Lions face injury doubts for Australia tour opener

The British & Irish Lions have arrived in Australia ahead of their opening match against the Western Force, but head coach Andy Farrell has expressed concerns about the fitness of Irish players Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan due to lingering injuries. Gibson-Park is managing a glute muscle injury, while Keenan is dealing with a calf problem, both of which put their participation in Saturday’s game at Optus Stadium in doubt. Scotland’s Huw Jones, recovering from an Achilles issue, is fit and ready to play. Farrell confirmed the squad for the upcoming match will mostly include players from Leinster, Bath, and Leicester, who joined the tour after their domestic finals. Despite a recent 28-24 defeat by Argentina, Farrell emphasized the team’s focus on building towards a strong Test series and playing good rugby throughout the tour. No new injuries were reported following the Argentina match, and the team is optimistic about the next phase of their tour.