British & Irish Lions fullback Blair Kinghorn’s knee damage that marred a patchy win over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday didn’t appear critical, coach Andy Farrell has stated.
The Lions needed to work for his or her 36-24 win over a depleted Brumbies workforce, a few of whose finest gamers have been absent at Australia’s coaching camp.
Kinghorn got here off early within the first half and spent the remainder of the match icing his left knee.
Shedding Kinghorn would pose issues for Farrell forward of the primary Wallabies check on July 19, given he’s already with out utility again Elliot Daly for the three-match sequence.
Requested after the match if he feared the worst for Kinghorn, Farrell stated, “No”.
The fullback had been singing on the mattress the place workers have been assessing him, he stated.
“He obtained a bang on the knee. He carried on for fairly a bit however there was no must maintain him going … he is in good spirits.”
Marcus Smith, who got here on for Kinghorn, carried out properly, scoring one of many Lions’ 5 tries.
“He had some very nice touches,” Farrell stated. “He is harmful with the ball in hand. It is good learnings for him.”
Farrell fielded a lineup near the one anticipated for the primary Wallabies match, with lock Maro Itoje recalled as captain and flyhalf Finn Russell directing play.
The Lions had a poor begin, conceding a attempt within the opening minutes, however imposed themselves for a fourth successive win on their Australian tour, following victories over Western Pressure, Queensland Reds and the New South Wales Waratahs.
“Our recreation management was fairly good tonight, which allowed us to maintain the stress on in the proper finish of the sphere. In order that’s a pleasant step ahead,” Farrell added.
“We’re in a great place … we’re doing properly in sure facets of the sport, in matches and begins and and so forth, however we have to enhance in all areas.”
“It is a good feeling,” stated Itoje, sitting subsequent to Farrell on the post-match press convention.
“We all know we’re not the completed article, we all know that we have now to get higher, we all know that we have now to enhance. However I feel that is a reasonably good place for us to be in.”
– Full fixture listing for Lions tour of Australia
– The whole lot it’s essential learn about summer time Lions tour
– The total 38-man Lions squad
