Every Lions year an unlucky few miss out on the ultimate accolade in British and Irish rugby, through injury. Many players are currently on the treatment table, or are being gradually eased back into the fold. After sustaining a serious knee injury last December, Luke Charteris has already been ruled out of contention for this year’s Lions tour. Who else is at risk of missing out?
Paul O’Connell – the 2009 Lions captain has just returned to action, following back surgery, and completed a half for Munster A last week. He will need to be back to his best quickly, in end of season Pro 12 and Heineken Cup matches, to stand a chance of a third successive Lions tour.
Richie Gray – the giant Sale Shark, soon to be Castres, second row tore a hamstring in Scotland’s recent home Six Nations defeat to Wales. He will miss the next eight weeks of action but his athleticism and dynamic running would suit conditions in Australia. However, with no more opportunities to state his case before the 35+ names are finalised, only Warren Gatland knows if the 23 year old has done enough to secure a seat on the plane to Hong Kong.
Ryan Jones – the former Osprey’s captain was also injured in the Scotland vs Wales tie, breaking a bone in his right shoulder. Outstanding in Wales’ first win in Paris since 2005, Jones also performed well in their series defeat to Australia last summer but, like Gray, is unlikely to play again before the tour party is revealed.
Dan Lydiate – the 2012 Six Nations player of the tournament has not played any competitive rugby since breaking an ankle against Edinburgh, in a September Pro 12 clash. The destructive number six has been in worse places and made an amazing comeback to the highest level in 2009, after recovering from a broken neck. A swift return to action and that level of determination could yet see him force his way into Gatland’s plans.
Stephen Ferris – the imposing flanker has had a horrendous run of injuries this season and recently had a second ankle operation at the end of February. His chances of making a second successive tour look slim, which is a great shame as the 35 capped Irishman proved how effective he can be in a touring environment in South Africa, during two provincial outings against the Golden Lions and the Free State Cheetahs (before he was ruled out of the test series through injury)...
Simon Zebo – the Munster flyer was in outstanding form before breaking a bone in his foot, in Ireland’s home defeat to England in February. Zebo is roughly half way through a likely ten week spell on the sidelines and faces a race against time to be fit for any of Munster’s matches before the official Lions squad announcement, at the end of April. He may, however, take solace in that of all the other potential Lions wing candidates, only Tim Visser and Alex Cuthbert scored more tries than he did in this year's Six Nations.
Tommy Bowe – capped three times by Sir Ian McGeechan in 2009, as an outside centre in the third test, Tommy Bowe has arguably been the most consistent winger in British and Irish rugby for the last five years. Injured since December, he is, at best, four weeks away from playing and he will be hoping that his Ulster teammates progress further in both the Heineken Cup and Pro 12, so he has competitive opportunities to prove his fitness.
Ben Morgan – the Gloucester number 8 injured an ankle against Scotland and it has taken much longer to overcome than initially expected, much to the dismay of the England management and fans alike. Based on Six Nations performances a couple of number 8 spots are still available, although Toby Faletau excelled in Wales' Championship win. Morgan's powerful ball carrying and offloading ability will be hard to ignore, if his ankle heals in the coming weeks.
Alex Corbisiero - the young loosehead has regrettably played very little rugby since injuring his knee on England duty in South Africa last summer. The scrum, as always, will be crucial and a fit Corbisiero would be a huge weapon in this area. But with no comeback date confirmed, time is not on the London Irishman's side.
Jonny Sexton - the Ireland and Leinster play-maker is likely to be out of action for four to six weeks, due to a foot injury sustained in Ireland training last week. He has not played since early February, after a previous hamstring injury, but he will surely be given every chance to prove his fitness. He is undoubtedly the most complete all-round fly half in the British Isles.
Who would you risk taking?
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