the Western Drive.
There’s doubt over whether or not Eire duo Gibson-Park and Keenan will be capable to participate at Optus Stadium due to respective glute and calf issues, however Scotland centre Huw Jones has recovered from an Achilles subject and is offered.
“We’ll see how they pull up in midweek,” Farrell mentioned of Gibson-Park and Keenan.
“Huw Jones is good, he’s been training. He trained fully with us last week so he’s up and running.”
Farrell confirmed that the staff in opposition to Western Drive will principally be made up of gamers from Leinster, Bathtub and Leicester, who joined up with the Lions after final Saturday’s United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership finals.
There have been no recent accidents arising from Friday’s 28-24 defeat by Argentina on the Aviva Stadium, with Farrell eager to not dwell on the disappointing tour send-off.
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Sky Sports activities’ Eleanor Roper and former Lions captain Sam Warburton dissect the speaking factors from the Lions’ opening match in opposition to Argentina
“We’re here to build for what’s going to be a fantastic Test series. We want to play some good rugby along the way,” he mentioned.
“We’ll find out more about each other as we keep on going. Of course we’ll analyse what went on against Argentina and why, but that’s all part of the journey – to understand where we need to go next.
“It is nice to be right here, that is what it is all about. We’re right here for a superb time. Hopefully we will begin this a part of the tour off rather well on Saturday.”
What’s next for the Lions?
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.
