The chances of Malo Itoje being named captain of the British & Irish Lions this week have increased after a close competitor, Kaelandris, sustained a suspected injury during the Australian tour.
Ireland’s captain, Doris, is set to have shoulder surgery shortly. Following some concerning evaluations by Rainster coach Jack Nienaber, there’s a real risk that he might miss the upcoming series against the Wallabies. This comes just as Andy Farrell is expected to announce his team on Thursday, which adds to the tension.
Nienaber had previously suggested that the captaincy was not merely a contest between Doris and the England captain, Itoje; however, with recent events, Itoje now seems to be in a favorable position. Doris was taken off the field during the latter half of Rainster’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat against Northampton on Saturday. Leinster, the team he plays for, doesn’t anticipate him returning this season. They mentioned that they won’t know exactly how long he’ll be sidelined until after the surgery. Unfortunately, Nienaber’s intuition suggests a grim outlook for Doris.
“He consulted specialists, but we might need deeper investigations,” Nienaber shared. “I was hoping it wasn’t as severe as it seems, but having worked with Kaelan these past months, he’s not one to typically exit a game due to injury.
“So seeing him come off on Saturday gave me a sinking feeling—it must be serious. I imagine we’ll know more by the week’s end, but that’s just my gut feeling.”
“It’s definitely going to be a close call. Shoulder injuries can vary widely, anywhere from two to six months, depending on how much damage there really is. We are aware there’s some injury,” he added.
Farrell will announce his captain alongside the team in a live event at O2 on Thursday, and it’s likely that Doris will be in opposition to the operation beforehand.
The prospect of losing Doris before the squad announcement is worrisome for Farrell. Even if he was leaning towards Itoje—who has already proven himself as a strong leader during the Six Nations—Doris has been his Irish captain and seemed a lock to start in the Test series against the Wallabies.
While Farrell waits anxiously for Doris’s surgery results, he’s also considering backup options. Last month, he mentioned there were quite a few potential candidates for the captaincy. Others like Sione Twiprotu, Jamie George, and even Owen Farrell could fit the role, but Itoje has really excelled since taking on the leadership for club and country this season. The competition for the back-row positions is fierce, yet the pool for the No. 8 spot isn’t as deep.
If Doris is ruled out, it might help Henry Pollock’s chances, but it would also open opportunities for others like Taurpe Faretau to join the Lions Tour. Scotland’s Matt Fergerson and Jack Dempsey are also viable candidates, both having appeared in the number 8 position during the Six Nations, alongside British players Ben Earl and Tom Willis. Jack Conan could represent Doris in Leinster and with Ireland.
The Lions’ tour kicks off with the Western Army in Perth just eight days later, following their first match in Dublin on June 20 against Argentina. Their first test against the Wallabies is scheduled for July 19, with Doris likely joining the team after the tour starts. This situation reminds of what happened four years ago when Alun Wyn Jones suffered a dislocated shoulder in a warm-up match against Japan and was initially removed from the squad but rejoined the team just 18 days later.
Back in 2017, Warren Gatland named Sam Warburton captain for his second consecutive tour shortly after Warburton suffered a knee injury. He managed to return to fitness and played in the first match against New Zealand, but then faced an ankle injury during that game. Ultimately, Warburton ended up on the bench for his first Test defeat against the All Blacks before shining in his second Test victory in Wellington.
