WARREN Gatland is expected to draft as many as six extra players onto the British and Irish Lions tour next week, with Scottish and Welsh players likely additions.
The Lions’ reinforcements would be primed to take seats on the bench in Tuesday’s Waikato clash against the Chiefs, to ease the pressure on the tourists’ Test match 23.
The three-Test series against New Zealand starts on June 24, and Tuesday’s game represents a heavy burden following Saturday’s Maori All Blacks encounter in Rotorua.
Gatland had initially raised the idea of adding a clutch of players to his Lions squad ahead of the Chiefs encounter back in September.
Now the head coach is understood to be ready to do just that, with Wales currently in New Zealand and Scotland touring Australia and Fiji.
Ireland are in Japan, while England’s Argentina Test series ends on Saturday.
The Lions bolstered their squad late on in Australia in 2013, with call-up Alex Corbisiero claiming a try as the tourists stole a series win in the third Test.
Gatland has faced criticism for only drafting two Scots in his initial squad — Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour.
He has since added Greig Laidlaw, with England’s Ben Youngs having to withdraw from the tour.
All Blacks boss Steve Hansen on Thursday predicted the Lions’ plans to add to their ranks, hinting at a potential disconnect between midweek and Saturday line-ups.
But the Lions are confident they will maintain a tight-knit group, even if they do call for reinforcements.
“I think he is about to bring a few extra players out to give himself the ability to play with two squads,” All Blacks boss Hansen had said on Thursday.
“He’s at the stage where he wants to do that. I guess he will bring them out from the UK.”
Assistant coach Steve Borthwick insisted yesterday however that the Lions currently boast an extremely focused and motivated squad.
“I think I’ve been hugely impressed by the leadership of the players, all the players in how close this group is,” said Borthwick.
“All the players have worked hard to ensure it’s a tight, socially cohesive group.”
Influential fly-half Owen Farrell remains a serious injury doubt ahead of the first All Blacks Test.
The England star has suffered a quadriceps strain and is now in a race against time to be ready to start the Test series.
Borthwick refused to be drawn on Farrell’s latest status.
“He didn’t train today, he’s had a grade one muscle strain,” said Borthwick of Farrell’s injury.
“The medical team will take great care of him. Hopefully he’ll be back on the field as soon as possible.
“When exactly it happened, I can’t tell you. It was felt yesterday, dealt with immediately, and he went into recovery protocols straight away.”
Asked if seven to 10 days would be a reasonable time frame for Farrell’s recovery, Borthwick said: “I certainly don’t go by that.
“I listen to our medical team who are far more qualified than I am. He’ll be back as quickly as he’s fit and able.”
The match will come after New Zealand sent a daunting message to the Lions, with a 78-0 victory over Samoa yesterday.
The hosts ran in 12 tries in a dominant display of attacking rugby in their only warm-up match before the three-Test series.
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said his side “have a lot of work to do”, but was optimistic.
“We were forming new formations and combinations. And with our line-out we sped it up a bit later on and it tightened up, so you’ve got to be happy.”
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