Tomos Williams has been cruelly ruled out of the rest of the British & Irish Lions tour in Australia because of the hamstring injury he sustained in last weekend’s big win over the Western Force in Perth. The 30-year-old Gloucester scrum half scored two tries in a stand-out performance. He picked up the injury as […]
Tomos Williams has been cruelly ruled out of the rest of the British & Irish Lions tour in Australia because of the hamstring injury he sustained in last weekend’s big win over the Western Force in Perth.
The 30-year-old Gloucester scrum half scored two tries in a stand-out performance. He picked up the injury as he dived to score his second try in the 54-7 triumph. The Lions have now called up Scotland scrum half Ben White, who was in New Zealand with his country, to replace Williams.
“This is desperately sad news for Tomos and we wish him all the very best in his recovery. He is an exemplary Lion and he lit up this tour with both his personality and his talent,”said tour manager Ieuan Evans.
Two appearances into his debut Lions tour and Williams had laid down an early marker for Test selection. Now he follows in the footsteps of other Welsh scrum halves who have had their Lions experiences cut short.
Gareth Edwards was ruled out of the final two Tests in South Africa in 1968 with a torn hamstring, while Terry Holmes was an unfortunate casualty for the Lions in both South Africa in 1980 and New Zealand in 1983.
But arguably the most unlucky Welshman on a Lions tour was Cardiff flanker Stuart Lane, who lasted a mere two minutes of the opening game against Eastern Province at Port Elizabeth’s Boet Erasmus Stadium. He suffered a terrible knee injury and was ruled out of the tour before it had virtually started.
Williams, who crowned his first year at Gloucester by being names as the Gallagher Premiership player of the season, will head home to leave Jac Morgan as the only Welshmen in the Lions squad.
Morgan will get his second start on Wednesday when the Lions face Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium. The Wales and Ospreys skipper will join a new look back row with Tom Curry and Jack Conan as Farrell’s side seek to build on their 54-7 win over Western Force at the weekend.
It will be Morgan’s big chance to lay down a marker ahead of the first Test as he makes his second tour appearance after starting in the 28-24 defeat to the Pumas.
Maro Itoje returns to captain the side and will be joined in the second-row by fellow countryman Ollie Chessum. They will pack down behind an all-change front row with Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Will Stuart forming a strong unit.
Ireland No8 Jack Conan gets his first start of the tour, while fellow Leinister clubmates Hug Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park make their first appearances at full back and scrum half.
“We know each game on this tour will be a step up from the game before and three more players are set to make their Lions debuts on Wednesday night,” said head coach Andy Farrell.
In the corresponding fixture in 2013, the Lions won 22-12, but required a 100% record off the tee from Owen Farrell as the hosts outscored the visitors two tries to one.
The British & Irish Lions v Queensland Reds
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) #858
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #878
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841
10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland);
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (C) #825
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England) #875
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales) #861
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) #851
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/ England) #859
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #856
19. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
20. Ben Earl (Saracens/England) #857
21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) #860
22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England) #862
23. Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #872