Sam Warburton is keen for action after recovery spell
The British and Irish Lions rugby captain relieved to have been picked for first match
Auckland — The British and Irish Lions opening match of their tour of New Zealand against the Provincial Barbarians on Saturday will be keenly watched for many reasons, but for captain Sam Warburton it will be more about shaking out the cobwebs. The 28-year-old Welshman came into the tour after suffering a knee injury while playing for Cardiff a little less than two months ago. He was given a six-week recovery time. Warburton beat the clock and was able to train with the squad in their pre-tour camps before the side left for New Zealand but he still felt that he would need to run himself back into match fitness over the next couple of weeks. "It’s really nice to get the ball rolling," Warburton told reporters in Auckland on Thursday. "I will need a good few games before I start hitting my straps but we all know that every game is a huge audition for the Test matches." His knee injury could have prompted a sense of déjà vu for the loose forward. Named to lead the Lions on their tour ...
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