SMITH’S A HOT TICKET
From ‘coming home’ to going away...
31 By MARCUS SMITH has given up the hottest ticket in football for the chance of a lifetime in rugby.
England’s newest fly-half had a seat reserved at Wembley for today’s Euro 2020 final. But instead of cheering on the Three Lions he has become one and suddenly finds himself 8,000 miles away from the centre of the sporting universe.
Concern for Finn Russell’s damaged Achilles led Warren Gatland to send out an SOS to the 22-year-old yesterday who was informed at Twickenham DURING England’s Canada win.
Smith was subbed off and he admitted: “I am shaking, massively overwhelmed.
“I did have a ticket for the football and I still think it is going to
British & Irish Lions 71
come home, but it’s always been my dream to represent the Lions.”
Gatland moved quickly after Russell was ruled out until at least the start of the Lionssouth Africa series.
“It isn’t a strained achilles, there is a slight wee tear in it,” said the Lions’ Kiwi boss. “We are going to try and see if we can rehab him, but if he doesn’t make good progress he may go home.”
The Scotland star failed to take his place in Pretoria last
night where the tourists made hard work of beating Sharks for the second time in four days.
They ended up scoring 11 tries and winning with plenty to spare, but that tells nothing of a contest which was locked at 26-26 until Jaden Hendrikse foolishly got himself sent off early in the second half.
“I think a few of us were still in our hotel rooms,” quipped captain Jamie George in reference to Wednesday when the players were forced to isolate until just before kick-off.
“The game got away from us
a little bit. We reacted poorly to setbacks.”
Three times they fell behind to opponents given no chance after their first choice line-up was battered in Johannesburg three days earlier.
Tries by Chris Harris, George and Tadhg Beirne pegged the scores back level at half-time but the Lions’ error count will have had the Boks licking lips.
They tightened up a bit after Hendrikse saw red for an elbow on Liam Williams’ head.
Jack Conan, Elliot Daly and George, again, crossed before fresh legs came off the bench to put the game to bed.
Beirne, with his second, and Tom Curry added to the try count before the impressive Anthony Watson scored twice on his first start.
Whether Smith gets that opportunity with just two games before the series starts remains to be seen.
Tries: Volmink (2), Abrahams, Hendrikse, Kok Cons: Cronje (3)
Tries: Harris, George (2), Van Der Merwe, Beirne (2), Conan, Daly, Watson (2), Curry Cons: Biggar (8)