BLAIR KINGHORN gave Lions boss Andy Farrell another injury headache with nine days to go before the first Test.
Farrell admitted to being in the dark about the Scotland full-back’s chances of facing Australia a week on Saturday after he injured his left knee against the Brumbies.
The first Test vs Australia will be on Saturday July 19 with kick-off at 11am Irish time[/caption]
On Wednesday Blair Kinghorn became the latest fullback to pick up an injury[/caption]
Hugo Keenan has been struggling with an illness[/caption]
Kinghorn, 28, was crocked just nine minutes into the five-try win, had treatment and then went down again on 25 minutes. That forced Farrell to replace him.
Gutted, Kinghorn punched the ground in frustration before hobbling down the tunnel.
It leaves Farrell with another selection poser at No 15 with Ireland’s Hugo Keenan struggling against Waratahs last weekend after missing games through injury and illness, and England’s Elliot Daly already back home with a broken arm.
Kinghorn’s replacement, the versatile Englishman Marcus Smith, was among those to score tries along with Ireland trio James Lowe, Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier.
The Lions flew to Adelaide this morning ahead of Saturday’s game with an Invitational XV made up of Aussies and New Zealanders.
Asked if he feared the worst on his latest crock, Farrell said: “No, not at the moment.
“He got a bang on the knee, he carried on for quite a bit but there was no need to keep him going. He is being assessed so we will see how he comes through that.
“It is late, we have got an early flight in the morning and I don’t know what the medical plan is but we will get on top of that.”
Smith scored a try and made another but he might not be an ideal pick at 15 against the Wallabies’ high- ball tactics.
Farrell added: “Marcus had some really nice touches as the second fly-half as far as game control is concerned. He did well there and he’s dangerous with the ball in hand so it’s good learnings for him.”
Farrell could call up Scotland’s Tom Jordan or Freddie Steward of England but will be keeping his fingers crossed for Kinghorn because he needs all the quality he can get.
Australia boss Joe Schmidt was in the Canberra crowd and could be seen smiling.
On Sunday, after edging out Fiji 21-18, the former Ireland chief said he had no confidence his side could beat the Lions.
But he might now after watching what appeared to be their likely Test team concede four tries, lose the battle at the breakdown, the aerial war and look disjointed in attack and defence.
Ollie Chessum, starting at flanker and finishing at lock, fly-half Finn Russell and skipper Maro Itoje were the pick of the Lions.
But Tom Curry, Tommy Freeman and Ireland’s Bundee Aki may sweat over their Test prospects. They led 19-10 at the break. Chessum. Lowe and Smith all crossed the line.
Ringrose went over after the break but they could not shake off Brumbies, missing eight Wallabies, until Van der Flier’s try.
Farrell added: “We left three tries out there, maybe more. They were good enough to capitalise on some of our errors. We have plenty to do.”
