British and Irish Lions

The World Cup semi-finalists will be without star fly-half cum centre Felipe Contepomi as a result of a hand infection.

"Because of this infection, he underwent a drainage and cleaning at St Vincent's University Hospital," said Pumas doctor Guillermo Botto.

The Leinster favourite had been hoping to help his country secure fourth spot in the IRB World Rankings, and therefore a place in the first pool of seeds for the 2011 World Cup draw on December 1.

However, a cut which Contepomi suffered prior to Argentina's tour of Europe has now become infected, meaning head coach Santiago Phelan will need to name a replacement skipper for a re-run of last year's World Cup pool match.

The Lions of Leicester and Leinster will bring domestic bragging rights with them to tomorrow's farewell dinner after they helped their respective sides to league titles on Saturday.

Assistant coach Graham Rowntree says The British & Irish Lions will have to be fully focussed to avoid a potential banana skin when they face The Barbarians a week today.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.