by Mack Hansen turned out to be a great doubt about the first test of the British and Irish Lions against Australia, whereby Blair Kinghorn also fought to be ready for the Brisbane showdown in time.
Hansen suffered a foot injury on Saturday with the 48-0 strike of an Aunz Invitational XV and was unable to take part in the first full hole of the week on Tuesday.
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The Ireland wing is in dispute to provide Australia in the Suncorp Stadium, most likely as a bank option that covers the three backs, but the possibilities of proving its fitness are now very limited.
Mack Hansen (center) in action against Aunz Invitational XV (David Davies/Pa)
Kinghorn, who is seen as a full -back of the first election, also seems to be losing his fight against the knee injury against Act Brumbies on July 9 after it has been confirmed that he can only train on Wednesday at the earliest on Wednesday.
No player was excluded in this phase, but the attack coach Richard Wigglesworth has announced that the Lions have already selected their team for the start of the series – subject to delayed changes – where the players are to be communicated on Wednesday.
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“Mack injured the foot in the game. I don’t think it’s serious, but he was managed today (Tuesday),” said Wigglesworth.
“Hopefully it will be completely integrated pretty quickly. It is nothing we will get over. We will know a little more tomorrow.
“We have to see how Blair looks like. He didn’t fully train with the squad, but he was on his feet so that we will know a little more in the next 24 hours whether we can get it on the field.”
Blair Kinghorn has difficulty recovering from a knee injury for the first test against the British and Irish Lions with Australia in Brisbane (David Davies/Pa).
Andy Farrell will announce his team on Thursday with the identity of the flankers to the public and at the center of the focus.
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TADHG Beirne and Ollie Chessum seem to be included in a shootout for the number six jersey, whereby the better form of the English rear row on tour gives the advantage over a rival that led the team twice.
Tom Curry, Josh van der Flier and Jac Morgan, everyone could be selected at the OpenSide – the most competitive position in the team – with convincing arguments that each of them can start against the wallabies.
Another option would be to record curry on the blind side and either use Van der Flier or Morgan with seven, which means that Beirne or Chess, which Maro Itoje is connected, in the second row and not to make Joe McCarthy in the second row.
Huw Jones (left) seemed to take the interior for the lions in the first test against Australia after Garry Ringrose a concussion (David Davies/Pa)
Garry Ringrose’s 12-day stand for concussion has made the in-form-Huw Jones in the outside center a certainty, but the effects can be felt inside in the middle, where Farrell has to choose between Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu.
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Aki has led the greatest stroke in midfield on tour so far, but Tuipulotu has developed a deep understanding with the teammates of Scotland Jones and Finn Russell, which are certain at Fly-Half.
Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith have pushed themselves to the bank in the inclusion.
“We have such a quality in all positions, so we would lie if we said that the selection is easy,” said Wigglesworth.
“The selection meeting was talkative because it was the whole way through the tour. Everyone can express an opinion and is ready to be challenged. Then we will make a decision.”
