'Good news' - Andy Farrell eases Jamison Gibson-Park injury worries
Andy Farrell has allayed fears over the fitness of Jamison Gibson-Park ahead of the British and Irish Lions' opening game against Argentina on Friday night.
The Ireland scrum-half missed Leinster's BKT United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls last week with a glute injury, and fears grew over his fitness when England's Jack van Poortvliet was called in as cover for Friday's game at the Aviva.
However, Farrell insists that he expects all of his traveling party to be ready to go within a week of arriving in Australia at the weekend.
"Good news on most of the injuries, they are all a week or so away from being fit," Farrell said, after naming his side for Friday night's game in Dublin.
"We didn't quite know until Jamison got another scan on Monday night which was pretty positive. Jack [Van Poortvliet] comes over as cover for this game, Jamison should be up and running for the week after.
"Huw Jones has trained with us this week, and he's been back into full training, so that's great.
"Hugo Keenan ran for the first time a couple of days ago. Everything's going pretty well as far as that's concerned. And there's always one or two bumps and bruises that you're you're trying to nurse but the nature of rugby within itself. So, we're in good shape."
There was good news for Tadhg Furlong (below), who is fit to play this week after a calf injury.
The tighthead prop hadn't featured for his province since their Investec Champions Cup semi-final defeat against Northampton Saints in early May, but is named among the replacements, with his Ireland team-mate Finlay Bealham starting.
And despite Furlong's lack of gametime, he believes the prop is able for whatever minutes are required on Friday.
"Well, he's fit, he's fit, and ready to go and trained well. And he's as keen as everyone else to get the show on the road.
"It is what it is. You have all the best plans for a game of rugby. You've got to be ready from minute one or you roll with the punches.
"You may want to get someone on after 50 or 55 minutes but that might not come to fruition and they might only get five minutes at the end. It is what it is. Everyone understands that."
While no Test caps will be handed out on Friday, Farrell has included 14 players in his matchday squad who are set to make their first appearances in a Lions shirt, including Ireland internationals Bealham, Rónan Kelleher and Mack Hansen, while Furlong, Bundee Aki and Tadhg Beirne have featured on previous tours.
"Naming the squad yesterday was great, you feel like the show is on the road and the journey is about to begin properly. It was exciting to name that and allow the boys to realise they will be the first to represent this group.
"It is what they dream of. You can tell with the buzz in the group, what it means to them and the excitement around the place, it just shows what it means," he added.
"We have seen it in the preparation, how diligent they have been, how quickly they have come together as a group and the bond they have got already in a short space of time.
"Best foot forward and all that, it is all about the performance on Friday night. That is how we are going to get judged, how we want to do the shirt proud and represent the group properly on Friday night."
There is familiarity in a side that has nine England internationals in the starting team, but history has shown that the opening game of a Lions campaign can often be littered with errors with so many players coming together after just a couple of weeks together in camp.
But Farrell says that will be no excuse, as they look to to board their plane to Australia on Saturday with a win in the bag.
"Cohesion, connection," were the traits he stressed for Friday.
"An ability to attack the game from the off and be the best version of themselves individually and collectively. You can give yourself any excuse in terms of time together. But we've had good preparation.
"If you want to be a good Lions player, you have to hit your straps straight from the off. We want to see these players compete.
"They [Argentina] are a well-drilled, well organised team that's been playing some fantastic rugby – certainly over the last 18 months. Fifth in the world and beating everyone in their path shows where they're at.
"We realise as well just how special this is for them and what a privilege it is to be here at the Aviva with the Lions playing their first game in Ireland. It's a special occasion and it's great they're coming to the party."
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