Statement: Injury update for Lions prop Tadhg Furlong

The 32-year-old has been suffering with a calf injury, which has kept him out of action since Leinster’s European Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton. 

He’s been put back into the conversation after Lions defence coach, John Dalziel stated that Furlong is fit enough and believes he’ll play against the Bulls on Saturday afternoon. 

“Tadhg has the availability to be able to train and play this week with Leinster,” said defence coach Dalziel who was speaking to the press in Quinta do Lago.

“They’ve got a game this week and he’ll be available for that. There are no real concerns in terms of his ability to come back to full training.”

As tight-head was becoming an issue for Farrell, that seems to be not as concerning as first expected as Zander Fagerson is expected to make a return at some point Down Under. In place for the Scotland international on Monday the Lions announced that Finlay Bealham will join the squad whilst Sale Sharks’ prop who can play both loose-head and tight-head, Asher Opoku-Fordjour was named as cover for the training camp in Portugal. 

On Fagerson, Dalziel continued: “Zander is going to take a couple more weeks to get that injury right. 

“His injury isn’t long-term. I think it’s three or four weeks. It’s a setback. He’s looking to try to get through that. 

“We need that ability to adapt and, with two games in a week, we’re going to need cover. I think it’s a luxury on a Lions tour to carry a player for three or four weeks. 

“As soon as he gets the tick off, he’ll be available to come back into the squad should needs must. I know he is 100 miles an hour trying to get right.”