British and Irish Lions winger Mack Hansen a doubt for series opener against Australia

MELBOURNE – British and Irish Lions winger Mack Hansen is a doubt for the series-opening Test against Australia on July 19, following a foot injury sustained in the tour match against the Australia-New Zealand invitational XV (AUNZ).

Hansen did not participate in full training on July 15, Lions staff confirmed, a day after Scotland winger Darcy Graham was brought into the Lions squad from New Zealand.

“He hurt his foot in the game, I don’t think it is anything serious, but he was managed today,” Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth told British media.

“Hopefully he will be fully integrated pretty quickly. It is nothing that we are overly concerned about, but we need to make sure we have enough numbers at training.

“But it doesn’t look too serious. A doubt is anyone who didn’t train fully today, but he’s definitely not ruled out.”

Hansen adds to the Lions’ backline concerns following injuries to fullback Blair Kinghorn and centre Garry Ringrose. Fullback Elliot Daly left Australia after being ruled out of the series with a fractured arm.

Hugo Keenan, who started in the 48-0 thumping of AUNZ at Adelaide Oval, is expected to start at fullback for the Lions, with Marcus Smith able to provide cover from the bench.

Centre Owen Farrell is another midfield option for coach – and father – Andy Farrell, who already has Bundee Aki, Sione Tuipulotu, and Huw Jones in his squad.

Owen Farrell was solid in his 30-minute cameo at inside centre against AUNZ, and Wigglesworth said he was enjoying working with the former England captain. “He’s been great, as we knew he would be. Not everyone did, but we knew,” said Wigglesworth.

“You all know how good he is, the influence he has, his knowledge and how he helps other people get better.

“He’s the influential Owen that we know and love.”

Meanwhile, Australia centre Joseph Suaalii has brushed aside talk of a spicy reunion with Tuipulotu in the Lions series after the pair’s heated exchange at Murrayfield in November.

Australia-born Tuipulotu was instrumental in the Scots’ 27-13 win over the Wallabies, shaking off an attempted Suaalii tackle for the hosts’ first try.

Rugby league convert Suaalii later got his man with a bone-crunching tackle near the Wallabies try-line but injured his wrist in the contact and had to come off the field at the half-hour mark.

Before he exited, Tuipulotu fired a few choice words at the young midfielder, who shot back a few of his own, including: “See you next time.”

Asked about the prospect of renewing hostilities in the series opener in Brisbane, Suaalii played down the rivalry.

“(It was) just footy. Once you do things on the footy field, you keep them on the footy field,” he told reporters in Brisbane on July 14.

“I’m ready to go, ready to play. Not too much to say about that. I always focus on myself first before I put my energy into someone else.

“Obviously, there are fans who want to see a rivalry and all that but, at the end of the day, it’s a team sport.” REUTERS