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LIONS skipper Alun Wyn Jones gave his side a huge injury scare ahead of jetting to South Africa tomorrow with what looked to be a broken wrist.

The three-times tourist had to be replaced after just SEVEN minutes of action at Murrayfield after damaging his hand trying to clear-out a ruck.

The Wales captain was helped off the Edinburgh pitch by two physios and went straight down the tunnel for treatment.

England's Courtney Lawes replaced him, but boss Warren Gatland will be sweating over the availability of his talisman on the eve of flying to the southern hemisphere.

The Lions' first Test against the world champions Springboks is in just under a month and if Jones' injury is serious, it will be a devastating blow for the side.

Before the match AWJ vowed to lift the mood at home and in South Africa as the Covid-hit Lions tour finally kicks off.

Today's opener against Japan at Murrayfield, only the third on home soil in 133 years, is a crucial milestone after the series came close to being obliterated by the coronavirus.

Ahead of his third Lions tour, skipper Jones, 35, said: "Everyone was looking on before the squad selection with regards to, 'Will it, won't it?'

"To now be at the first game, there has been a tremendous amount of work and effort to get it going. Now it's down to the players to get going as well."

Gatland's 37-man squad head to South Africa on Sunday night. But when they land in Johannesburg, they enter a raging disease hotspot in one of the worst-hit nations of the pandemic.

LIONS TOUR SCHEDULE 2021

  • Saturday 3 July: Emirates Lions v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
  • Wednesday 7 July: Cell C Sharks v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
  • Saturday 10 July: Vodacom Bulls v The British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
  • Wednesday 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
  • Saturday 17 July: DHL Stormers v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
  • Saturday 24 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (1 st Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
  • Saturday 31 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (2 nd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
  • Saturday 7 Aug: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (3 rd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)

He said: "We've been fully informed throughout about the rise in South Africa and the numbers.

"The fear from a playing point of view is that the tour doesn't go ahead? because of the efforts people have gone to.

"The fact that it was at risk for such a long period of time but is going ahead, hopefully that will take some of the focus away from the situation that people in South Africa and Britain and Ireland are facing."

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