Scotty Lawson didn’t know whether to grin or groan in the wake of Scotland’s pride-restoration mission in Nelspruit.

Wales wing George North is rated as “less than 50-50” to be fit for next Saturday’s first Test match against Australia in Brisbane.

Shane Williams has revealed his sense of shock after being summoned from Japan to play for the Lions.

Leigh Halfpenny produced a command performance as the unbeaten British and Irish Lions delivered their best display Down Under just seven days before tackling Australia.

Warren Gatland believes that future British and Irish Lions squads may need to be bigger in number because of rugby’s increased physical nature and injury attrition rate.

Interim Scotland head coach Scott Johnson has reacted to defeat by Samoa and the run of injuries that followed by making seven changes for the game against the Springboks at Nelspruit.

Richard Hibbard vowed “there is so much more to come” from the British and Irish Lions after their latest Australia tour game predictably proved a mismatch.

The Lions romped to a predictably emphatic success against comfortably their weakest Australia tour opponents as they ran in 10 tries at Hunter Stadium.

Fly-half rookie Stuart Hogg has been backed to make a success of his role in the British and Irish Lions No 10 shirt.

Andy Farrell has dismissed any suggestion of paranoia in the Lions camp regarding apparent Australian surveillance of their playing movements.

Warren Gatland has declared himself “very, very happy” with the opening phase of his British and Irish Lions squad’s Australia tour.

Shell-shocked Scotland did not hang around King’s Park after their defeat by Samoa, rushing back to their hotel to lick their wounds and try to regroup before taking on the even tougher challenge of South Africa next week.

Scotland defence guru Matt Taylor has admitted his men will be clear-cut underdogs when they square up to the muscle men of Samoa.

Sam Warburton will make his debut as British and Irish Lions captain with every intention to “aim for the stars”.

Glasgow will face reigning champions Toulon and Jonny Wilkinson while Edinburgh have a stiff test against former champions Munster in next season’s Heineken Cup pools.

British and Irish Lions prop Cian Healy has been cited for allegedly biting an opponent.

The British and Irish Lions roared to victory in nine-try fashion at Patersons Stadium - but they were left sweating on an ankle injury suffered by Ireland prop Cian Healy.