The Lions have suffered a major body blow ahead of the first Test against the Wallabies next Saturday after coach Andy Farrell confirmed hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie appeared to have suffered a concussion.
He has been left counting the cost of the 48–0 win over the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV at the Adelaide Oval after confirming that the Sale Sharks and England star suffered a concussion just before half-time.
Cowan-Dickie needed lengthy treatment after colliding with the hip of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto four minutes before the break, but in the second half was seen walking around the tunnel area just before the second half kicked off.
British & Irish Lions in collaboration with the RugbyPass App
World Rugby and the British & Irish Lions announce a groundbreaking strategic collaboration that will see the RugbyPass App become the designated home of the British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia in 2025.
British & Irish Lions in collaboration with the RugbyPass App
World Rugby and the British & Irish Lions announce a groundbreaking strategic collaboration that will see the RugbyPass App become the designated home of the British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia in 2025.
He joins a growing injury list that includes Garry Ringrose, who took appeared to take a late knock in the 36–24 win over the ACT Brumbies. Cowan-Dickie’s injury leaves Ireland duo Dan Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher in pole position to take the hooking roles next Saturday.
Farrell could be tempted to call up England and Saracens stalwart Jamie George, who is in Argentina but who trained with the Lions before they left for Australia as precautionary cover, now he is down to only two fit hookers.
“It looks like that [replacing Luke Cowan-Dickie with a call-up],” said Farrell after the game, who said he’ll ‘select the right person for the squad.”
“He is in good spirits and is back to his normal self. It looked like a concussion, so we will have to see what happens after that. We will wait to see what the medics say.
“We need to enjoy a bit of downtime as it has been full on for 14 days, it has been a tough old block. We want people to put their hands up, and this group will roll on together and go after the Test series together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn also faces a race to be fit for the first Test after suffering a blow to the knee in the win in the Australian capital in midweek, but was cleared of serious damage following a scan.