Injured Lions’ Players Should Have Time on the Field

Getting injured in any sport means time on the sidelines. It’s frustrating for the player, his teammates, and even the fans. So what happens when they begin healing? Well, for one thing, when it comes to rugby, while this may very well be one of the most physical sports in the world, it’s also one where the athletes are eager to get back on the field as soon as possible.
The British and Irish Lions have been saddled with injuries of late, with both Captain Sam Warburton and forward Alun Wyn Jones being sidelined, but with the New Zealand tour about to start in less than a month, time is ticking. And fast.
Shane Williams, the Lions‘ wing, said, “You’ve really got to be playing your best rugby on these tours because in a blink of an eye the Test series is there.”
What he’s saying makes sense and it highlights how vital it is for these players to get ‘playing time’ in as quickly as possible. Without consistent playing time, a player loses some of his momentum, skills, and ability to fine-tune his game.
In some ways, it’s like playing at any of the top 10 casinos in the world; when you’re an avid gaming enthusiast, any time on the sidelines can cause rust in your game and increase the chances of making a mistake. Imagine a person ready to place a wager on a big sporting event coming up, like the New Zealand tour, and not all the key players have had enough time to be their strongest.
Suddenly there’s an ‘X’ factor, or in other words, conditions that could go either way that severely impact the potential for a win or loss by any given team.
Mr. Williams went on to add, “You’ve definitely got to start getting used to the bumps again and making sure that your injuries are fine and that you hit the floor running on the Lions tour. You haven’t got time to play a game and see how it feels and wait for the next game.”
Some players from opposing teams have been keying in on criticism of Lions and other tour players who are injured, making claims that they don’t have the ‘mongrel edge,’ as some put it to compete at the highest level on the summer tour.
Lions and other players and coaches take exception to that, stating that these are world class players who understand the game, what it takes to win at the highest levels, and when they get back, they will be ready to take on whatever opponent they face throughout the summer.
In the meantime, though, it remains an important factor for these players to get back on the field, conditioned, and mentally ready for the rigors this summer New Zealand tour will take on not just their bodies, but their minds as well. The sooner Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, and other key players get healthy and have a chance to get on the field, the better it’s going to be for the Lions with the upcoming tour starting June 3.