Lions claw out help

Folau secures his position in code hoppers’ league standings

A ROOKIE, a radio pundit and a holidaying South African leap into the Lions den.

It may sound like the opening line of a gag but that will be reality for the British and Irish Lions tomorrow night against the Brumbies, after a mounting injury crisis forced them to call-up players from across the globe just to field a backline.

With several star backs either injured or rested for the first Test against the Wallabies on Saturday, the Lions yesterday rushed 36-year-old Shane Williams and English backs Brad Barritt and Christian Wade into the country and straight into their midweek side.

The trio only arrived on flights last night, and will have just one training run before playing. Williams – a former world player of the year who had his 87th and final Test for Wales in 2011 – is now playing in Japan, and was due to arrive in Australia later in the week to take up a pundit role for the Test series for Radio TalkSport.

He will only have three days with the Lions, before leaving camp on Wednesday.

‘‘We just said we need him for one game. He is already halfway here. Part of the reasoning behind that is he’s still playing in Japan, and thinking about the travel of getting players here,’’ Lions coach Warren Gatland said.

‘‘He’s in pretty good nick, he’s been (charity) boxing. I am sure he will come in and do the jersey proud.’’

Wade, a 22-year-old wing who only made his Test debut two weeks ago, was called up from England’s tour of Argentina and centre Barritt was on holiday in Los Angeles and told to quickly sort out an Australian entry visa for his South African passport.

Billy Twelvetrees, who only arrived late last week from Argentina as cover, will also start against the Brumbies.

The call-ups came courtesy of an expanding Lions casualty ward; filling up mostly with battered backs. Jamie Roberts suffered a suspected torn hamstring against the Waratahs and is likely to miss the first Test in Brisbane, and George North ( also hamstring) was rated ‘‘less than 50-50’’ to play by Gatland.