THE LIONS’ BACK-LINE injury crisis reached new heights tonight when Warren Gatland extended his latest call-up to Shane Williams.
Yes, that Shane Williams. Last seen bowing out of European rugby with a Pro12 winners medal, Williams has been plying his trade in Japan with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars ever since.
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Williams’ call-up comes hot on the heels of phone calls to Christian Wade and Brad Barritt, who were summoned as cover for George North and Jamie Roberts respectively.
Wales’ leading try-scorer will join up with the squad in time for Tuesday’s tour match against the ACT Brumbies. However, the call-up is for one-night only as the 36-year-old will reportedly take his leave from the squad the day after.
The surprise call-up overshadows the rest of Warren Gatland’s squad to play the final tour match before the first Test against Australia on Saturday.
Rory Best will captain the side from hooker. He is one of three Irish players in the starting line-up. Rob Kearney will start his first game of the tour at fullback while Sean O’Brien joins Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau in the back-line. Conor Murray and Simon Zebo would appear to be a step closer to the match-day squad, both Munster men are named among the replacements.
Like Williams, Wade and Barritt are thrust straight into action and Billy Twelvetrees will complete a three-quarter line of players who were not in the squad this time last week.
Lions XV v Brumbies:: Kearney, Wade, Barritt, Twelvetrees, Williams; Hogg, B Youngs: Grant, Best, Stevens; Evans, Gray; O’Brien, Tipuric Faletau.
This is getting silly: Shane Williams called into Lions squad
THE LIONS’ BACK-LINE injury crisis reached new heights tonight when Warren Gatland extended his latest call-up to Shane Williams.
Yes, that Shane Williams. Last seen bowing out of European rugby with a Pro12 winners medal, Williams has been plying his trade in Japan with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars ever since.
Williams’ call-up comes hot on the heels of phone calls to Christian Wade and Brad Barritt, who were summoned as cover for George North and Jamie Roberts respectively.
Wales’ leading try-scorer will join up with the squad in time for Tuesday’s tour match against the ACT Brumbies. However, the call-up is for one-night only as the 36-year-old will reportedly take his leave from the squad the day after.
The surprise call-up overshadows the rest of Warren Gatland’s squad to play the final tour match before the first Test against Australia on Saturday.
Rory Best will captain the side from hooker. He is one of three Irish players in the starting line-up. Rob Kearney will start his first game of the tour at fullback while Sean O’Brien joins Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau in the back-line. Conor Murray and Simon Zebo would appear to be a step closer to the match-day squad, both Munster men are named among the replacements.
Like Williams, Wade and Barritt are thrust straight into action and Billy Twelvetrees will complete a three-quarter line of players who were not in the squad this time last week.
‘A small bit of rust on my boots’, says Zebo after near-perfect start for Lions
Here are the best bits from the Lions win over the Waratahs this morning
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leftfield Lions 2013 Mitsubishi Dynaboars Shane Williams