Big three likely to sit out opener
June 3, 2001

Lions captain Martin Johnson and key players Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio will almost certainly be rested for the tourists' opening match in Australia on Friday.

Lions coach Graham Henry will wait until later this week before naming his team for the tour opener against Western Australia but he told reporters on Sunday he would not risk any players carrying injuries. "We're not pushing anyone into these games that's not 100 per cent fit," Henry said. "We're trying to rest guys that have played a lot in the last month."

Johnson, speaking after the sides training session, said the Lions were already racing against time to get ready to take on the world champions. "We're a scratch team that's been thrown together and we've got a month to get ourselves in good enough shape to take them on," Johnson said. "We've got talent, but it's all about getting it together in the field and only time will tell."

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