29 Jun 2009

Injury concerns for Lions

6:23 am on 29 June 2009

The British and Irish Lions will be without first-choice props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones for next week's final rugby test against South Africa after both underwent surgery on injuries sustained in yesterday's defeat.

Jenkins suffered a cracked cheekbone while Jones dislocated his shoulder in an incident that led to Springbok lock Bakkies Botha being cited after the game the Springboks won 28-25 to take an unassailable 2-nil lead in the series.

Both men had surgery in Pretoria, and three other Lions also needed hospital treatment in the wake of the brutal encounter at Loftus Versfeld.

Brian O'Driscoll (concussion), Jamie Roberts (arm), Tommy Bowe (elbow) and Ronan O'Gara (cut eye) will all be monitored during the week before the team for the Ellis Park test is named on Thursday.

Winger Luke Fitzgerald had no lasting eye damage from the first-minute incident that led to a yellow card and subsequent citing for recalled Springbok flanker Schalk Burger.

Both South Africans will attend a disciplinary hearing.

Coach Ian McGeechan said he would not be calling up any further replacements for the final game and he still has four available props with Phil Vickery and Andy Sheridan as well as last week's call-ups John Hayes and Tim Payne.