Distraught Lions star Darcy Graham leaves pitch in tears after injury just 16 minutes into debut
DARCY GRAHAM left the pitch in tears as he suffered an injury just 16 minutes into his Lions debut.
The Scotland ace lined up for his side in Tuesday’s 24-19 win against a First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne.
Graham was initially left out of Andy Farrell’s squad for the Lions’ trip Down Under.
But after being called up as cover last week, the winger was thrust into today’s friendly at Marvel Stadium.
And Graham’s dream debut got even better as he touched down for the Lions’ first try.
However, the Scot appeared to hurt his ankle as he went over for the points.
He dropped to the ground before a physio came on to tie tape over the top of his foot.
Graham then tried to play on for several minutes but was clearly in pain.
The ace was overwhelmed with emotion as he then limped off the pitch.
Tears streaked his face as his Lions debut came to an end after just 16 minutes.
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And he was quickly consoled on the bench by teammates.
Fans were also quick to pay tribute to Graham’s contribution.
One said: “Fantastic player and was looking sharp. As far as consolations go, a Lions try isn’t half bad.”
Another declared: “Gutting for Graham but showed why he should have been there from the start.”
One noted: “Frustrating time for him.”
Another added: “Graham’s 16 minutes Lions career, I will never forget you.”
As for the game itself, Owen Farrell could have a shot at making the 23 for Saturday’s second Test against Australia after his impressive evening in Victoria.
Farrell’s centre partnership with Ireland’s Garry Ringrose, who came off the bench early, gave his father, and head coach, Andy something to think about.
Farrell had a hand in three of the Lions’ four tries, punched holes in the defence with his carrying from 12 and steered the team around the park, gelling with Fin Smith at 10.
But boss Andy Farrell will not have been impressed at his side’s failure to put a scratch side away even if most won’t be involved in Saturday’s Test match.
Farrell was in the middle of it from the start when he charged in to have a crack at Pasifika wing Triston Reilly. Finally the tour had a bit of niggle.
Reilly hit Graham with a high tackle that put him in touch then took the mickey by patting the Scotsman on the head enraging Farrell who sprinted in to stick up for Graham.
Henry Pollock and Scott Cummings were in the thick of and the upshot was Reilly got yellow carded.
But it was 14-14 all at the break after Farrell had a foot in a try for centre Jamie Osborne and a hand in one for Graham who dashed in off Fin Smith’s long pass.
Reilly returned to intercept Blair Kinghorn’s attempted pass to Farrell and when back row Seru Uru burrowed over it was level.
Osborne, now playing on the wing with Graham off and Ringrose on, grabbed his second just after the break off Kinghorn’s floated pass
Farrell then dummied the defence to make an easy score for Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe but proud Pasifika refused to go away.
Replacement Rob Leota rumbled over after the hosts had been camped on the Lions line, Marcus Smith, on as a replacement, went off for an HIA and the tourists were hanging on but they got home.