Lions 2013: Tommy Bowe fit for Australia v Lions second Test

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Tomy Bowe

British and Irish Lions wing Tommy Bowe is available for next Saturday's second Test against Australia after surgery to fix a broken hand.

There were fears the Irishman, 29, would miss the rest of the tour after being injured against Queensland Reds.

But after the Lions's 23-21 first-Test win, head coach Warren Gatland said: "Tommy Bowe is fit and available, he trained today and did contact."

Centre Manu Tuilagi is also fit for Tuesday's game at Melbourne Rebels.

Gatland said: "Having firepower come back and more options is hopefully going to be good for the next two weeks."

He explained that he did not want to risk Bowe against the Rebels.

"We felt we would give him a bit more time so his hand is fully healed.

"The surgeon said the type of injury he had could normally be a six-to-eight week injury so the medical team have done a magnificent job for him to be fit in three weeks."

Bowe was forced off early in the Lions's 22-12 win against the Reds in Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on 8 June.

England international Tuilagi, 22, picked up a shoulder injury in the same game.

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