Mack Hansen a serious doubt for first Lions test after missing training

Irish Examiner

15 hours ago

Mack Hansen looks set to miss the British & Irish Lions' first Test against Australia this Saturday after missing training with a foot injury.
Hansen had enhanced his chances of selection on the right wing for the Series opener with the Wallabies after another impressive performance for the tourists last Saturday in Adelaide against an AUSNZ Invitational XV.
Yet he did not emerge unscathed and assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth on Tuesday confirmed the Connacht and Ireland star, along with full-back Blair Kinghorn (knee) were serious doubts for the Suncorp Stadium clash having not trained so far this week.
And with the coach saying players would not be unnecessarily risked with the second and third Tests coming in quick succession, the way appears clear for England wing Tommy Freeman to grab the Lions number 14 jersey at the weekend.
'He hurt his foot in the game, I don't think it is anything serious, but he was managed today," Wigglesworth said. "Hopefully he will be fully integrated pretty quickly.
"It is nothing that we are over concerned about but we need to make sure we have enough numbers at training but it doesn't look too serious.
"A bit like Blair, we will find out tomorrow, he didn't train fully today so we will know a bit more tomorrow.'
Yet when pressed, Wigglesworth, admitted Hansen had to be considered a serious doubt.
"A doubt is anyone who didn't train fully today, but he's definitely not ruled out.
"Every case is different. There are injuries you can play with and get on with. As a rugby player at the highest level, you're constantly doing that at this stage of the season.
You'd be surprised if you ask any of them if they're all, on both teams, feeling 100 per cent. And then there's other injuries that you can't and that would be a risk and we certainly wouldn't be taking risks with players."
The only players definitively ruled out of contention for first Test selection, publicly at least, are centre Garry Ringrose and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie. Ireland's Ringrose experienced delayed concussion symptoms following last Wednesday's win over the Brumbies in Canberra while Cowan-Dickie, the English front-rower sustained a head injury in last Saturday's game against AUSNZ.
Both players have been stood down for 12 days, making Ringrose available for next Tuesday's final midweek match, against a First Nation & Pasifika XV at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium, while Cowan-Dickie will hope to be cleared to become available for selection for the landmark second Test at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground.
'There are different stages they have,' Wigglesworth said, 'but from what I understand, there's been no issues. He's (Ringrose) not had to go back any stage from what that looks like.
'Luke was absolutely fine straight away and this is why we have such great medical staff and good procedures, but Luke's acting like Luke. He's there and he's full of beans. They're both coming through well.
'They know they were on the 12 days so there wasn't a 'could I, can't I'? It was pretty black and white.
'What the Lions tour is proving to be and is everything that you hear about, it's a squad game. There's no point you showing any of that natural disappointment that you're going to have, because that's not what we're here to do.
'We're here to create a brilliant environment and help each other, whether you're in or out, whether you're injured or not. And they've certainly done that.'