The last time the Lions took off for South Africa, Jerry Flannery had been booked into business class for the overnight flight to Johannesburg. He never got as far as Heathrow, let alone check in. Instead of going head-to-head with the Springboks during a ferocious series, Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning hooker ended up watching at a beach resort in Barbados.
“Not a bad place to be when you think about it," he says with a chuckle. “Unfortunately, injuries happen."
Flannery’s happened during a final hit-out at the Lions’ pre-tour base in the Surrey stockbroker belt within 48 hours of departur...