NONE the worse for their summer exertions in New Zealand, a trio of Lions made it onto the starting grid for last weekend’s launch of the domestic season. All three, Taulupe Faletau, Maro Itoje and Anthony Watson, duly went the full 80-minute distance.
Three more started but didn’t finish – Leigh Halfpenny (56 minutes for Scarlets), Joe Marler (49 for Harlequins), George Kruis (14 for Saracens). And three more finished but didn’t start – Kyle Sinckler (31 minutes for Harlequins), Dan Cole (30 for Leicester) and Jack Nowell (24 for Exeter).
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