The unlikely start to the latest Lions bromance
In the latest episode of the British & Irish Lions' The Ultimate Test series, Scotland loosehead Rory Sutherland discussed his newly kindled friendship with England's Courtney Lawes. Sutherland explained how their friendship got off to a rocky start though, with the Northampton Saints lock threatening him during their training camp in Jersey.
"I feel like I'm getting on really well with Courtney Lawes," the soon-to-be Worcester Warriors prop said.
"I think me and him have formed a really good friendship. But I think it all started in Jersey in training when we were doing an attacking drill and Courtney was in defence, and he tackled the guy, he landed on the floor and I pushed him out the way. He turned around, and I'd better not say what he said on camera but along the lines of 'if I did it again, I'd pay for it.' Let's just say it never happened again.
"But yeah, ever since I feel like we've bonded really well and really nice to form some friendships with people I never thought I would. I don't know if Courtney feels the same way, I really hope he does."
Sutherland did not fill in the gap as to how the two went from their encounter on the training ground to being friends, but it obviously worked out. Lawes is a formidable presence on the pitch, and obviously in training as well.
The pair are in the matchday squad to take on the Springboks this Saturday in the first Test of the series. Lawes is starting at blindside flanker, while Sutherland is on the bench.
Lions
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
20. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) #847
21. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780
23. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833