It could be a lot worse, but this is one headache Warren Gatland definitely did not need before the Lions Tour.
There’s not long left until the Lions squad is announced for the 2017 Tour to New Zealand and every player across Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England will be praying to have a seat on that plane.
There are a few players up for the captaincy role, including Alun Wyn Jones, Dylan Hartley and Rory Best, but the general consensus is that Sam Warburton will resume the captaincy after leading the Lions in Australia in 2013.
He’s a born leader and a player who Gatland clearly trusts, which is why the sight of him limping off during the Cardiff Blues’ 24-24 draw against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium was a worrying one.
Huge worry for Warren Gatland https://t.co/qPDdH81ACY
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 8, 2017
It has been confirmed that Warburton picked up a medial ligament injury in the game. The expected recovery time is six weeks, meaning he will miss Cardiff’s four remaining games of the domestic season.
Although he should be fit in time for the tour, he still faces a fitness battle to be ready in time. Is it really a good idea to put someone in to play the mighty All-Blacks after six weeks out? It’s not the ideal preparation you want from someone you intend on giving the captain’s armband to.
He won’t be fit again until late May. If he ends up getting named as captain, it will be a risky move.
