McGeechan and Telfer's Lions role

The Lions coach, Graham Henry, has enlisted the help of Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer as unofficial assistants in the build-up to next summer's tour of Australia. Henry met his Scottish counterparts, who masterminded the 2-1 series win in South Africa three years ago, last week.

The Lions coach, Graham Henry, has enlisted the help of Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer as unofficial assistants in the build-up to next summer's tour of Australia. Henry met his Scottish counterparts, who masterminded the 2-1 series win in South Africa three years ago, last week.

Henry said: "They are obviously top rugby coaches, probably the most successful in this part of the world. I picked their brains about the last Lions tour and the tours prior to it, and it was very helpful."

In South Africa, the sport's ruling body Sarfu has begun an investigation after claims by a black player, Rayno Hendricks, that he was instructed to feign injury during a recent Currie Cup match so he could be replaced by a white player, in breach of a quota system.

According to Sarfu rules, two players of colour must be on the field at all times during Currie Cup matches and may be replaced by a white player only if they are injured.

Hendricks, who plays for the Blue Bulls, was taken off during a match against Border and replaced by Hannes Venter. The Bulls' management said Hendricks was suffering from a shoulder injury and insisted that he had been replaced purely on medical advice.

But Hendricks told the newspaper Beeld: "The exact words I was given on the field were, 'you must get injured in five minutes' time. Then we will replace you'. I was given no choice."