Murray's Tour is over

[Hickiefan]

Another one bites the dust

Injury ends Murray's Lions tour

Euan Murray's ankle injury has ruled him out of the rest of the tour
Scotland prop Euan Murray has been ruled out of the rest of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
Northampton's Murray has failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained during the victory over Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth earlier this week.
An X-ray showed there was no fracture, but he will remain sidelined.
Meanwhile, former player John Beattie said it was embarrassing that no Scots were named in the side to face South Africa in Saturday's opening Test.
Beattie, now a BBC Scotland pundit, said he was disappointed no Scots were in Lions head coach Ian McGeechan's side for Saturday's clash in Durban.
"I'm embarrassed by it," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sports Report.
"I think it's embarrassing that we have no Scots involved. The last time this happened was 2005 - no Scots in the team or on the bench.
"They went on to have a disastrous tour of New Zealand. And we've just heard that Euan Murray has been ruled out of the tour completely.
"I don't think we were strong enough in arguing for enough Scottish players to go."
Beattie added that the Scots on the tour had failed to hit the heights in the games so far.
"The players who could've got in the team haven't played that well.
"Ross Ford hasn't played that well; every time he throws in the commentators are talking about squint throws and Nathan Hines was the closest."
Beattie said it was not the best day for Scottish rugby, adding: "If you're honest, we don't have players who rival Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, and I think questions will be asked after this tour as to why not."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8107269.stm

[ronk]

Shame. He most likely would have been picked in the XXII.

[dipper]

The Bull looks like the outstanding candidate to replace him.

[ronk]

There's time to bring over a prop before Tuesday.

Sheridan can start next Tuesday but it's a lot to ask for a starter (possibly Jones) and a sub from the test team with just a week from test to test at altitude.

Looks like they'll need to bring in someone. Not really sure who though.

[RobbieRockBoy]

The Bull is on his way.

[Scott]

The Bull is on his way.

FACT!!!!

[dipper]

The Bull is on his way.

FACT!!!!

GO ON BULL, TIS YOUR HIGHVELD!

[TrapperChamonix]

Injury ends Murray's Lions tour

Meanwhile, former player John Beattie said it was embarrassing that no Scots were named in the side to face South Africa in Saturday's opening Test.
Beattie, now a BBC Scotland pundit, said he was disappointed no Scots were in Lions head coach Ian McGeechan's side for Saturday's clash in Durban.
"I'm embarrassed by it," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sports Report.
"I think it's embarrassing that we have no Scots involved. The last time this happened was 2005 - no Scots in the team or on the bench."They went on to have a disastrous tour of New Zealand. And we've just heard that Euan Murray has been ruled out of the tour completely.
"I don't think we were strong enough in arguing for enough Scottish players to go."
Beattie added that the Scots on the tour had failed to hit the heights in the games so far.
"The players who could've got in the team haven't played that well.
"Ross Ford hasn't played that well; every time he throws in the commentators are talking about squint throws and Nathan Hines was the closest."
Beattie said it was not the best day for Scottish rugby, adding: "If you're honest, we don't have players who rival Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, and I think questions will be asked after this tour as to why not."

So John, you mean no Scots in the 22 since the last Lions tour?

Actually I do feel for them. I remember when Brendan Mullen got dropped from the team in 89. The 2nd test was the 1st time there was no Irishman on the team. It was a truely a terrible moment in Irish rugby confirming how low we had sunk in world rugby

[AidanSloan]

The Bull is on his way.

Was he on stand by? Or has he been in his local since the season finished? Do you think he will get any game time or only be used in an emergency?

[Danthefan]

The Bull is on his way.

Was he on stand by? Or has he been in his local since the season finished? Do you think he will get any game time or only be used in an emergency?

Emergency only you'd have to think, he has no opportunity to overtake any of the props already there.

[lummix]

Has Hayes actually been called up cus ive seen nothing about it anywhere

[CiaranIrl]

No, but if they call someone up, it has to be him or Julian White.

[RobbieRockBoy]

Hayes Called Up to Lions Squad
18 June 2009, 3:20 pm
By Pat Geraghty
With confirmation that Euan Murray will take no further part in the tour, Munster prop John Hayes will fly out to South Africa to replace the Scot.
Hayes was a surprise omission from the original squad and it is understood that Lions management are making arrangements to get the prop flown out as soon as possible.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/9670.php

[ronk]

official linky

[dipper]

official linky

Nice one!

[Hickiefan]

Delighted for him. Hope he gets a cameo if nothing else.

[CiaranIrl]

Everything is ok now. The Bull is here.

[simonno6]

surely his fitness will be in awful shape?

[gfo]

surely his fitness will be in awful shape?

of course it will, he's a front-row

[simonno6]

surely his fitness will be in awful shape?

of course it will, he's a front-row

but joking aside, surely he has been slurpin away ferociously at the guiness since the season ended!