Rugby: Hooker knows how to make the most of last-minute call-up

If Ross Ford felt tempted to respond to his exclusion from the Lions squad that was announced last month by throwing his toys out of the pram or disappearing off on a three-day bender then he only had to think back two years to remind himself that good things really can come to those who wait.

Back then, with the 2007 Rugby World Cup looming, Ford was Scotland's second-choice hooker, well behind Dougie Hall in the international pecking order.

However, at a pre-tournament summer training camp, Hall sustained a knee injury that ruled him out of the squad. Ford inherited the Scotland No 2 jersey, and has held it ever since.

Hence the sense of déj vu he must have experienced when injury forced Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery out of the Lions squad two days ago. With Ford's Edinburgh team-mate Mike Blair also having been added to the squad in place of halfback Tomas O'Leary almost a fortnight ago, Scotland's 2009 Lions representation has doubled since Nathan Hines and Euan Murray were named in the original party.

Ford seemed particularly unfortunate to be left out when Ian McGeechan named his 37-strong squad last month.

After last November's international matches, he had seemed a strong candidate for the tour and test side, but he fell back in the rankings during Scotland's disappointing Six Nations campaign.

Yet Ford has a strong track record of responding well to adversity.

An outstanding back row prospect as a teenager, the former Kelso High School head boy was persuaded to move to hooker when he joined the Border Reivers, his first professional club.

"It was a lot of hard work and, being honest, there were a few moments when I wondered if I was doing the right thing," said the 25-year-old after being called into the squad. "But it's all paid off now - and some."

The addition of Ford means Scotland have three tight forwards in the touring party. Having failed to make the original squad, he may have more ground to make up than either Murray or Hines to gain a test berth, but competition for the hooking position, where Lee Mears of England and Matthew Rees of Wales are the other contenders, is particularly tight.

Ford, with a reputation as one of the hardest workers in the game, is certain to respond to the challenge, and his sometimes fragile self-confidence may actually be boosted by the experience of measuring himself against Mears and Rees in training. He also has size and speed on his side and has been mentored in the past by former All Black hooker and captain Sean Fitzpatrick.

There is no question the attrition rate of players originally selected has alarmed the Lions management who were forced to forsake a scheduled day's yachting in the Solent in favour of much-needed rest and recuperation. Never mind the Springboks beating the Lions, fate is doing a good job before they have even left these shores.

There has never been a rate of attrition quite like it, and there are concerns that the calibre of the touring party has taken a knock. The medical staff will be all too aware there are still two European finals involving six players to be negotiated.

The 37-man squad has been hit by five withdrawals since it was announced last month. The casualty rate during an entire tour usually runs at only six to eight players. The Munster contingent alone has dropped from eight to five, albeit that one of those absences was self-induced, flanker Alan Quinlan being ruled out of consideration after his appeal against a 12-week ban for foul play was dismissed last week.

halfback Tomas O'Leary and centre Tom Shanklin have been ruled out of the tour by serious injuries, and, for the moment at least, wing Leigh Halfpenny has joined them although he will likely join the tour after the first two weeks - or Scotland's Chris Paterson could be the next replacement if Halfpenny is spent. "Flannery's withdrawal weakens the Lions," the former Lions and Ireland hooker, Keith Wood, said. "He has been the best hooker over the last two seasons. He throws unbelievably well and against [Springbok locks] Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, accuracy is paramount."

- INDEPENDENT