Deans enlists Smith’s Lions-taming expertise

A dozen years after marking his 21st birthday with a starring performance to help Australia clinch the 2001 series against the British and Irish Lions, George Smith has been recalled as the Wallabies bid to replicate the come-from-behind series win.

After recovering from a leftknee injury that kept him out of the first two tests this year, Smith has forced his way into the Wallabies squad for the third test in Sydney tomorrow at the expense of Michael Hooper on the openside flank.

His 111th test – and first since he first retired from international rugby in 2009 – will come a week before he turns 33.

‘‘His expertise in the contact zone, where timing, judgment and physicality is everything, is going to be critical,’’ Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said in announcing his squad yesterday, with Smith the only change to the starting XV which won the second test 16-15 last weekend to level the series.

Smith made his international debut in late 2000 and had only played three tests – all in Europe – before playing in all three tests against the Lions in 2001. Now he is set to become only the fourth Wallabies player to contest two series against the Lions.

‘‘He’s class,’’ Deans said. ‘‘To have achieved what George has throughout his career, and return to play at the highest level, after such a long break, is a testament to the quality of the man, both as a person, and as a player.’’

Smith played 110 tests, includ- ing six as captain, before he quit international rugby in 2009 and went first to play club rugby in France before heading to Japan, where he is now contracted to Suntory.

He has been playing on loan for the ACT Brumbies in the Super Rugby competition this season and had to get clearance from his Japanese club to be eligible for Australia. After all the paperwork was approved, a knee injury in late May threatened to ruin his international comeback.

But after rejoining the squad last week, it didn’t take long for Deans to move him straight into a starting spot.

In the second test in Melbourne, Lions captain Sam Warburton forced a series of early turnovers, and Deans’ solution is to draft the senior ball pilferer and breakdown expert in the back row despite a lack of matches in the past six weeks.

Warburton won’t be playing in the Sydney decider after injuring his hamstring.