Tuesday 23 May 2017 10:58, UK
British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has said they plan to lose between six and 10 players form the original 41-man squad to tour New Zealand.
Saracens and England No 8 Billy Vunipola was forced to withdraw on Sunday due to an ongoing shoulder complaint, while Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs withdrew last month due to family reasons.
James Haskell and Greig Laidlaw have been called up in their places, and Gatland admits there will inevitably be more injuries over the course of the Test series.
"Any player who gets injured at this time is a big loss to the squad," said Gatland. "You've spent a lot of time going through the process of picking players and planning and preparing so to lose someone is disappointing.
"The unfortunate thing is we are down two players from the original squad that was announced and no doubt there could be a couple more next weekend as well.
"Given the history of the lions we plan to lose anywhere between six and 10 players. That's just the attrition of past tours.
"It's disappointing but you've just got to move on with the decisions we've made and look forward."
Vunipola's withdrawal was a particular blow to Gatland such has been the No 8's form over the last couple of years.
Gatland admitted he and his staff toyed with the idea of calling up another No 8 after the Saracen's injury, but went with Haskell due to other options within the squad, and the England international's previous experience of Super Rugby in New Zealand with the Highlanders.
"With James, he does cover all positions in the backrow, he's played 6, 7 and 8," Gatland added. "We decided that we could have looked at another 8 as an option but we felt that we've got Faletau and Stander both playing at 8 and Ross Moriarty can cover us there as well.
"Haskell gives us that flexibility and one of the other decisions with him is that he's had experience both touring New Zealand and playing in New Zealand as well.
"And for us, that experience of being down and playing and living in the south island and Otago is reasonably significant."
All 10 games of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand will be shown live on Sky Sports, starting June 3.
