Shanks' Mare

He may look like an oversized version of Dr Evil, and look pretty ungainly on occasions – a bit like a second row forward who’s been allowed to play in the backs at a training session – but Tom Shanklin can lay some claim to being the most consistent midfielder in the Northern Hemisphere. News of his withdrawal from the Lions squad will be greeted with a wide grin by the Springbok coaching side, who respect his hard running and miserly defence. The squad will be the poorer for his absence, surely, and the coaches will be praying that this is the last of the pre tour casualties.
One look at the end of season playing programme will make them realise that they would be better off praying that Schalk Burger becomes a vegan pacifist…