Injury concern for British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton

Welshman to undergo scan on hamstring after 16-15 defeat in second Test to Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.

Sam Warburton hurt his hamstring during the Lions' defeat to Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.

Sam Warburton, the British & Irish Lions captain, is to undergo a scan later on Sunday after injuring his hamstring during the 16-15 second Test defeat against Australia in Melbourne.

The Wales flanker limped off 13 minutes from time as Australia gained a dramatic series-levelling victory to set up a decider in Sydney next Saturday.

The Lions announced that Warburton will remain in Melbourne on Sunday for the scan.

He will then join up on Monday with the rest of the squad, who will now decamp to the Queensland surfers' resort of Noosa until Thursday.

Warburton reported immediately after the game that he had "a sore hamstring" and at this stage, he must be rated a doubt for the Sydney showdown.

Beale empathy for Halfpenny

Australia's Kurtley Beale said on Sunday he knew how the Lions superboot Leigh Halfpenny felt after missing a long-range kick which could have won the crucial second Test and the series for the tourists.

The Wallabies won 16-15 after Halfpenny missed a penalty shot in the final moments of the game – a mirror finish to the previous week's first Test in Brisbane in which Beale failed to nail a goal which could have won the game for the Australians.

"Obviously I was in the same situation last week, and it's a big kick; it's a massive kick and there's a lot of things going through your head," Beale said.

"It's a big ask but he's been striking the ball well all series, I think he's only missed two or three. We were just very lucky at the end."

Beale missed his crucial kick in Brisbane as he slipped on the greasy surface. Lions coach Warren Gatland criticised his choice of moulded boots, saying it was part of a players' job to turn up with the right footwear.

Phillips hopes to play in decider

Lions scrum-half Mike Phillips admits he was devastated to be omitted from the Melbourne but is determined to put himself in contention for the series decider in Sydney.

Phillips helped the Lions win the first Test but was not involved this weekend after being troubled by a sore knee. And although he was fit and available for selection for the second Test, the Lions coaching staff opted to rest him and start with Ben Youngs at No 9.

He said in The Mail on Sunday: "When [Lions assistant coach] Rob Howley told me I hadn't been selected for the second Test it was absolutely devastating news.

"My heart sank and I had a weird feeling in my stomach. It was incredibly hard to watch from the stands on Saturday, especially after being involved last week.

"I'm desperate to play next week, of course, but whether the coaches make that call is up to them. They know the extent of the injury to my knee and it's their call if I play. If they ask me to, I will.

"I've just got to get myself 100 per cent right and train hard and make sure I'm in the frame for selection for the third Test."

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