Smith, McCabe keep Lions hopes alive

SYDNEY (AFP) –

Veteran flanker George Smith (R) is pictured during a Super 15 rugby union match in Durban on March 16, 2013. Smith and centre Pat McCabe kept their hopes of facing the British and Irish Lions alive after scans Tuesday revealed their injuries were not as bad as initially feared.

Veteran flanker George Smith and centre Pat McCabe kept their hopes of facing the British and Irish Lions alive after scans Tuesday revealed their injuries were not as bad as initially feared.

Smith and McCabe were left out of Robbie Deans’ preliminary 25-man Wallaby squad to face the tourists next month. But with six players to be added to the final line-up on June 10, they still stand a chance of playing.

Smith picked up a medial ligament injury playing for the ACT Brumbies last weekend, with Deans on Sunday suggesting he would be out of action for the entire Lions series.

But his club Tuesday said the injury was not as serious as first feared.

“Originally it was feared Smith’s Australian season was over, but medical advice was confident on Tuesday that wasn’t the case,” the Brumbies said.

Nevertheless, the 110-Test veteran will not play again for six weeks, which gives him a slim hope of returning for a crack at the Lions in the second Test in Melbourne on June 29.

“My priority from here is to rest, rehab and ensure my body is 100 percent leading into the tail end of the Brumbies season,” said Smith, who was on the verge of a remarkable comeback after playing his last Test four years ago.

McCabe injured his knee in the same game as Smith, but he too had good news Tuesday when scans showed no structural damage. He is expected to return for the Brumbies’ May 31 clash with the Hurricanes.

“It’s a matter of this swelling settling down and then I can start running and it won’t be much longer. I’m almost walking normally now,” he said.

The Wallabies play three Tests against the Lions starting in Brisbane on June 22, followed by Melbourne on June 29 and Sydney on July 6.