Dallaglio to have ankle surgery in next 24 hours

Lawrence Dallaglio will have surgery on his ankle in the next 24 hours and spend next week in New Zealand before returning home from the British and Irish Lions tour, coach Clive Woodward said today.

Number eight Dallaglio was injured in the first 20 minutes of his side's opening match, a 34-20 victory over Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on Saturday. He will be replaced on tour by Ireland's Simon Easterby.

Woodward said he had been to see the former England captain in hospital late on Saturday.

"He was extremely upset but very philosophical about the whole thing," Woodward told a news conference on Sunday. "I'm very disappointed for Lawrence but we have to move forward quickly now."

Dallaglio was injured going into a tackle and spent several minutes prone on the ground before being carried off and replaced by Martin Corry.

Lions medical staff diagnosed the injury as a fracture dislocation of the right ankle and team doctor James Robson realigned the ankle on the pitch, Woodward said.

Dallaglio, 32, retired from international rugby last year but made himself available for the Lions tour.

He had been inspirational in the first 20 minutes of the game as the Lions roared into a 17-0 lead and his absence was sorely missed as the Bay of Plenty side fought back to 17-17 at the break.

Woodward said he was disappointed given the amount of work Dallaglio had done to make the tour.

'EVERYTHING RIGHT'

"All the players have worked very hard for this tour but since I met Lawrence last year and he told me he was standing down from the England job, he said that he wanted to go on the Lions tour. He did everything right.

"It's a blow but we have to move on and prepare for the Taranaki game (on June 8)."

While acknowledging Dallaglio's absence would be a loss in terms of leadership and experience, Woodward was impressed with the way the forwards responded to lock Paul O'Connell's direction on Saturday.

"We need one or two players to step up now and I thought Paul O'Connell was outstanding, especially in the second half," said the Lions coach.

"But when you lose a top player, someone has to step into their shoes and ... I think O'Connell is a tremendous player and I'm very excited."

O'Connell had been rumoured to be an outside pick for the Lions captaincy before Woodward gave the job to Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll.

Apart from Dallaglio, Woodward said there were no other injury concerns although utility back Tom Shanklin and flanker Richard Hill had received minor knocks. They would be available for selection.

First five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson and hooker Shane Byrne, who picked up slight injuries in training and did not travel to Rotorua from the team's training base in Auckland, were also fine and would be involved in the Taranaki game, added Woodward.

The coach said England fullback/winger Jason Robinson, who had stayed in Britain to be with his pregnant wife, would join the side on Tuesday, two days earlier than expected.

The Lions name their team for the match in New Plymouth against Taranaki later on Sunday.

- REUTERS