Lions injury update: Courtney Lawes, Dan Biggar, Liam Williams...

Biggar was an eleventh-hour absence from the Lions team that lost 17-13 to South Africa A last Wednesday night, Owen Farrell stepping into the vacancy. A Lions media release just prior to kick-off in Cape Town stated: “Dan’s got a minor ankle sprain which is not worth risking, so Owen comes in at 10.”

“It’s not (a concern),” said Gatland following the win against The Stormers. “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."

The second-row was rested against the Stormers due to an ongoing neck niggle. Lawes picked it up while playing against Bath last month when he attempted to smash one of their props and came off worse. He is expected, along with Biggar, to return to training today.

Williams was forced off during last Wednesday’s defeat to South Africa A but is coming through his return-to-play protocols and is set to be available for the first Test.

Gatland revealed the worrying news about Russell’s ankle over the weekend.

“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 the Lions coach.

“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.

"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.”