Wales Grand Slam-captain Sam Warburton is confident he will be fit to lead the team on a three-Test tour of Australia in June despite being forced out of the 16-9 win over France with a shoulder injury.
The 23-year-old has endured an injury-hit Six Nations, missing the victories over Scotland and Italy and lasting only half of Saturday’s match but he believes the issue is only down to nerve damage.
The summer tour could be a dry run for Warburton’s captaincy of the Lions to Australia next year and he said: “The medical people think it might just be a nerve problem but we will know more in the next couple of days.
“To be honest my body’s been creaking ever since the World Cup. I’ve carried something into every game — my knees, my shoulders — you know, everywhere really. There’s an Australian tour, which would be good but I’m not sure what will happen regards myself now.”
Warburton’s injury was evident when he could only use his left hand to lift the Six Nations trophy and admitted he had asked Ryan Jones and Gethin Jenkins to join him in receiving the prize as both captained Wales in his absence.
“I felt a little awkward about going up to receive the trophy,” said the flanker. “I mentioned this to coach Warren Gatland and asked if he might like to come up with me and lift it together. He said no immediately. ‘It’s a player’s thing,’ he said, ‘But if you do feel that awkward why don’t you ask Gethin and Ryan about it?’”
The players will receive the trophy on the steps of the Welsh Government building today in Cardiff to mark their third clean sweep in eight seasons.
