Saints star Murray ruled out
Euan Murray's hopes for a British & Lions starting spot for the first Test against South Africa are all over.
The Northampton Saints tighthead limped out of the Lions' clash with Southern Kings yesterday after just seven minutes, spraining his right ankle.
That represented Murray's last chance to win a place in the Lions front row for Saturday's clash with world champions South Africa. But he was ruled out of action this morning.
And it had started so well with the 28-year-old Scotland international helping to shove the Kings 10m back at the first scrum.
But a minute later Murray was left prostrate on the ground after a ruck and Northampton director and Lions physio Phil Pask treated the prop before helping off the pitch.
Murray later underwent an X-ray, which has revealed no fracture.
He was replaced by Wales' Adam Jones, with England's Phil Vickery now favourite to start at tighthead for the first Test.
The Lions went on to win a game of brutal intensity at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium after their opponents attempted a softening-up exercise before next Saturday's first Test.
Fly-half James Hook also went off injured after being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle.
Centre Gordon D'Arcy and flanker Nathan Hines were also in the wars at various stages, with Port Elizabeth living up to its reputation as a battleground for visiting overseas teams.
The city staged a violence-scarred third Test between the 1974 Lions and South Africa, while England's 1994 tour game against Eastern Province saw back-row forward Tim Rodber sent off.
And there was ill-feeling after the final whistle, with D'Arcy appearing to refuse to shake hands with his opposite number De Wet Barry and Ronan O'Gara and Jaco van der Westhuyzen twice engaged in a pushing match.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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