Payne gets the nod as Lions are left licking their wounds
ENGLAND prop Tim Payne has been called-up for the British Lions squad as cover for international team-mate Andrew Sheridan.
Sheridan missed Saturday’s 26-21 first Test defeat against South Africa in Durban with a back injury and remains a doubt for Saturday’s second Test in Pretoria.
Indeed, coach Ian McGeechan is taking no chances and yesterday turned to Payne, his former prop at Wasps, to cover any eventuality.
McGeechan is also keeping tabs on the fitness of Wales backs James Hook and Lee Byrne ahead of the final midweek warm-up fixture of the tour, against the Emerging Springboks, tomorrow night.
Full-back Byrne became the Lions’ latest injury concern when limping off in Durban on Saturday, while Hook is recovering from a neck injury sustained in the brutal victory over Southern Kings last Tuesday.
Of Payne’s call-up, McGeechan said: “We simply can’t go into this week without sufficient cover at loose head prop as we play the Emerging Springboks and the Springboks in the space of five days. Tim Payne will arrive match fit having played in all three of England’s recent international matches against the Barbarians and Argentina.”
Overworked Lions’ medics are also monitoring flanker Tom Croft (knee) and wing Tommy Bowe (elbow), while Gethin Jenkins (black eye), Jamie Roberts (shoulder), Martyn Williams (knee) and captain Paul O’Connell (teeth) are also nursing slight knocks.