The ‘real sickener’ reaction to Zander Fagerson missing the Lions tour amid fears that prop crisis could get even worse
Zander Fagerson at training with the 2021 British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions fans have been reacting online to Monday’s confirmation that Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the upcoming Australian tour with his place going to Finlay Bealham.
The Scotland tighthead was included in the original squad of 38 unveiled by Andy Farrell in London on May 8 despite not playing for Glasgow since an April 5 start versus Leicester in the Champions Cup round of 16.
Fagerson was sidelined by a calf issue sustained at Warriors training the following week, but the injury has failed to fully heal in the 10 weeks since then.
This setback led to Lions boss Farrell calling in Connacht and Ireland tighthead Bealham ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Portugal for a six-day training camp ahead of the June 20 match versus Argentina in Dublin before the squad flies out to Australia.
“Absolutely gutted for Zander…”
Missing out will be a huge disappointment for the 29-year-old Fagerson, who was chosen by Warren Gatland for the 2021 trip to South Africa.
His absence has also exacerbated fears that the Lions could be left vulnerable for depth in this key tighthead position as doubts persist about the fitness of Tadhg Furlong.
The Ireland prop’s last appearance for Leinster was in the May 3 Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton. He was an unused sub for the May 17 United Rugby Championship win over Glasgow but was then unavailable to face the Scarlets on May 31 “having picked up a minor calf injury”.
That problem hasn’t yet come right and some Lions fans believe that Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who was called up on Monday as training camp cover along with Jamie George, will ultimately be officially added to the tour squad and travel to Australia.
Here is a cross-section of what fans have been saying on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, about the Lions’ tighthead injury crisis:
Calum Crowe: “Given the form he has shown over the past 18 months or so, Zander Fagerson would have been a Test Lion this summer. A real sickener for him to be ruled out due to injury.”
@NickB_182: “For all the words about Russell and Tuipulotu, the truth is that Scotland go as Fagerson goes. He is the one player that we cannot afford to be without.”
@DougProp: “Absolutely gutted for Zander Fagerson. Thought he had a really good shot at being a Test starter for the Lions. Hope his calf injury heals well.”
@kieran_balmer: “Bad news for Fagerson, but Bealham rightly called up. He was a strange omission to start with.”
@PhilAndrewPhoto: “Very unfortunate for Fagerson but Bealham should have been there first day ahead of Tadhg Furlong anyway. He is Ireland’s form tighthead prop with actual game minutes under his belt. Furlong purely picked for sentimental reasons.”
@Bennymorcs: “Got our answer on Fagerson! Still feels like the squad is light up front though. Not sure how much you get from playing one of the Irish hookers or Stuart/Furlong when they won’t have been in camp more than a couple of days against Argentina.”
@scoutedrugby: “Quite likely, with the uncertainty over Furlong’s fitness and Fagerson already going down, that AOF will be taken out to Australia.”
@BAShelley: “Surprised with Fagerson not making it. Glasgow seemed to suggest he would be fit soon. Have to question if Furlong makes the tour. Personally, would have Clarkson replace him – he has been the in-form Irish tighthead the past few weeks. Barely a drop off from Furlong/Slimani.”
Brett McKay: “Must be gutting for Zander Fagerson with the tour now just weeks away. Instead, Canberra’s own Finlay Bealham gets a hell of a homecoming!”
@ste_ph_en__: “Fagerson and Furlong were known injury risks when the squad was announced. Finlay (and whoever is likely to be called up once Tadhg is ruled out) was likely anticipating the call-up and will be more than ready.”
@Richard99366022: “Without Fagerson and Furlong then goes down to Stuart and Bealham and then seemingly AOF? Getting pretty bare behind them. Can’t see Assiratti or Griffin from Wales touring. Heyes is the next TH from England?”
@jhgr81: “Can’t see it being Clarkson from Ireland after the way he was stuffed by Wales and doubt it will be a Welshman after how they were demolished in the scrum in Cardiff. Scotland don’t really have anyone after Fagerson, so an Englishman seems the best bet.”
