It’s never too late!
Zander Fagerson has become the first injury-victim of the 2025 Lions squad.
Ireland captain Caelan Doris was nailed on to travel, but was ruled out before the squad was named.
Scotland prop Fagerson has enjoyed the best season of his career, with his eye-catching work rate for a tight head, and scrummaging prowess, singling him out as one of the best around.
While it is gutting for him, it has presented Finlay Bealham, who has been called up as a replacement, with the opportunity of a life time, after many felt that he should have been named in the original squad.
And despite not being favoured by Lions head coach Andy Farrell the first time around, we know from past tours that late call-ups can have a serious impact, on and off the pitch.
Martin Johnson
Having already played for the All Blacks Under-21s side, the relatively inexperienced Englishman was called up as cover for lock Wade Dooley on the 1993 tour to New Zealand.
The Leicester Tigers icon would go on to play in the second and third tests, the first of which they won, before losing the decisive last game.
Johnson would captain the successful 1997 tour to South Africa, and the loss to Australia in 2001, establishing himself as one of the greatest Lions ever.
The clip below shows Johnson getting a right stamping on against Taranaki in 1993.
Paul Wallace
The Irishman, and brother of David and Richard Wallace, was the success story of the 1997 tour to South Africa.
After Peter Clohessy was ruled out through injury, Wallace was called up and faced the daunting task of countering the monstrous Springbok scrum, directly opposite the legendary Os du Randt.
He was more than up to the challenge, and played all three tests as the Lions won the series 2-1.
Martin Johnson called him his ‘player of the series’.
Tom Croft
Despite not featuring for Ireland, Alan Quinlan was picked for the 2009 Lions squad off the back of his performances for Munster.
That was until he banned for a gouging incident on Leinster’s Leo Cullen, during their 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park.
To replace him was English blindside Tom Croft, who made the management look foolish for not picking him initially.
The exceptionally quick flanker made hay on the hard grounds of South Africa.
Alex Corbisiero
A prime Cian Healy was cruelly denied his shot with the Lions in 2013, picking up an injury in the second game against the Western Force.
Perversely, it actually worked out well for the Lions, with Corbisiero playing a massive role in the 2-1 series win against Australia.
He shone at scrum time, particularly in the all-important third test, where he also chipped in with a first-minute try.
Simon Zebo
The charismatic Munster man was a late call-up as cover for Tommy Bowe, who had broken his hand against the Queensland Reds.
The winger played in three matches, but didn’t get any game time in the tests.
However, it was off the field that he made his biggest contribution to Lions lore.
Immortalised in what might be the most shared Lions clip of all time, Zebo was forced to ring then Munster head coach Rob Penney and ask him to consider him for the club captaincy.
