He should have known better than to tempt fate. Just a day or so after Lions team doctor James Robson delivered an unprecedented positive bill of health on Sunday afternoon the Lions injury woes have come thick and fast.

At Monday's press conference to name the side to face the Sharks on Wednesday night the Lions almost delighted in the fact that only Martyn Williams (with a troubling shoulder injury) was unavailable for selection). They had never had it so good at this stage of a tour according to management.

But the picture had changed by the time we reached kick off at Kings Park. First flanker Stephen Ferris (twisted knee), then winger Leigh Halfpenny (thigh strain) and if reports are to be believed No.8 Andy Powell (broken hand) have fallen by the wayside.

The join the likes of Tomas O'Leary (fractured ankle), Tom Shanklin (shoulder), Alan Quinlan (suspension) and Jerry Flannery (elbow) who were all ruled out before they had even boarded the plane.

There remain question marks about Martyn Williams' fitness and that of Riki Flutey and Keith Earls so the last domino may not yet have fallen - in fact it is safe to say there will probably be at least one if not more casualties.

In terms of the significance of the most recent losses, Ferris is probably the biggest blow. His two appearances had earned him glowing reviews and he was surely closing in on at least a place in the Test 22 and battling with England's Tom Croft for the starting No.6 berth. An opportunity has now opened for Wales Ryan Jones to force his way into the reckoning as he did in 2005.

Halfpenny could have at best hoped to have been amongst the replacements going by his limited tour contribution. The decision not to call a replacement underlines that fact.

Confirmation of Powell's injury has not yet been confirmed by the Lions but if his injury was found to be less severe than thought he still has some way to go to make up ground on Ireland's Jamie Heaslip when it comes to laying claim to the No.8 jersey.