Rowntree in no doubt over Warburton’s fitness

Graham Rowntree has “no doubt” Sam Warburton will play again for the British and Irish Lions before the start of the All Blacks Test series.

Captain Warburton will miss today’s Crusaders clash in Christchurch after picking up an ankle injury in the Lions’ tour-opening 13-7 win over the Provincial Barbarians.

Rowntree admitted the Lions have discussed contingency plans for the captaincy just in case Warburton is not ready to start the first Test on June 24.

But the Lions’ scrum coach revealed Warburton could even be ready to return for Tuesday’s Highlanders match, leaving him plenty of time to hit top form before the Tests.

“To all the people back home, don’t worry about Sam,” said Rowntree of Warburton.

“We saw him in game one, he hurt his ankle a bit in that game. He’s not able to train fully at the moment, but I’ve watched him train next to us, doing some rehab running, and he’s working hard.

“He’s just not able at the moment to do some of the twisting and turning off the line that’s required for a highintensity session.

“He’s just having a few days out of the twisting and turning, but he’s training hard.”

Rowntree accepted Warburton will most likely have to prove his fitness by claiming further match action in order to be a candidate to start the first Test.

The Lions have plenty of contingency plans for the captaincy. The squad boasts current Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, Ireland skipper Rory Best and Greig Laidlaw, who wears Scotland’s armband.

Sam Warburton: ankle injury.