Andy Farrell admitted the ‘outstanding’ Tomos Williams will be a big miss on and off the field for The British & Irish Lions in Australia but backed the incoming Ben White to seize his opportunity.
Wales scrum-half Williams, fresh from an excellent campaign with Gloucester Rugby which ended with him picking up the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season award, shone with two tries against Western Force on Saturday. But he strained his hamstring in the process of scoring the second of those and will miss the remainder of the Tour, with Scotland star White called up to replace him.
“It is shocking news for us all,” Farrell said.
“We all saw what it meant to him with the announcement, how hard he has worked and what a season he has had to get to this point.
“We are not just going to miss an outstanding player, it was some try he got injured by, we will miss the bloke. we have only been together a few weeks but his character is everything you want in a group on a Lions Tour.
“He is very popular among the group and that makes it a bit tougher for us all.
“Ben will be devastated for Tomos like we all are but at the same time, he is super excited. He had ambitions to get in the squad, like so many others, so he gets his chance to come over and connect with the squad.”
White will link up with Scotland teammate Blair Kinghorn, who helped Toulouse to glory in the Top 14 final over the weekend, in camp early this week as the Lions prepare to take on Queensland Reds at the Suncorp Stadium.
Finn Russell is the only player to retain a place in the starting XV from the side which beat Force, with Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan handed their first starts of the Tour.
They are set to be joined by compatriot James Ryan, named among the replacements, in making their Lions debuts in Brisbane.
“We are delighted for those three, I think I’m right in saying that Blair and Ben are the remaining two (yet to feature) and I’m sure their opportunity will come soon,” Farrell said.
“It’s great to get everyone out there and up to speed in terms of how we want to play.
“They have been nursing little injuries so they will be glad to get back to full fitness and training with the squad.
“It will have been a tough enough old time watching everyone else get going so I’m sure they are raring to go.
“This is proper touring, games are coming thick and fast, three games in eight days and it keeps on rolling. This is the exciting part of the Tour.”
Captain Maro Itoje will lead the side in Brisbane and though he has had a longer and more demanding season than most in terms of minutes played, the England lock feels a change is as good as a rest.
“I feel good,” he said. “I was thinking about this the other day, I felt refreshed coming in to this environment.
“Often when you talk about game minutes and load, part of it is physical but a lot of it is mental.
“Coming into this environment, with new coaches, has been really refreshing. In my career, I have had a lot of consistency with club and country so to have a different stimulus has been great.”
