Early injury concerns for Gatland with Conan and Biggar hurt on club duty
DAN BIGGAR has handed Warren Gatland an early injury scare after the Wales No10 suffered a head injury during Northampton’s English Premiership clash with Gloucester yesterday.
Biggar was one of three outhalves selected by Gatland to tour South Africa this summer along with Owen Farrell and Finn Russell.
The Welshman was on duty for Northampton yesterday but left the action after just 20 minutes following a clash of heads with Billy Twelvetrees.
Biggar subsequently failed his head injury assessment (HIA) and watched the rest of his side’s loss to Gloucester from the stands.
Lions boss Gatland was in attendance at Franklin’s Gardens and will await a medical update on Biggar’s condition in the coming days. Gatland’s squad are set to embark on a 10-day training camp in Jersey next month before they fly to South Africa.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, who missed the cut earlier this week, will be on alert.
Jack Conan was one of three Lions on duty for Leinster against Connacht last night.
The Leinster No8 lasted just 24
minutes of his side’s victory in Galway. Earlier this week, Gatland hailed Conan’s late-season surge in form which secured his place in the touring party.
‘I thought last weekend (against La Rochelle) the physical work in
his carrying was pretty good and I thought the way he played against England was outstanding,’ Gatland added.
‘He had a big game and we have got to think about a line out option as well and make sure we have got
that covered off.
‘I am looking forward to him having that opportunity. Someone like (Caelan) Doris, highly spoken of, he hasn’t had a lot of rugby and is probably one for the future.
Jack definitely gets that chance to be selected and to hopefully impress.’
Meanwhile Conor Murray, who was one of eight Irish players to make Gatland’s 37-man squad, reaffirmed his Lions credentials with a superb display against Ulster on Friday night.
The Munster scrum-half, who started all three Tests against the All Blacks in the 2017 series, was a standout performer as the hosts made light work of Ulster, who lost Ireland international centre Will
Addison to a red card, with an impressive 38-10 dismissal.
After a superb display in Ireland’s final-round demolition of England in the Six Nations, Murray looks to be hitting top form at the right time. And Gatland has taken notice.
‘I thought his kicking game was very good against England and he started to look very much like some of his old self,’ said the Lions head coach.
‘I thought he was good last week for Munster against Leinster. I know Leinster had left out a number of players but with his experience and when he is on top of his game, he is definitely one of the best players in the world in that position.’