Don't write Cian Healy off just yet, says Scott Quinnell

 
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Nik Simon5 June 2013

Cian Healy gave Warren Gatland his first major injury scare when he was carried off during the Lions’ 69-17 hammering of the Western Force.

The Ireland prop looked to be in serious pain when he went down with a twisted ankle in the first-half and was immediately sent for an x-ray.

Gatland confirmed Healy had not broken his ankle, but said he will look at potential replacements for the forward tonight, should they be needed.

Healy would not be the first player to be sent home from a Lions tour prematurely - if the injury is deemed serious enough - and former Wales No8 Scott Quinnell described his early flight home from South Africa in 1997 as one of the worst moments of his career.

“I picked up an injury two weeks before the Tests and I was bitterly disappointed,” said Quinnell, who also toured with the Lions in 2001.

“You work for four years for this opportunity with the Lions and mine was cut short. The squad went on to win that Test series in 97 and I was watching it from a caravan down in west Wales. It was still one of the big disappointments in my playing career.”

Sam Warburton has been heading the Lions’ medical list while Rob Kearney has also missed training and Gethin Jenkins has been suffering from a tight calf.

Front-rower Healy was already one of the favourites for a place in the Test line-up but Gatland will now be holding his breath over the extent of the injury.

“Healy is a good, solid scrummager, a good ball carrier and he gets around the park very well,” added Quinnell. “He adds a bit of grunt to the team and he would certainly have been a candidate for the main Test spot.

“Anytime anyone goes down with an injury it’s a concern. Gatland wants to be able to pick from 37 players, a full and healthy squad. But you’ve got to regroup and move on and let’s not write him off before the doctor’s seen him.”

The team’s medical staff will allow 48 hours to fully assess Healy’s injury and, for the Leinster man, it will seem like a long wait.

Scott Quinnell was at Chobham RFC on Monday re-decorating a changing room for RugbyForce, an RBS initiative that supports grassroots rugby clubs in all the home unions across the UK. Help your local rugby club by getting involved over the RugbyForce weekend on 15th and 16th June in England and Wales. To find out more visit www.rbs6nations.com/rugbyforce

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