British and Irish Lions manager Andy Farrell is confident Finlay Bealham's replacement will be a “great fit” into the squad following the “heartbreaking” injury withdrawal of Scotland defender Zander Fagerson.
Glasgow Warriors manager Fagerson has pulled out of the team's summer tour of Australia with a calf problem.
Fagerson's withdrawal came a day before the squad (excluding players involved in the Gallagher Premiership and United Championship finals) headed to Portugal for a training camp.
However, Farrell acknowledges that such situations are part of the sport and the team now focus on the upcoming friendly against Argentina in Dublin on June 20.
“It's heartbreaking, but at the same time he (Fagerson) is a realist. All rugby players understand that it's part of the game,” Farrell told Sky Sports.
“He will work incredibly hard to get back into shape and who knows what might happen in the future.”
On Bilham's inclusion in the squad, Farrell said: “Finley has been called up as a replacement and he's in great form. He's really good at what he does.
“He was definitely at the centre of discussions from the start and he would have been disappointed if he hadn't been in the group.
“So we're confident that he'll be a great fit for the band in the future. I was the only one we were able to talk to when we announced the lineup.”
“I called him and told him he was in the squad, unfortunately for Zander, but it was one of the best phone calls I've ever had.
“The emotions I felt during the conversation really overwhelmed me. It was nice to be able to do that.”
With 15 of the selected players still at their clubs, including 12 from Leinster, England duo Jamie George and Asher Opoku-Fordge have also joined the five-day training camp in Quinta do Lago to provide front-row support.
“It is what it is,” Farrell commented.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
