Sale flanker Ben Curry will miss Friday evening’s closing British and Irish Lions ‘trial’ towards Saracens with a freak “scratch and sniff” harm.
Curry, who loved an excellent Six Nations for England to play himself into rivalry for the tour, was concentrating on a final alternative to show Andy Farrell’s head along with his membership earlier than the Lions head coach names his squad on Could 8.
However after sitting out final weekend’s victory at Harlequins due to an uncommon hamstring drawback, he has been unable to shake it off in time for the play-off shoot-out on the Salford Group Stadium.
“It’s a bizarre one,” mentioned Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson. “It’s a little bit of a scratch and sniff harm. I’ve not heard of it earlier than.
“There’s nothing torn, however there’s a little bit of steel in his leg, which is irritating the muscle. It’s an irritation across the suture web site of an outdated operation the place he had the stitches.
“There’s little likelihood of him tearing the muscle, however it’s actually uncomfortable for him.
“He’s operating round, which suggests in one other week it can have sorted itself out. We’ve got given him so long as we might, however he gained’t make this sport.”
A clutch of potential Lions tourists will be involved, including captaincy favourite Maro Itoje.
Sale will have Ben’s twin Tom Curry of their line-up plus Luke Cowan-Dickie, the Check beginning hooker towards South Africa in 2021, who Sanderson is tipping for an additional tour.
“He’s taking part in the very best rugby of his life,” mentioned Sanderson.
“He’s settled up north, he’s completely happy in his non-public life, we’ve bought his harm proper. He’s within the final trimester of his profession. He’s taking each alternative and leaving nothing to likelihood.
“This may very well be his alternative with the Lions. I’ve talked to him about it a little bit bit. He desires it. He desires it unhealthy.”
