Gatland issues injury update on Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes

The walking wounded Wales fly-half, who has been nursing a minor knee problem the entire tour, was ruled out of the game against South Africa A with a 'minor' ankle sprain.

Lions boss Gatland provided more detail on the Biggar situation on Thursday after he named an entirely different starting XV from the side that took the field on Wednesday night, Marcus Smith getting chosen as the starting 10

“It’s not (a concern),” said Gatland about Biggar’s absence from the latest Lions matchday selection. “It’s one of those ones that if we give him a bit more time then he is going to be fully ready to go on Monday for training and it’s one of those ones where if he plays, it’s going to be okay but it is probably going to be sore afterwards. It’s kind of managing that situation. 

“If it’s a Test match he would have fronted up and been ready to go but we want to make sure everyone gets a fuller opportunity and anyone who is carrying any niggles we freshen them up so he can have a full week of preparation in training. 

Switching to Lawes, a second row starter in last Saturday’s win in the rematch with the Sharks, Gatland explained: “He had a lot of time earlier in the tour and was involved in a lot of games. Again, he is another one we are freshening up. We are really happy with the way he has contributed and played. 

“He has had a bit of a stiff neck that kept him out of a little bit of the contact stuff so again it’s just making sure we manage him as well. So there is nothing wrong with him – it’s just from his early involvements and the amount of minutes he had in those early games, it’s just giving him a bit more time so he is fresh and ready to go for training and available for selection next week.”

The Scottish playmaker has been ruled out of the tourists’ three remaining warm-up matches due to the injury, and Gatland has flown England’s Marcus Smith out to South Africa as a precaution.

“It isn’t a strained achilles, there is a slight little wee tear in it so it is going to keep him out for the next couple of weeks," said Gatland

"We are going to try and see if we can rehab him. He is going to be in a boot for the next five days and when he comes out of that, he will have some more treatment and he will still continue to get treatment over the next five days and if he is making good progress then we will assess him going forward.

"If he is not there is a possibility that he may go home. It’s a wait-and-see situation.” 

The fullback departed against South Africa after just a minute, courtesy of a monster his from Eben Etzebeth. Gatland revealed Williams had failed his HIA and is now a major doubt for the first test against the Springboks on July 24th.

Gatland confirmed "Liam will go through the HIA protocols in the next week."