James Hook and Euan Murray were this morning ruled out of Saturday's first Test after sustaining injuries during yesterday's bruising encounter against the Southern Kings. Hook, a likely candidate for the bench because of his goal-kicking and versatility, took a knock to the head and neck in the opening minutes. The outside-half tried to carry on, but was helped off after taking another bump.
"James was groggy and he is being checked over today," said the Lions attack coach Rob Howley. "He was a replacement for the tour, but he has done particularly well and won the game for us at Western Province. He can play in three positions and it is a blow that we cannot consider him for selection this weekend."
Hook will need medical clearance before being declared fit for the second Test in Pretoria next week. If concussion is diagnosed he will be sent home and the Lions would need another proven goal-kicker, with only Stephen Jones and Ronan O'Gara fitting that category.
Murray, one of three tight-head props on the tour, suffered ankle damage after seven minutes but an X-ray revealed he had not suffered a fracture. Howley said the Lions would decide within the next couple of days whether either, or both, need to be replaced.
Feelings were still running high today over the approach of the Southern Kings, an invitation team with a large contingent of players who had experience of the Guinness Premiership. Under the tour agreement, match commissioners have 12 hours from the end of a game to cite players but no one will be called to account for what happened in Port Elizabeth.
"There were some cynical acts and off-the-ball incidents which the match officials did not pick up on," said Howley. "It was a very physical game and there were two cases of things happening to Gordon D'Arcy when the ball was elsewhere that went undetected, but we have to move on and we go into the first Test having won six matches out of six."
The Lions were due to pick their Test side last night, but they will chew over various options today. "The players will be told tomorrow morning," said Howley. When asked if South Africa, who said they were confident they knew the starting line-up, are in for any surprises, he added: "Wait and see."
He went on: "We will certainly be going into the game battle hardened, while people here have spoken about the rustiness of the South African side because they have not played for seven months. I would not disagree that we have to win the first Test if we are to take the series."
Howley did drop one selection hint. He said that the selection of Heinrich Brussow, the Free State Cheetahs open-side flanker, by the Springboks would influence the Lions. The 22-year old was outstanding for his Super 14 side when they faced the Lions this month, but he was up against Joe Worsley, a back rower not known for his pace around the field.
"Brussow is a different type of flanker to the player he has replaced, Schalk Burger," said Howley. "We struggled against him at the breakdown when we did not have a fetcher at seven and it will have an influence on our selection." That would put David Wallace and Martyn Williams as the contenders for the open-side position.
Howley said the Lions would be keeping a close watch on the South Africa scrum-half, Fourie du Preez. "He is the best player in his position in the world. He sees things two or three seconds before anyone else and that marks him out as a special player.
"Their team did not contain any surprises for us. We do not have much footage of Frans Steyn playing at full-back, but he has a big boot on him and he can drop goals from a long way out."
