LIONS COUNTDOWN: SAM OUT FOR SIX WEEKS
SAM Warburton will be out for around six weeks with knee ligament damage – but should be fine for the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
The Lions captaincy favourite hobbled off after taking a bang to his left knee during Cardiff Blues’ draw with Ulster in Belfast on Friday evening.
He underwent a scan to ascertain the full extent of the damage and the results were revealed yesterday by Blues coach Danny Wilson.
Warburton will be out for six weeks, while the Lions leave for New Zealand in seven weeks’ time on May 29.
Wilson hopes the flanker could be available to make his comeback in the Champions Cup play-off final on the weekend of May 26, should the Blues make it through to that.
“Sam has a low-grade medial strain which will put him out for approximately six weeks,” he said. “It won’t interfere with the Lions. “If we were fortunate enough to make the second European play-off game, we would envisage him being available for that.
“So he shouldn’t have any problems regarding the Lions.
“You see players who get back quickly if they follow protocol through religiously and get a bit of luck and I am sure that will be the case with Sam, knowing how diligent he will be.
“We will see then, all being well, how quickly he can get back.
“It was low grade and that was the important bit.
“Sam is very experienced and a good pro. He knows his body and knows if he works hard to get that right he will be back relatively quickly. He has been fine today. I think it’s relatively good news considering how it could have been.”
Warren Gatland will name his Lions squad next Wednesday and Warburton looks certain to be named, most probably as captain.
If he is selected as skipper for a second successive tour, then he will lead by example, according to Wilson.
“When you think of the Lions and the amount of top-quality players and leaders that they will have, there will be more than one guy leading the ship,” said the Blues boss.
“There will be leaders right across all areas on and off the field.
“What Sam brings as a leader is he leads by example. “That’s probably his biggest trait. His work ethic, his professionalism, the way he conducts himself on and off the field is an example that people follow.”
As for how Warburton would cope going into the tour on the back of a lay-off, Wilson said: “He’s done that before, hasn’t he?
“He may get an opportunity to play before he goes, but also he will be well looked after conditioningwise.
“It’s just a case of getting back on the bike, so to speak.
“If you think of Sam’s rugby this season, he has probably played more rugby than he has in the last couple.
“In terms of miles on the clock, he will be in a good place.
“It will then be about him getting over a short period out of the game, as opposed to any real lengthy period.
“We have been pleased this year in terms of Sam’s involvement for the Blues.
“Leading into the Six Nations campaign for Wales, he has come off the back of rugby and it’s done him the world of good.
“He’s played a lot of rugby this year, so in many ways a break might freshen him up a little bit. “I am sure he will be fine in regard to getting back on the bike.” Why it’s Judgement Day for would-be Lions: Pages 42&43